Archeology of the early medieval turks of Central Asia: main stages of research and interpretations of the complexes

Abstract

The article presents the characteristics of the history of research and interpretation of archaeological sites of the early medieval Turks in Central Asia. A significant amount of information on the results of the study of burial and «memorial» complexes of the second half of the I millennium AD, located in different parts of the vast region, was taken into account. The author created the periodization, which implies the allocation of four main stages in the history of the study of the Turkic sites: 1) the XIX century — the beginning of the XX century; 2) 1920s — 1940s; 3) 1950s — early 1990s; 4) the second half of the 1990s — the beginning of the XXI century. The designated periods are characterized by the peculiarities of the methodology and methodology of work, different intensity of practical and theoretical research, the level of interpretation of the available information. It has been established that the most developed are the issues of research of the subject complex of nomads. In addition, a significant number of publications are devoted to solving the problems of the chronology of specific objects and the periodization of the culture of nomads. The problems of reconstruction of the complex processes of formation and evolution of the Turks' community based on archaeological materials remain the least studied.