Признаки элитарного социального статуса в погребениях енисейских кыргызов Центральной Тувы (IX–X вв.)

Журнал Сибирского федерального университета. Серия: Гуманитарные науки. 2025. № 18 (11). С. 2259–2270.

Vasilev A.

The research focuses on identifying markers of elite social status in the burials of the Yenisei Kyrgyz in Central Tuva from the 9th to 10th centuries. By analyzing 121 objects from 10 sites located in the most densely populated area of the Yenisei Kyrgyz territory, criteria for social differentiation were established through the identification of high social status markers. Key markers of elite status include the correlation between mound diameter and the number of prestigious grave goods, the higher frequency of iron belt sets in elite burials, and the association of arrowheads quantity with high social rank. These features highlight the cultural specificity of the Kyrgyz while demonstrating their affinity with ancient Turkic concepts of a “power complex.” The research contributes to reconstructing the social structure of Kyrgyz society by providing a set of markers for further quantitative study of burial complexes of this culture in the Sayan-Altai region.

Keywords: elite burials, Tuva, Тува, Yenisei Kyrgyz, енисейские кыргызы, элитарные погребения, elite status markers, power complex, признаки элитарного статуса, комплекс власти