Weaponry Complex of the Population of the Altai Northern Foothills During the Period of the Turkic Khaganates (Based on the Materials From the Gorny 10 Burial Ground)

The Gorny 10 burial ground located in Krasnogorsk District, the Altai Territory, was partially explored in 2000-2002. The burials contained composite bows (14 sets of antler mounts), iron arrowheads (132 items) and a series of combat knives (9 items). Given the almost complete absence of weapons in the Odintsovo sites of the Forest-Steppe Altai of the Early Middle Ages, probably due to the peculiarities of ritual practice, the published materials are the first that make it possible to present the characteristics of the combat weaponry of the tribes in the region. The identified types of items were compared with finds from early medieval sites of Northern and Central Asia. It was established that the developed assemblage of weapons from the Gorny 10 burial ground was formed mainly under the influence of the military traditions of the Central Asian Turks. At the same time, it is possible to note the closeness of the studied items to finds from the sites of the Upper Ob and Ryolka archaeological cultures in the Ob region, as well as the Saratovka culture in the Kuznetsk Basin. The weapon complex of the population of the Altai northern foothills during the period of the Turkic Khaganates was designed primarily for effective confrontation with a poorly protected enemy.