A Comprehensive Study of the Monuments of the End of 2nd Millennium - Beginning of 1st Millennium BC in the Valley of the River Eerbek (Central Tuva)

This article presents the results of a comprehensive study of funeral monuments in the valley of the Eerbek river (Tuva, Russia) using methods of archeology, physical anthropology, paleogenetics and natural scientific methods. Barrows of the transit period between the Bronze Age to the Early Iron Age are described in detail: the Mongun-Taiga and Aldy-Bel cultures (burial grounds Bai-Dag 1, Ai-Dag 1, Bai-Dag 6 and Bai-Dag 8, Eerbek 2). The architecture of barrows and monuments attached to it and sets of accompanying equipment are considered in the context of other archaeological sites in the Tuva region. The results of studies of leather and fur products, X-ray fluorescence analysis of copper alloy products were presented - all these data allow reconstructing technologies of the ancient population and finding similarities with materials from barrows Arzhan-2, Chinge-Tei, Arzhan-1. Physical anthropology and paleogenetics (for which teeth samples from 64 individuals were selected) confirm the assumption of the authors that in such a closed small valley (Eerbeck river), a change in archaeological cultures and eras did not mean a radical change in population. Such comprehensive studies involving a large range of evidence allow archaeologists to “diagnose” the origin and development of the ancient cultures of the region as accurately as possible. The authors declare no conflict of interests.

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