Purpose. The modern learning process is impossible to imagine without the involvement of local lore knowledge. The article is devoted to summing up the results of the implementation of the project ‘Science to School’. The article summarizes the experience of integrating the object of archaeological heritage – the Novotroitsky necropolis, into the educational and tourist space of the Talmensky district of the Altai Region. In the process of implementing the project, a set of activities was carried out, including lectures, ‘live lessons’, master classes on the reconstruction of ceramics, clothing, jewelry, a scientific and practical conference, a photo exhibition, an expedition to the excavation sites, and the installation of commemorative signs.
Results. The educational and methodological manual ‘Archaeology at School’ prepared within the framework of the project for teachers and students provides a short, illustrated glossary that gives an idea of the appearance and location of various archaeological sites in the Altai territory and educational and methodological developments applicable in the preparation of school research projects on archaeology. It contributes to the expansion of historical and local lore knowledge about the archaeology of the Altai territory and gives them an actual voice in the modern development of the region. In educational activities, the training manual is used as additional literature for the courses ‘Archaeological tourism’, ‘Archaeology of the Altai region’. Alongside the main and additional literature, the educational and methodological manual is recommended for students preparing final qualifying works in pedagogical archaeology.
Conclusion. The authors come to the conclusion that a comprehensive museumification of the entire ensemble of the studied site should serve as a full-fledged prospective integration into the tourist space of the Novotroitsky necropolis area. The educational potential of an object of archaeological heritage can be revealed through the use of a metasubject approach.

The article considers the possibilities of the ‘envelope’ and geometric morphometry methods exemplified by the analysis of 47 whole forms of vessels from the Nikolayevskiy burial ground of Srubnaya culture from Bashkir Fore-Urals.
Purpose. The purpose of this work is to reveal the morphological characteristics of the ceramic complex of the necropolis with the isolation of the reference forms of vessels using the ‘envelope’ method and methods of geometric morphometry. Consideration of their possibilities will allow for the further construction of a general typology of the vessels of Srubnaya culture of the Urals. The authors are convinced that only the publication of the results of the study of the morphology of the vessels of individual complexes, processed according to a unified technique, will make it possible to proceed with the study of ceramics of the Late Bronze Age cultures of the entire Southern Urals. The use of the ‘envelope’ method proposed by Clive Orton made it possible to highlight the leading forms of the considered collection. The obtained classification scheme includes six groups of pot-shaped vessels and four groups of jar-shaped vessels.
Results. The results of the principal component analysis allow for the conclusion that the majority of the sample vessels are similar to each other in general proportions. A small group of vessels of Srubnaya culture low in heigh and a number of vessels with a foreign cultural component, in particular those with features characteristic of Alakul culture, stand out from the rest. There is no clear connection between the distribution of pottery groups among burials and mounds. Only two points stand out. The finds of vessels of the first group of pots prevail in the embankment of mound 1, while pots of the second group appear only in burials of mounds 3 and 5. In mound 3, the finds of these vessels are concentrated in the burials of the northwestern sector, which probably reflects a certain stage in the functioning of the burial ground.
Conclusion. The studied variations of pot forms in the analyzed collection, the presence of vessels with the so-called early-Srubnaya signs, and their mutual occurrence with the vessels of the Srubno-Alakul appearance, reflect the processes of the influence of the Alakul pottery stereotypes on the dominant Srubnaya component of the Urals.

Purpose. Ceramics are the most popular material in the Slavic-Russian archaeological settlement sites. The aim of the work is to analyze the chronological schemes proposed by the researchers, created on the basis of ceramic materials of the Slavic-Russian settlement complexes of the European part of Russia and Western Siberia, to identify chronologically significant signs of pottery.
Results. Various aspects of ceramic production were taken into account in the construction of chronological scales for ceramics of monuments of the European part of Russia. Researchers base their chronologies on the technological features of the production of tableware: the composition of the molding mass, the presence of impurities, the method of firing vessels and comparison with analogies from monuments for which a chronological scale has already been developed. In the chronology of Siberian ceramics, the experience is only based on the materials of Tobolsk. To distinguish the chronological columns, the Siberian authors use the analysis of the morphology of vessels, the color of the shard and a comparative analysis with the materials of the European part of Russia.
Conclusion. To obtain reliable conclusions about the belonging of ceramics to a particular chronological period, it is necessary to take into account all factors, such as: the context of the occurrence of chronological groups in the layers, the morphological features of the corollas and vessels in general, the technology of production of dishes, comparative analysis with similar materials from clearly dated layers. Such a comprehensive examination of the ceramic material will make it possible to construct a chronological column for a particular monument with the greatest confidence. Given the amount of ceramic material on archaeological sites, the problems of creating a universal chronological scale, classification scheme and the use of unified terms are seen as very relevant.

This article provides a detailed account of the process of scanning, post-processing and further manipulation of threedimensional models obtained with structured light scanners.
Purpose. The purpose of the study is determined by the need for national archaeologists to learn the methods of threedimensional modeling for the implementation of scientific research corresponding to international standards. Unfortunately, this direction in national archaeology began to develop in a relatively recent time and there is a lag in the application of three-dimensional modeling of national archaeology compared to the world level.
Results. Any archaeological, experimental or ethnographic artifact can be used for three-dimensional scanning. To perform post-processing of three-dimensional models it is necessary to carry out primary scanning of an artifact by one of the existing algorithms. The algorithm for creating models, their positioning, simplification, saving in various formats and export is described. The main sequence of 3D models post-processing includes: processing of groups of scanned projections (their cleaning and alignment), creation of artifact model and processing/rectification of the resulting model using special software.
Conclusion. As a result of correct implementation of the algorithm, the researcher receives a scaled model completely corresponding to the original artifact. Obtaining a scalable, texture-free three-dimensional model of the artifact, which fully corresponds to the original and exceeds a photograph in the quality of detail transfer, allows a scientist to conduct precise metric measurements and any procedures of non-invasive manipulation of the models. The ability to access a database of three-dimensional models of archaeological collections greatly simplifies the work of archaeologists, especially in situations when country borders are closed.

Purpose. This article is dedicated to the collection of stone tools obtained as a result of excavations of the Somchai cave (North Vietnam) in 1980–1981. Somchai cave was discovered as a cultural object in 1980 and was investigated by various Vietnamese archaeologists in 1980–1981. The Somchai stone industry was attributed by Vietnamese researchers to the cultural and chronological stages of Hoabin II (Mezolithic) and Hoabin III (Early Neolithic). At the same time, the stratigraphic sequence of the lithological divisions of the site raises questions, due not only to the fragmentation of information in published sources, but also the influence of the modern anthropological factor. The description of archaeological material was selectively compiled, and subsequent publications were devoted to general reviews and paleobotany.
Results. Somchai Cave belongs to the Karst region of the Kimboy massif of the northern part of the Annam Highlands (Chyongshonbak). The object is located at an altitude of 85 m above u.m. in the limestone remains in the Muongwang Valley of the Buoy River. It was discovered as a cultural site in 1980 and was investigated by various Vietnamese archaeologists in 1980–1981, 1982 and 1986. The stone industry of the Somchai site contains 845 artifacts. Among tools, the multiple group is represented by sumatralita, further on the frequency of occurrence the adzes, polished axes, choppers stand out, scraped, scrapers and other single products.
Conclusion. By relying on a technical and typological analysis of a collection of stone artifacts obtained during research in 1980–1981, the Somchai cave industry can be defined as pebble and flake. It demonstrates the already developed features of stone technologies and tools, which are more distinctive for later cultures, such as Bakshon and Dabut, but at the same time the splitting traditions characteristic of the Paleolithic of Vietnam, which, like the Paleolithic of all Southeast Asia, continued the pebble-cleaved tradition, are preserved.

Purpose. This article presents the burials studied at the archaeological site of the Linevo-1 century. Similar finds were made at other sites of the late Irmenian culture: the settlement of Mylnikovo (Barnaul Ob region), Yeltsovskoe-2, Milovanovo 3 (Novosibirsk Ob region); Om-1, Chicha-1 (Baraba) settlement; ritual complex Siberian I (middle Irtysh region). Such burials have been known since the 1980s, but in Western Siberia the problem of ‘special burials’ in archaeology attracted the attention of researchers only at the beginning of the 21^st century, especially the excavations of the Chicha-1 monument.
Results. Three objects were recorded on Linevo-1. Burial 1 was found in chamber 2 of dwelling 15, a child 7–10 years old. There is no grave pit. Laid on the left side, with an unnaturally bent spinal column, on the ground it was located with the face of the skull. The burial was accompanied by stone structures with jaws and bones of animals, fish, fragments of ceramics, with the bottom part of the vessel and a vessel of late Irmen culture. Burial 2 was found on the floor of dwelling 16a. Burial 3 was studied in the zoly layer of the inter-dwelling space. Only skull fragments were found in two burials. In the third burial, signs of violence were recorded on the bones of the deceased. No accompanying material was found.
Conclusions. An analysis of inventory, stratigraphy and planigraphy proves that the settlement is a monument of late Irmen culture and dates back to the 9^th – 7^th centuries BC. Near the settlement of Linevo-1, there is the Zarechnoye-1 burial ground, where objects of the Irmen and Late Irmen cultures are presented. Comparison of the funeral rite of both cultures shows that the latter demonstrates the continuity of many features of Irmen culture. However, there are also innovations. In funeral practice, these are burials on the territory of the living space. A comparison of the burial practice from Linevo-1 with the total odontometric series of populations of the Bronze Age was carried out. While not showing sharp differences from other groups, the buried from Linevo-1 do not show any similarities with them: a combination of Caucasoid and Mongoloid characters within the anthropological type was recorded for them, as well as the absence of similarities between those buried in Linevo-1 and those buried at the Chicha-1 site.

Purpose. The Kulay Cultural-Historical Community was one of the largest formations in Western Siberia in the early Iron Age. The Kamenny Mys burial ground is located in the Kolyvan district of the Novosibirsk region. The study is devoted to the technical and technological analysis of 49 vessels of Kulay ceramics (Novosibirsk variant) of the Kamenny Mys burial ground.
Results. It was determined that natural clays of medium plasticity, possibly pretreated, were used as the initial plastic raw material. The dominant recipe for the clay paste is clay + broken stone (68 %). The construction was carried out according to the tank-bottom program with the help of flaps. The hollow body was constructed using patchwork molding. Mainly mechanical smoothing processed the surfaces of the vessels. The firing of dishes could be carried out in fireplaces or hearths.
Conclusion. Ceramic technology reflects the initial mixing of different pottery skills. Stability is retained by the substrate skills of the selection of the initial plastic raw material, the design of the beginning and the hollow body. Mixing is manifested at the level of adaptive skills – methods of composing molding materials and machining surfaces. Such a situation may be a consequence of the interaction of groups of the Kulay population with the carriers of the Bolsherechenskaya culture and the beginning of their mixing, which led to the fusion of technological pottery skills.

Purpose. Recently there was a publication devoted to the ornament typology, based on a stylized ‘hoof print’, for the Early Iron Age celts from Central Siberia. In developing this ornament typology and identifying its application tradi tions, the author carried out a series of experiments in order to identify the complete technological cycle of its production. It is this aspect which will be the focus of the article.
Results. We are researching the application technology of the ornament that consists of three main elements that make up the composition. In the central part there is a punctum in the form of a stylized unfolded ‘hoof print’. This figure is crossed by a ‘belt’ line. From the top of the ‘hoof print’ and the so-called ‘belt’, short lines can go down. The information on the area, where the celts with such an ornament were found, indicates that they were distributed only in Central Siberia.
Conclusion. The complex of objects includes more than 30 celts (Type IV according to M. P. Gryaznov’s typology). The study identifies two traditions of applying an ornament. In the first case, the central figure (‘hoof print’) was cut out on the celt pattern and the impression was transferred to the valve of the casting mold. The rest of the elements were cut out on the casting matrix. In the second case, we are talking about a combined approach, when the ornament was completely applied to the clay model of the celt. At the same time, only the central figure in the form of an unfolded ‘half-hoof print’ was cut out, the rest of the ornament elements such as a ‘belt’ and the hanging short lines were applied using the sculpting method.
For both methods of ornament application, there are common features such as the traces of carving with a sharp object (i.e. knife) in the central part of the ‘half-hoof print’ figure, rubbing the sampler surface and the celt shape with the finger pads. The first method’s distinctive features are the roll sculpturing on a celt pattern, superimposing them on top of each other, an overlap of the roll onto the sides. The second method’s distinctive features are the tracing lines made with a pointed object (i.e. wood chips, knife), superposition of carved lines on top of each other.

Purpose. This article considers and analyzes the information, contained in ancient and medieval sources, about residence areas of the Yenisei and Central Asian Kyrgyz during particular historical periods, including late Antiquity, Early and High Middle Ages. These periods are related to the time of existence of political and military domination in the Central Asian Region of the ancient and medieval Turkic and Mongolian nomads, including Xiongnu, Xianbei, Turkic, Teles and Khitan nomadic ethnic groups.
Results. During one of those historical periods, after the defeat of the Uyghur Khaganate, the Kyrgyz themselves dominated over Central Asian steppes. Resettlement areas of the Kyrgyz in Central Asia and Southern Siberia changed considerably on several occasions. During various historical periods, the Kyrgyz resided in the territory of Eastern Tian Shan, within the bounds of modern Xinjiang and during the following historical periods in Minusinsk Basin as well, followed by the vast territories of the Sayan and Altai Mountains and a major part of Central Asia, as well as within the bounds of the Western Tian Shan mountain range. The article analyzes the available informative historical data in ancient and medieval sources about the main resettlement areas of the Kyrgyz in different territories in definite time periods of their residence within the bounds of the Central Asian historical and cultural region.
Conclusion. Since their repeated resettlement into the eastern Tian Shan region in the era of the Kyrgyz Great Power, the Old Kyrgyz descendants could have reclaimed the mountains and valleys of Tengir-Too. They could have also restored their statehood at the turn of historical modernity, firstly in its capacity as a republic within the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and during the last decades by way of the independent state of the Kyrgyz Republic in the Commonwealth of Independent States. Despite all existing current complexities, the Kyrgyz keep their State.

Purpose. The article dwells upon discoveries of cauldrons and buried treasures of the Early Iron Age on the territory of the Middle Yenisei region. The work contains a review of such main recent discoveries and an analysis of different variants of occurrence of cauldrons in the buried treasures of the Paleometal Epoch. They include self-containment of a cauldron hidden as part of the buried treasure; a cauldron as one of the containers for the buried treasure items; integral small-sized cauldrons as part of the buried treasure object set; pieces of cauldrons as part of the buried treasures.
Results. The authors developed a map of 21 buried treasures on the territory of the Middle Yenisei region, whose object set included cauldrons. It allowed identifying a territorial uniqueness of location of cauldrons being part of ‘accidental’ discoveries as well as buried treasures. The archaeological microzoning approach enabled to define several compact areas that were characterized by multiple discoveries of buried treasures with cauldrons. One of them is the northeastern territories of the Middle Yenisei. This is the middle course of the Kan river valley in the vicinity of Terskoe village. Other areas of localization of finds of cauldrons are located in the northwest – from the Kosogolskie lakes to the middle course of the Iyus river. The same can be said about the presence of the distribution of such finds in the southern territory. It is localized mainly from the Askiz steppe and to the left bank of the Yenisei river in this area.
The analysis of object sets focused on identification of repeated sets of items (mirrors, axes, belt fixtures, jewelry) in buried treasures that included cauldrons.
Conclusion. The publication puts forward a hypothesis concerning the potential of using cauldrons as a buried treasure container in terms of its dating range. Based on the contents of buried treasures that included cauldrons, relative chronological lines of these object sets from the Scythian to the Xiongnu and Xianbei time for the Middle Yenisei region was proposed.

Purpose. The article is devoted to the characteristics of a double-edged iron sword, which can be attributed to the unique phenomena of the early Iron Age of the Minusinsk Basin.
Results. According to its morphological characteristics, the sword is an increased technological modification of the traditional Tagar dagger. The total length of the sword is 59.5 cm; the width of the lenticular blade in cross-section is about 7 cm. The handle with a volute-like pommel is separated from the blade by a narrow butterfly-shaped crosshair. The length of the hilt is 8 cm, which corresponds to the size of the hilts of most Scythian swords. This is a very small size, since in men the average palm width is about 12 cm. Probably, the rounded outlines of the pommel and narrow crosshairs allow, due to their shape, to hold the short handle of a heavy sword more tightly.
Conclusion. According to the classification of O. I. Kurinskikh, Scythian swords with a narrow butterfly-shaped crosshair and volute-like pommel are included in Group III, Type II A2 dating from the end of the 5^th – 4^th centuries BC, which corresponds to the boundary between the Podgorny and Saragashen stages of the Tagar culture. The earliest form of sword hilts with typologically similar forms of crosshairs (kidney-shaped, heart-shaped, butterfly-shaped) with bar-shaped pommels appeared in the North Caucasus in the first half of the 7^th century BC. On the territory of the Minusinsk Basin, most morphologically similar daggers are usually dated to the 6^th – 4^th centuries BC. Before the discovery of the Krasnoyarsk sword, long-bladed iron weapons were not known there. At the same time, swords of the Scythian time were found in the nearest regions of Altai and Kazakhstan. The later appearance of the technology for processing iron in the Minusinsk Basin makes it possible to consider the Krasnoyarsk sword an import item. According to another hypothesis, it belongs to the period of the late 3^rd – 2^nd centuries BC, when local craftsmen mastered the processing of iron and began to make massive quantities of weapons and tools from low-carbon steel. In doing so, they copied traditional archaic forms.

Purpose. The article analyzes items of the Buryats’ archery complex depicted on the postcards of the early 20th century. These are bows and arrows, quivers, bow cases, belts and one arrow storage. Also in the article, the history of photographs are examined, the authorship and dating of the photographs are found.
Results. In total, four postcards with east Buryats and three postcards with west Buryats were found. The analysis showed that all the images have bows with similar geometrical features that tells us about the proximity of structures. Items similar in geometry are now kept in museums and private collections and belong to the Buryat traditional culture and differ from the Manchu tradition bows, popular among the peoples of South Siberia and Central Asia. All the Buryat quivers have a special shape and are called “humpbacked” in publications. The bow cases are shaped like half a bow. Quivers and bow cases are represented in two decorative traditions: western and eastern. In western tradition, usually the entire front surface of quivers and bow cases is covered with metal plates of various shapes. The edges were decorated with sub-rectangular plates using vajra and “ram’s horn symbols”. The central part of the bow cases was filled with discs, the same part of the quivers contains a disk and a ‘comet’. Eastern tradition shows the use of metal plates much less frequently. One image shows a quiver similar in design to Mongolian items, however, in shape resembling Buryat “humpbacked” quivers. One image shows an arrow storage – a case for storing arrows. The images also show the features of wearing and using items of the archery complex.
Conclusion. The postcard images confirm previous conclusions about the uniqueness of the Buryat archery complex and make it possible to highlight new typical features. All of this tells us about the importance of referring to visual sources including postcards when studying weapons.

Purpose. The aim of the study is to identify a complex of Buryat mythological views about small cattle.
Results. The first part of the article gives a general description of small cattle in traditional Buryat culture. It is noted that the Buryats noticed the morphological features and behavior of sheep and goats and transmitted these observations through the works of small genres of folklore. It is stated that in Buryat anthroponymy there are names associated with the names of small cattle. It is shown that the images of a ram and sheep were included in the concept of time and space. The Buryats used sheep meat and some of its internal organs for medicinal purposes.
In the second part of the work, a comparative description of the images and symbols of small cattle in the traditional representations and rituals of the Buryats is given. The functions of small cattle in Buryat rites are considered. Based on the data of Buryat rites, the symbolism of these animals and their zoological characteristics are revealed.
Conclusion. It is revealed that the images of a goat and ram / sheep are multi-valued and generally have a positive connotation associated with the fundamental values – the sky, celestial bodies, and so on. The goat endowed with heavenly, solar, fiery symbols is associated with the idea of fertility; marriage symbolism is inherent to the goat. The image of a ram / sheep is associated with the sky, stars, moon and fire. It was found that small cattle carry the symbolism of well-being. It is noted that the negative connotation of small cattle is due to the idea of them as messengers of death, misfortune and the decline in weather conditions. It is determined that in Buryat rites, small cattle were victims, sacrificed to the higher animal forces. It is revealed that the sacred status of the ram/sheep is more pronounced in the rites than that of the goat.

Purpose. The purpose of the paper is to reveal archaic matrilocal and the cult of fire, areal, shaman and late Buddhist symbols in wedding traditions of the Buryats and Tuvans. A comparative ethnographic method is applied in the research according to which the symbols are considered and compared in terms of synchronic and diachronic aspects. The paper is current due to representation of unity of nomadic family-tribal orientation based on the example of similarities in wedding traditions of Turk and Mongol peoples. High interest in wedding rituals in traditional society is connected with religious and magical elements that represent praying to local spirits for tribal development and safety.
Results. As a result, the authors come to the following conclusions: firstly, similarity of many elements of wedding ceremonies is defined by nomadic traditions and ideals of a family tribal structure by northern Buryats to Turk peoples and southern Tuvans to Mongolia. Secondly, the late arrival of Buddhism to Barguzin valley and Tuva was a reason of preservation of archaic cults of shamanism.
Conclusion. In summary, it is important to note that comparative analysis of wedding traditions among the Tuvans and the Buryats helps to reveal historical evolution and transformation not only in wedding traditions but in their traditional world view in general. Similarities in diachronic elements of the ritual show unity of many cults that point to tight interactions between the Tuvans and the Mongols, Buryats and the Turk neighborhood. For instance, archaic cults of mother and fire are similar among the Tuvans and the Buryats. Many Shaman and Buddhist cult symbols do not change in Tuvinian and Buryat culture because their philosophies have not been changed on their corresponding territories for a long time. To conclude, comparative research of wedding traditions of Turk and Mongol peoples offers rich material for future research of historical evolution of many cults because the wedding, as one of the most important stages in humans’ life, is always connected with religious rituals of initiation, safety and sanctification.