Cultural Ties Across Taiga and Steppe: Material Culture from the Medieval Lower Angara River and Prospikhinskaya Shivera IV
Cultural Ties Across Taiga and Steppe: Material Culture from the Medieval Lower Angara River and Prospikhinskaya Shivera IV
DOI: 10.17746/1563-0110.2018.46.3.092-099
P.O. Senotrusova and P.V. Mandryka
Siberian Federal University, Pr. Svobodny 79, Krasnoyarsk, 660041, Russia
This study examines the cultural ties of the early 2nd millennium AD inhabitants of Prospikhinskaya Shivera IV, on the Lower Angara River in Siberia. Artifacts dated to the 11th and 12th centuries, including a double-edged saber, iron hinged belt tips, and two metal belt sets with rectangular and ovate iron overlays demonstrate connections with the Yenisei Kyrgyz culture. In the 13th century, the Lower Angara taiga dwellers were particularly influenced by the Mongol Empire, as evidenced by belt sets with metal plaque-like hooks, plate-metal bracelets, question-mark shaped earrings, wide, flat arrowheads, jointed bits with circular cheek-pieces, coin-shaped amulets, and beads of glass, faience, and ceramic material. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, cultural ties between the Angara population and Western Siberia were stable and continuous, as evidenced by Western Siberian bronze ornaments—openwork palmate pendants; archshaped dangle pendants; bell-shaped openwork pendants; a flat pendant in the shape of a bird; cylindrical, embossed beads; and tripartite arched and quatrefoil sewn decorations. Other markers of Western Siberian ties include Srostkitype openwork and wheel-shaped pendants, round decorative overlays, a belt set with heart-shaped ornamental plates, combs, bow plates, specific types of arrowheads, and pottery. These imports notwithstanding, the principal components of the Lower Angara medieval culture were autochthonous, originating from earlier prototypes.
