Some Aspects of the «Western» Contacts of Turkic Elite of Central Asia in the Second Half of I Thousand AD

The article considers the analysis of archaeological evidences of the «western» direction of contacts of Turkic peoples in Central Asia in the second half of the I-st millennium AD. The volume of the available materials is very insignificant, despite of considerable amount of information on the similar relations in written sources. The authors present the review of results of excavation of Turkic memorial complexes with the Sogdian inscriptions, and also materials of the funeral sites containing some confirmations of contacts of nomads in the «western» direction. The main attention is paid to the analysis of several «elite» Turkic funeral complexes of Uvgunt, Maykhan Uul and Tuekta which are dug out in the territory of Mongolia and Altai. The feature of these objects is a presence at structure of accompanying stock of monetary indications (brakteat) which origin, judging by the available data, can be connected with Sogd's territory. Additional information for interpretation of these finds could be obtained during the studying of runic inscriptions on indications which are presented in article in detail. The analysis of the recorded features of archaeological complexes does not allow drawing any conclusions on a concrete functional purpose of the considered monetary indications. At the same time there are no doubts that gold brakteats were important indicators of the social status in the Turkic society in Central Asia. All not numerous objects are found in the «elite» burials of different level differing in a number of specific characteristics of a funeral ceremony. It is important to note that these complexes belong to various chronological periods. Specification of dating of the designated objects is possible, including, in the further analysis of numismatic finds. Studying of the indication from Tuekta site which was still not drawing attention of experts has special relevance. Carrying out such work will allow defining an origin of a brakteat also. Products from complexes of Uvgunt and Maykhan Uul show contacts of Turkic peoples with Sogdians, reflecting features of relationship of nomads with representatives of the settled and agricultural world during the different periods of history. The maintenance of runic inscriptions on the brakteats in Tuekta and Uvgunt burial grounds that presents at single copies, according to the offered reading, allows to assume presence at the found indications of the functions which are not connected with the trade sphere and to consider them as the objects reflecting some relationship in the environment of Turkic elite. Small number of the available materials and a preliminary character of readings do not give the grounds for more concrete conclusions.

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