Bone (Horn) Arrowheads of the Population of Northern Altai in Xianbei Time (Based on Materials of Karban-I Complex)

Abstract

The article presents the results of the systematization and chronological interpretation of bone (horn) arrowheads found during excavations of the Xianbei time burials of the Karban-I necropolis. This complex is located in the Chemal region of the Altai Republic. The published collection includes 26 bone (horn) arrowheads from seven burial kurgans. As a result of morphological analysis and classification of 23 items of good and satisfactory preservation, nine types were identified. There are both already known and specific modifications that have no analogies in the materials of the Bulan-Koby culture. Comparative study of general, special and individual morphological features made it possible to determine the relative chronology of the items. It was found that the arrowheads from Karban-I necropolis are not genetically related to the bone-cutting traditions of the Pazyryk culture population and represent the local development of specimens that appeared in the Xiongnu (2nd century BC – 1st century AD) and Xianbei (2nd – 1st half of the 4th century AD) time. A series of “experimental” specimens with a separately made bone whistle (types 1b, 4b), which represent a simplified technology for making tips with a one-piece bushing whistle (type 7a), have been identified. It is noted that arrowheads with a sleeve (type 8a) and clamping attachments (type 9a) have rather rare structural elements. Additional evidence was obtained that the population of Altai in the Xianbei time could use arrows with bone tips not only for hunting purposes, but also as a weapon to defeat a weakly defended enemy.

Keywords

• altai
• xianbei time
• bulan-koby culture
• bone (horn) arrowheads
• necropolis
• classification
• typology
• chronology