Archaeology, Ethnology & Anthropology of Eurasia 43 (3) 2015

Annotation:  Lithic Raw Material Exploitation in the Sibiryachikha Facies, the Middle Paleolithic of Altai The Early Upper Paleolithic of the Gobi Altai Region in Mongolia (Based on Materials from the Chikhe On the Problem of Human Sacrifi ce in Northern Mesopotamia in the Pre-Pottery Neolithic The First Systematic Excavations on Suchu Island and Radiocarbon Dates of the Site (1972) “Tropical Package”: Peculiarities of the Lithic Industries of the Most Ancient Cultures, Coastal Ecu Fish in the Burial Rite of Andronovo (Fedorovka) People, Based on Tartas-1 Cemetery “Life Stones” from the Noyon Uul Burials (Based on Findings of the 2006–2012 Field Seasons) Ethno-Confessional Markers of Russian Identity in the 17th–18th-Century Siberia: Churches with Barre The Turkic Version of the Origins of the Ergene-Kun Legend: Mistakes and Delusions Nonmetric Dental Trait Distribution in the Neolithic Populations of Southwestern Siberia Barangol: A Pazyryk Cemetery on the Lower Katun, Gorny Altai Russkoye Ustye: Anthropological Study   

“Life Stones” from the Noyon Uul Burials (Based on Findings of the 2006–2012 Field Seasons)

E. S. Bogdanov.

Excavations of Xiongnu elite burials, conducted in 2006–2012 by the Russian-Mongolian expedition in the Noyon Uul Mountains, Northern Mongolia, revealed numerous jade artifacts. Their classifi cation is provided, and their possible cultural meaning is discussed. The Chanyus apparently received them from the Han imperial court by way of gift or tribute. Like the Chinese, the Xiongnu believed in the magic and vital force of jade, and this may account for its abundance in burials. The amount and quality of jade indicated the owner’s high social status. Jade artifacts were parts of neck-adornments worn by members of the Xiongnu elite, and they might have functioned as amulets.Finds from Ballod’s mound suggest that they may have been parts of jade garments, known as “armors”.

Keywords: Jade, Xiongnu, Han epoch, Mongolia, Noyon Uul burials.