Pages: 145-156

The current body of knowledge is presented on the history of the Middle Yenisei population in the Late Middle Ages, including a compilation of written sources on the history of Southern Siberia of the Mongol time. The Kyrgyz Khaganate, one of the earliest state formations on the territory of Russia, was the target of the first major conquest of the Mongol army. Later on, the territory and population of the Khaganate were split among different states emerging on the ruins of the Mongol Empire. In this regard, this work combines and analyzes heterogeneous sources for the Late Middle Ages of the Khakassia-Minusinsk Hollow and the adjacent territories, including archaeological ones. The authors describe characteristic topography and planning of burial grounds with cremations and inhumations. The grave goods, on the one hand, are as versatile as the complex of artefacts common for all ethnic groups exposed to the Mongol influence, and on the other hand, they have a strong technological and aesthetic identity of predominantly metal products, which are inherent for the peoples of the Southern Siberia.

Keywords: Southern Siberia, Middle Yenisei, Khakassia-Minusinsk Hollow, Mongol Empire, Kyrgyz Khaganate, Mongol time, Late Middle Ages, written sources, funerary rite, material culture

Information about authors:

Sergey Skobelev. Candidate of Historical Sciences. Novosibirsk State University. Pirogov St., 2, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russian Federation.
E-mail: [email protected]
Anton Vybornov. Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Academician Lavrentyev Ave., 17, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russian Federation.
E-mail: [email protected]