Статус воина в обществе раннесредневековых тюрок Центральной Азии: опыт интерпретации археологических материалов
Warrior Status in the Early Medieval Turkic Society from Central Asia: an experience of interpretation of archaeological materials

Summary/Abstract: The article presents an attempt to studying warrior status in the Turkic society of Central Asia, based on analysis of the early medieval archaeological materials: funerary complexes, “memorial” objects, petroglyphs. Information from written sources is used to provide the historical background for the results of the excavations. It is established that the archaeological materials reflect a very high level of militarization of the nomadic society. Buried weapon was an indispensable indicator of a burial of an “accomplished” man. Some weapons (bladed weapons, battle ax, spear) were indicators of a person’s high status. Stone sculptures, as well as petroglyphs, demonstrate the realization of the canonical image of a warrior-hero in the mind of the early medieval nomads. Judging by the available information, the Turks had a special group of professional warriors, some of whom belonged to the elite of the nomadic society. At the same time, the society of the early medieval nomads was at a rather high level of development. One of the indicators of this was the presence not only of military power, but also of a kind of “administrative” or “bureaucratic” elite, not directly connected with military affairs.

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