Polychrome style objects from burial site on the Eras'ka river

The article considers for the first time a rare category of equipment for Siberian archaeology - polychrome style objects. Though not numerous in numbers, they are important for reconstructing historical processes in the Early Middle Age, the period also called the Great Migration Period, marking the eastern border of Hunnic influence. The period was remarkably important for the history of European peoples and, in the long run, for the course of historical events of all Eurasian continent, especially its arid area. Siberian territory was also under its influence. The archaeological materials received during the period of the recent 60 years have shown that the South of the Western Siberia had been under quite a strong Hunnic influence, which can be proved by six burial sites studied in the region containing polychrome style objects. In spite of certain progress in the studying of the period, there is no agreement about the main factor -driving force of the period - the Huns. At present the researchers differ about their origin, anthropological and linguistic identity. Although there are some difficulties in identifying Hunnic artifacts, polychrome style jewelry pieces together with some burial rituals have become markers in differentiating Hunnic burials. Detailed considering each of them is certain to help in finding answers to numerous questions in the history of the Great Migration Period. Analysis of archaeological materials, received as a result of research of the burial site on the Eras'ka river in the Altai Territory with three belt plates and other objects in polychrome style, leads to drawing the eastern border of spreading polychrome style objects. The data received by macro photography revealed that the objects were composite, consisting of two elements. The article also considers techniques of the Great Migration Period craftsmen used in making polychrome style jewelry, which makes possible to reconstruct a complex technological cycle of their production. Further studying polychrome style objects from other sites and regions with the purpose of understanding technology of jewelry production will allow to divide the objects into groups according to the centers of their production and identify the location of the centers. Complex character of the reconstructed production-technological processes allows to put forward a hypothesis characterizing the production organization in the Great Migration Period as handicraft, which is indicative of complex social organization of the society where demand for polychrome style jewelry was met by production and technological workshops.

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