Purpose. The term kofungun is used in Japan for the mounded tomb groups of the Kofun Period (3rd - 4th centuries), which corresponds to the concept of a burial mound complex. Packed tumuli clusters or senzuka-type burial mound groups are located mainly in the central part of Honshu Island. Similar burial grounds are also known in the South of the Korean Peninsula. This theme is associated with the importance that cultural contacts of island and continental population and their cultural traditions bring to the development of the region as a whole, and Japan and Korea separately. The aim of the research is to study groups of senzuka-type mounded burial groups in Japan and their analogies in Korea. Results. Packed tumuli clusters of Late Kofun are generally located in the center of Honshu Island. Common findings include sue and haji ware, armors and weapons, ornaments. Among the grave goods, a fairly noticeable number of items of Korean origin are found. Some parts of packed tumuli clusters are considered to belong to immigrant clans. Ceramic rice-cookers and Korean-type armors and weapons can often be found in such mounded tombs. Senzuka-type tumuli clusters found on the Korean Peninsula are located in the territory of the ancient Gaya state. The findings include hard ceramic pots, armors and weapons, ornaments, and so on. The Marisan tumuli cluster contains a special type of findings: some mounded tombs were decorated with ceramic figures similar to the Japanese haniwa. Conclusion. The appearance of large sized mounded tombs, surrounded by many small ones in the second half of the Kofun Period, may indicate the emergence of a broad social support of the ruling elite. The presence of items made on the territory of the Japanese islands using Korean technologies among the grave goods allows us to assume the resettlement of artisans from the Korean Peninsula to the Japanese islands. The materials of this research could be useful for students studying archaeology of East Asia.

Purpose. The results of the archaeological work in the Caucasus in the 21st Century indicate that it has been intensively populated since the beginning of the Quaternary Period. The problems of the natural environments in the Early Pleistocene and the material culture of the early Homo are fundamental for understanding the ancient history of the Caucasus. The Late Eopleistocene (Calabrian) in the East Caucasus corresponds to the Apsheron stage of the history of the Caspian Sea (1.7-0.8 Ma). The palaeolandscape of the southeast of Eastern Europe, including the Eastern Caucasus, during this period is comparable to the modern open landscapes in Africa. Palynological data show that in the East Caucasus, the high-altitude zonation of vegetation was already present in the Apsheron; its formation was associated with the tectonic uplift of the Greater Caucasus. The wildlife is characterized by the Taman complex, indicating the adaptation of the steppe fauna to the fall of temperature and increasing humidity of the climate, as well as expansion of the forested areas. Sites of the Apsheron time have been found in several districts of the Caucasus and Ciscaucasia: Central Dagestan (Akusha group of sites), Kurinskaya Depression in Azerbaijan (Garadzha), Lori Plateau in Armenia (Muradovo, Kurtan), South-Georgian Highlands (Amiranis-Gora), Taman Peninsula (Bogatyri, Rodniki-1-4). Results. For the Calabrian, several stone industries are known in the Caucasus - Oldowan/pebble-flake, Early Palaeolithic small tool industry and Early Acheulean. The most expressive early complexes with bifaces date to the end of the Apsheron period and contain a significant number of Oldowan elements (Garadzha). Conclusion. Analysis of the natural conditions and fluctuations of the Caspian palaeobasin shows that the development of archaeological cultures in the eastern part of the Caucasus occurred during stable and favourable natural conditions, and it was of a weak evolutionary character.

Purpose. Metalworking production of the Early Bronze Age in Western Siberia is discussed in this article. Results. The first signs of local production can be traced to the beginning of the third millennium BC in Odino culture settlements occupying a vast area of the Ob-Irtysh forest-steppe. At present, foundry production has been identified at Stary Tartas-5, Tartas-1 and Markovo-2 settlements. The materials of the first two complexes have been published. This article is devoted to the introduction of the Markovo-2 bronze casting complex, examination of the archaeological context of finding materials, and description of the structure and objects inside it. The traces of intensive foundry activity were found in only one dwelling at the settlement. This can be explained by specialization and concentration of production in the hands of certain groups within the settlement population. Planigraphic and stratigraphic analysis make it possible to reconstruct this dwelling as a surface structure with a slightly elongated oval shape. The production complex consisted of a smelter and a utility pit located in the central part of the dwelling. The finds from the filling are represented by fragments of at least five clay molds and two melting pots. For each bronze casting item, a complete description, data from binocular analysis of molding masses, analogies and reconstruction of the manufacturing method are provided. Conclusion. Based on the research, it was concluded that the metalworking traditions, techniques, equipment and tools formed in Odin culture are spread over the vast territories of the Siberian forest-steppe zone and continue to exist within Krotovo culture. The Odino sites in the Baraba forest-steppe date to the first half of the third millennium BC. It is concluded that the evidence of the bronze casting industry found at Markovo-2 is the earliest in that region, and that its level in Odino culture was high.

Purpose. The article is dedicated to the research of harvesting tools that were excavated on the territory of the Shaiginskoe site. For the first time, the full statistics of the material are given, its new classification has been developed, and the data reveal the role of agriculture in life in the military-agricultural settlements of the State of East Xia. The Jurchens’ walled towns dating back to the period of the Eastern Xia State are qualified as military and agricultural settlements. Fortification structures of the sites imply their military functions, whereas findings of agricultural equipment affirm respective activities of the citizens. The agricultural implements excavated on the site of Shaiginskoe include hand-held tools typically used by the Jurchen people for harvesting cereal crops or cutting grass for hay. The article covers a complete statistic of the archaeological findings, provides a new type of their classification and demonstrates the scientists’ efforts to determine the specific features of social relations in military and agricultural settlements. Results. A total of 113 items have been found in the Shayginskoe settlement, which can be attributed to tools for harvesting. According to morphological features, they can be divided into species A - sickles and species B - scythes. Having analyzed the unearthed material, the authors conclude that the tools had a cross-purpose and their functions were not clearly separated. The Jurchens’ sickle appeared to be similar to the sickle-scythe used by the Manchus. They correspond to each other in size, shape and functionality. The only difference lies in a manner of fastening the blade to the handle. Conclusion. Judging by the number of agricultural equipment found in almost one in three dwellings of The Shaiginskoe fortification, it can be concluded that many residents of the city, to varying degrees, engaged in agriculture, supplemented by fishing and hunting, providing themselves with food, however agriculture played an important role in the economy of medieval fortifications of Primorye, and formed the basis of agricultural activity of the Jurchen.

Purpose. Bergamaksky Ostrog is the westernmost element in the chain of fortified points, designed to ensure safe and uninterrupted traffic along the section of the Moscow-Siberian Route from Tara to Tomsk. The history of this defensive fortification is presented in the works of several researchers, however the complete picture has not been presented in available literature so far. The reason for this is that different types of sources were looked at separately, and the most informative evidence of contemporaries has remained out of sight of the researchers. The source base is represented by archival documents on the history of the Bergamaksky Ostrog, published by various researchers, information from travel diaries of D. G. Messerschmidt (1721) and J. G. Gmelin (1741), materials from archaeological excavations of 1996 and 1998 (L. V. Tataurova and S. F. Tataurov), the results of dendrochronological dating of wooden structures selected during archaeological research. Results. A comprehensive and interlinked consideration of all types of sources made it possible to form a complete picture of the history of the Bergamaksky Ostrog and identify a number of erroneous statements entrenched in scientific literature. It is established that before 1668, there were no Russian settlements on the site of the modern village of Bergamak in the Omsk Oblast. The records that report that the Bergamak settlement appeared in 1627 are false, since it belonged to the Tatar village of Bergamak. It has been established that the Ostrog was built in the settlement in 1670. By the turn of the 17th - 18th centuries it fell into complete disrepair and was not mentioned as a defensive fortification in the office administration. Conclusion. As a result of the introduction of new sources (travel diaries of D. G. Messerschmidt and J. G. Gmelin), it was established that no earlier than 1721, a second Bergamaksky Ostrog was constructed in a new place. The article developed a hypothesis about its localization and a graphic and descriptive reconstruction of its layout plan was completed.

Purpose. The sites of the Russian colonization period continued to stay insufficiently known in Western Siberia. The author considers new materials of excavation of two Russian migrant dwellings for studying local and chronological dynamic of life-support. Results. This site was localized at the bank of Shadrinskoye Lake in the steppe region of Ishim River valley in the Western Siberia region. Buildings stood alone and were not synchronic. They were small in size - 10 m2 and 18 m2, of rectangular form, and of varying depth. They had plank floors, a gable roof and access to the lake. After the fire, a shallow half-dugout dwelling with a larger area was built in place of the deep dugout, which eventually burned down too. The iron axes, traces of drying of nets with sinkers arranged in the complexes, the bones of domestic animals and fish were found. It is interesting that the sinkers are of different forms: biconic, cylindrical, trapeziform with one hole and flat oval form without a hole. The last type was used with wrapped birch bark. Two pots looked like 18th century brown Russian professional pottery. Despite fishing of the habitants, the bones of animals from food leftovers show the developing cattle breeding with predominant livestock and pig breeding in the local community. The chronology of this site was defined based on the periods of function of iron axes with the wide and the rounded off blades, ceramic and adobe clay brick (which had not been imported until much later) at the beginning of the 18th century. Conclusion. The site is interesting as a source of the early stage of Russian development of Siberia and as an ordinary life-supporting complex. It shows the combination of production branches with the development in fishing and game bird hunting in their natural habitat in the ecological lake systems of the steppe zone. Fishing for smaller fish was conducted for the purposes of diversifying the food ration.

Purpose. The article presents research of the images of Siberian Tatars’ leaders who were restoration adherents of the Tatar Khanate of Sibir, reproduced on miniatures of the Brief Siberian Kungurian Chronicle. Despite the drawings having been created a few decades after those lands, which had been part of the Tatar Khanate of Sibir, were annexed by the Czardom of Russia, these images very clearly illustrate representations of contemporaries of the appearance of Siberian Tatar rulers and warlords during the historical period of struggle for conservation of the Western Siberian steppe and forest-steppe lands as part of the Siberian Tatars’ State. These drawings represent depictions of significant historical episodes of connections between restoration adherents of the Tatar Khanate of Sibir with the Russian Cossacks and several Turkic and Mongolian people, who inherited contiguous steppe territories of the Central Asian historical and cultural region. Results. Certain historical events, illustrating an armed confrontation of Siberian Tatars, who supported Kuchum Khan in the struggle for conservation of the Siberian Tatars’ State, against military troops of the Oirats and Nogais are considered and analyzed. The studied images can serve as an important informative pictorial source on history of accession of former possessions of the Tatar Khanate of Sibir to the Russian State. It is highly probable that several artists took part in creating this set of drawings, depicting the primary events of the Western Siberian military campaign of the Cossacks’ troop, led by ataman Yermak. This argument is supported by certain stylistic differences between several drawings, included in the Brief Siberian Kungurian Chronicle. For the last years these drawings have been repeatedly published, facilitating their focused scientific study. Results. Despite the considered drawings having been created much later than the events depicted on them, they serve as an important informative source on the history of the Western Siberian campaign of the Cossacks’ troop, led by ataman Yermak. Conclution. These drawings provide a clear overview of many historical events which took place during that period.

Purpose. The article considers the process of formation of the Tobolsk Bukharians - one of the groups of immigrants from Central Asia, who lived in the Tobolsk area in the 17th - 19th centuries. Results. The process of formation of a separate group of Bukharians is traced in a historical retrospective over a long period. It is shown that a significant Central Asian component entered the Siberian-Tatar community at an early stage of its formation. The main components were the Central Asian Muslim clergy and military service nobility, who became part of the upper stratum of the Siberian-Tatar community and disappeared into it, further adding to the category of service Tatars. This process was considered based on the example of a representative of the clergy, a native of Urgench, Seyyid Din-Ali Khodja, and the Central Asian people of the Kulmametevs. The initial stage of the process of resettlement and settling of immigrants from Central Asia in the territory around Isker (in the Russian period - Tobolsk) refers at least to the period of the Siberian Khanate. The system of settlement of the Tobolsk Bukharians during the 17th - 19th centuries is considered, data on the dynamics of the group’s size in the period under consideration are presented. It is shown that the Siberian Bukharians, as an ethnosocial group, were formed in the 17th century, and the status of Bukharians in the Moscow period was an ethnosocial one. The main Central Asian territories, from where they arrived in Tobolsk in the 17th century, have been identified. Conclusion . The features of the group of Tobolsk Bukharians have been identified, which include: early penetration into Siberia, joining a significant number of Islamic clergy, including Seyyids, as well as military service nobility during the period of the Siberian Khanate; joint residence of the Tobolsk Bukharians with other groups of the Turkic-Tatar population.

Purpose. The article is devoted to the historical development of the Khakass housing type “halachah” in the ethnographic period. Its construction, classification, time of creation and existing housing forms in Sayan-Altay are considered. Results. The study explores systematic ethnographic data about “halachah” in the 18-20th centuries, a detailed description of its design is given, the problem of the classification of the housing is solved, time of creation and forms of its existence are reviewed. The issue of its pre-Turkic existence in Sayan-Altay remains problematic. The housing had the following characteristics: simplicity of construction, low cost, quick construction and availability of materials for its production. “Halachah” was used by the Khakass throughout the territory of their settlement during the 18-20th centuries. It was also used by pastoralists, farmers, hunters, and tradesmen, and was used during seasonal work. The study allowed the authors to clarify the characteristics of “halachah” as a type of portable housing, and revealed the characteristics of its long-term existence in ethnographic time. This feature indicates the universality of its design, the processes of evolution and development. In addition, the study of the housing indicated that one of the directions in the future may be the study of pre-Turkic history of conical grave buildings, which could likely be the prototype of the “halachah”. Conclusion. The housing type “halachah” refers to the conical frame of round structures at the base without walls. The housing fully reflected the adaptation of man to the natural geographical conditions of Khakassia. The time of disappearance of this type of housing is the second half of the 20th Century, when “halachah” had already lost its importance in the traditional life support system of ethnic groups.

Purpose. The article explores the evolutionary processes of the Kazakh tradition “bata beru” - a blessing. Results. The origins of this tradition date back to the era of the Early Middle Ages. Runic texts on stelae of Orkhon memorial complexes of the aristocracy of the Second Turkic khanate - Bilge Kagan, Kul-Tegin, Tonyukuk contain language that is typologically close to the later “bata” of the Turkic peoples. Gradually, this tradition institutionalized in Kazakh society; there were certain types of “bata” and structure. Despite the revolutionary transition of the traditional nomadic society to an industrial one, and then the post-industrial society, the “bata” has not lost its value by performing, in our opinion, the magic-application function. The consequence of the revolutionary transformation of the Kazakh traditional society began to change in the semantic content of the “bata”. For example, requests relating to the nomadic way of life, the presence of Kydyr ata in the house, mentioning the senior wives and 12 children are currently archaisms and are hardly used. The emergence of the national movement of “Ata Zhol” (Ancestral path) and the appearance of mediums that transmit “bata” on behalf of a saint, indicates, in the authors’ opinion, a new stage of evolutionary processes in the Kazakh tradition of “bata beru”. The structure and content of the “bata” have undergone some modifications, which allows to identify this type of “bata” as the special - “Aulie bata”. Conclusion. All of this suggests a persistent existence of ancestor worship in modern Kazakh society.

Purpose. The purpose of this work is to highlight the complex of Buryats’ traditional ideas about the lark tales. Results. The first section of the work gives a general description of the image of the lark in Buryat culture. The Buryat names of larks contain certain information about these birds (about their habitat, nesting sites, size, ability to sing). The lark, from the point of view of the Buryats, was a harmless bird. Buryats paid attention to some morphological features of the lark, especially its acoustic capabilities (the ability of a male bird to sing for a long time). The second section of the article deals with traditional mythological representations of the Buryats about the lark. This bird had a high semiotic status, in particular, it was recognized as a winged preacher of Buddhist prayer. It was believed that it served the good heavenly forces. Buryats attached importance to the symbolism of the color of the bird’s plumage. It is revealed that they associated the idea of werewolves with the lark. In the mythological representations of the Buryats, this feathered animal reflected the natural rhythms (the arrival of early spring) and the time of day (morning) and was likely associated with the concept of time. In the epic of the Buryats, the interchangeability of images of birds personifying the arrival of spring was characteristic, and it was associated with birds of the order of passerines. The ambiguity of the lark’s characteristics in traditional mythological representations of the Buryats is noted. Conclusion. In traditional mythological representations of the Buryats, the lark had a predominantly positive characteristic. It is attributed to the revered birds, supposedly servants of the good heavenly forces: in Buryat shamans’ epics they assist the mother of gods, while the Buryat-Buddhists recognize the lark as a bird that prays and sanctifies the water. The symbolism of color, highlighted in the image of this bird, primarily reflected gender division: the white color indicated the male principle, while the gray - female. The idea of shapeshifting is associated with the lark among the Buryats. It was associated with the onset of spring and the time of day (morning). In the image of this feathered bird, the negative connotation in its connection with demonic forces and in the chthonic beginning of the bird is weakly manifested. Some traditional ideas of the Buryats about the lark (for example, as a winged singer of religious hymns) have analogies in the worldview of other peoples, which is explained by their universal character.

Purpose. The article discusses the urbanization of the indigenous peoples of Altai (Altaians, Kumandins, Telengits, Tubalars, Chelkans) based on the results of a sociological study among the Kumandins of Biysk. Results. Kumandins moved to the city from the nearest villages most intensively during the 1960s and 1970s. The liquidation of unpromising villages, the relatively large generation of young people and their command of the Russian language, the geographical proximity of cities and the need for working hands became the reasons for the move. The exhaustion of the migration resource was associated with a small number of people. Intensive urbanization has been replaced by equally active assimilation and acculturation since the late 1980s. This was facilitated by the widespread adoption of second-generation mixed marriages, and the loss of family ties. Kumandins in Biysk live dispersed. In 2002, more than half of the Kumandins lived in cities. Kumandins are the most urbanized indigenous people of Altai. They moved to Gorno-Altaysk and the cities of the Kemerovo region also. At the turn of the centuries, the pace of urbanization of other indigenous peoples of Altai began: Altaians, Telengits, Tubalars and Chelkans. At first, they were concentrated in large villages because of the geographical remoteness of the territories of traditional residence from Gorno-Altaysk. In the second generation, they moved to the city. Conclusions. Kumandins went through three stages of urbanization. Prior to the mid-1960s, a small number of Kumandins moved to the city. Most of the Kumandins migrated to the city in the mid-1960s - late 1980s. Then the process of assimilation began. The prospects of ethno-demographic development of the indigenous peoples of Altai were identified. In 20-30 years, Telengits, Tubalars and Chelkans will have problems characteristic of the Kumandins: assimilation and acculturation. The number of Kumandins will continue to decline. The demographic situation among Altaians will be the most stable due to their multiplicity. The number of urban Altaians will gradually increase.

Purpose. The article describes the history and analysis of the main issues in the study of archaeological sites of the Saka period in Semirechye. They are presented by three main types on this territory: burial and memorial complexes, settlements and hoards. The first type of monuments includes numerous burial mounds, where the elite burials of “royal” type and ordinary burials are located. Both social groups are combined by the unity of funeral rites, and the main differences are the complexity of architecture, memorial practices, and richness of burial equipment in the “royal” type burial mounds. The second category of monuments is presented by the settlements that are mostly small in size. The constructions like half dugouts were discovered on them, which gave a rich ceramic material. The third type of monuments of the Saka period in Semirechye includes numerous hoards of bronze items. Some of them are represented by the cult objects (sacrificial tables, lamps and cauldrons) that mark the places of worship. A significant percentage of the hoards contain items of weapons, horse equipment and household purposes and, apparently, serve as offerings to the spirits. However, despite the considerable progress in the study of the Saka monuments of the Semirechye Region, the main problem is their cultural attribution at this time. Some researchers suggest that the independent Saka archaeological culture was formed and developed on the territory of Semirechye in the Early Iron Age, while others believe that the Saka monuments of this region belong to the broader historical and cultural community that also covers the neighboring regions of Kyrgyzstan and Xinjiang. Results. Another important issue in the study of the Saka sites of Semirechye is to clarify the chronology of burial and memorial complexes. Up to now, the significant database of radiocarbon dates has been accumulated, which allows us to consider the chronological positions of a wide range of monuments in a new way. It was of great importance to obtain such dates from several burials of Karatuma necropolis, which showed that it belonged to the Saka period, since burial monuments of this appearance are traditionally dated back to the Wusun period. Conclusion. The necessity of solution of these problems is an urgent task for further research of burial and settlement objects of the Saka period in this region.

Purpose. In 2015-2017, geophysical prospection (GPR survey and aerial photography) was conducted on Saka tombs of Katartobe burial ground in southeastern Kazakhstan. Modern methods of studying mounds supported new information to reconstruct tomb characteristics and supplement archaeological research of ancient nomads in Kazakhstan. Results. A GPR survey was carried out with mound and near-burial space at 27 tombs. On the radargrams, round, square, and oval shaped mounds covered with stones was traced. The centre of the mounds gave a weak reading, presumed to be the result of a wooden outer coffin. The boundary stones surrounding the mounds appear to be in two rows with disconnected sections on the east and west central sides. Occasionally, the role of the boundary stones was executed by a ditch enclosure. All the burial sites were damaged by robbers. Archaeological work as a whole confirmed the results of geophysical studies. Meanwhile, the GPR’s low wavelength depth is less effective to reveal inner structures of the large mounds. Aerial photography and photogrammetry methods compose an estimation model of all of Katartobe. This supplemented the accurate information regarding the amount of tombs on the site, due to the confirmed existence of eight additional mounds. It also provides data on the size and volume of each mound. According to the photo topographic analysis, ten small tombs of the Wusun period, represented by circular mounds were detected close to the big mounds. Conclusion. The results of geophysical prospection showed information about construction of mounds covered by stone and boundary stone around mounds. It also offered information about new mounds not detected by traditional archaeological methods. GPR survey and aerial photography provides a new method to be an important part for archaeological studies of ancient culture.