Saddle facings from the excavated mounds of rouran period in Altai

Abstract

The article concerns a series of bone (horn) saddle facings discovered during excavations of archaeological complexes of Altai of the Roruan period (2nd half of the 4th — 1st half of the 5th centuries AD). This category of objects, as well as the saddles of nomads in the Asian region at the turn of antiquity and the Middle Ages, have been investigated rather fragmentarily, which is mainly explained by the state of the source base. Saddle facings were found in the burials of three necropolises of the Roruan period, belonging to the Bulan-Koby culture of Altai. The most numerous collection of such items was revealed during the excavations of the Choburak-I complex. The article provides a detailed description of these products, which represent the upper end edging of bow saddles. A significant similarity of the published elements of horse equipment with the finds from the sites of the early medieval Turks of the 2nd half of the 5th — early 8th centuries is noted. The question of the functions of saddle facings, taking into account the well-known fragmentation of the available materials, is still open. It seems possible to admit both a decorative and a utilitarian purpose of the products.