Problems of archaeological data chronology of early nomads of central Asia and Siberia

Traditional archaeological chronology of Siberia is being in variance with the new data nowadays. This problem is reviewed on an example of chronology of tagarskaya culture. Non archaeological dating methods combined with comparison of its artifacts with archaeological data derived from Early Iron Age sites from other territories shows that current concept of its development should be revised. Author assumes that two traditions in Early-Scythian period of Middle Yenisei zone, podgornovsky and saragashensky stages, that are traditionally seen as successive stages where synchronous for some time. Archaeological comparison, chemical analysis of metals and radiocarbon dating suggest that podgornovsky sites of tagarskaya culture derive from arzhan period of early nomad age. The end of podgornovsky tradition was the time when aldi-belskaya culture penetrated Tuva. This culture developed simultaneously with saragashenskaya tradition on Middle Yenisei, that may have existed on this territory up to the change of era. The origin of tagarskaya culture in the very beginning of the first millennium BC may be explained by optimal climate of this territory in comparison with others. The podgornovsky complex may derive from Central Asia and saragashensky - from Kazakhstan. Well dated complexes of «tsar's» kurgans of Tuva that gave some artifacts that have analogies in distant regions with written tradition can provide scholars with chronological frames for Central Asia and South Siberia.

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