Pages: 129-138

The article discusses unique 7th century materials from the Turkic mausoleum in Bayannuur sum of the Bulgan aimag of Mongolia. The sculptural images belong to one of the Tiele (Tokuz-Oghuz) tribes that were part of the Tang Empire. They are currently stored in the Kharkhorin museum. 11 equestrian figures were studied. A safety assessment of the ceramic microplastics is given. The riders’ clothes elements are revealed, a characteristic of the anthropological appearance of the prototype statuettes is given. A separate description of the horses is also offered. It has been determined that a number of images have traditional musical instruments in their hands, which are also used in the funerary rite. Image prototypes are undoubtedly Mongoloid and most likely belonged to the Turanid race. Ceramic microplastics demonstrate the authentic appearance of the ancient Turks of Mongolia and expand the range of sources on the anthropology of medieval Inner Asia.

Keywords: Inner Asia, Mongolia, Early Middle Ages, Turks, Tang Empire, anthropology, Turanid race, ceramic microplastics

Information about author:

Alexey Buraev (Ulan-Ude, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute for Mongolian, Buddhist and Tibetan Studies of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Sakhyanova St., 6, Ulan-Ude, 670047, Republic of Buryatia, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]