Art bronze of the Hunnu period in Tuva

Abstract

In the II–I centuries BC Tuva is part of the nomadic Hunnu empire. A gradual change of population takes place, new cultural traditions and material culture come, which is expressed in a change in archaeological cultures. At that time, bright examples of Hunnu art appeared in Tuva - openwork bronze buckles with zoomorphic and geometric patterns. Until recently, their findings in Tuva were virtually unknown. The Tuvan archaeological expedition of the Institute of the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences carried out work on the banks and at the bottom of the Sayano-Shushensky reservoir. During archaeological excavations of undisturbed soil burial grounds Ala-Tey 1 and Terezin, a large collection of openwork buckles in the Hunnic style was obtained, as well as other objects of this era – Han mirrors and coins, weapons and jewelry, ceramics. In addition to the buckle variants known among the Ordos bronzes, there are also absolutely unique specimens that have no direct analogies. This indicates a high level of metalworking masters and allows us to consider the territory of Tuva as one of the centers for the creation and distribution of products of this type.