Xiongnu Archaeology in Russia – New Discoveries

Between the late third and early second centuries BC, eastern Central Asia was dominated by a powerful confederation of nomadic tribes led by the Xiongnu. This steppe empire eventually succumbed to the Han dynasty and civil war, but not before leaving a rich archaeological legacy of silk, felt, textiles, metals, pottery, jade and other objects made of semi-precious stones. Over the last decade excavations of sites in the Trans Baikal region of the Buryatia Republic in Russia have begun to shed light on the social structure, material culture, and the art of the Xiongnu. The diversity of artifacts uncovered reveals this ancient people to have been skilled craftsmen, especially of Ordo-style bronze plaques.

Sponsored by:

Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center

Department of Anthropology

East Asian Studies Center

Pan Asia Institute

Russian and East European Institute

Glen A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology

Department of Central Eurasian Studies