UDC 903 ' 14

N. V. Polosmak 1, E. S. Bogdanov 1, D. Tseveendorzh 2, N. Erdene-Ochir 2

1 Institute of Archeology and Ethnography SB RAS

17 Akademika Lavrentieva Ave., Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia

E-mail: bogdanov@archaeology.nsc.ru

E-mail: natalia.polosmak@gmail.com

2 Institute of Archaeology of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences

Археологийн хурээлэн Монгол улсын шинжлэхухааны академийн

Жуковын гудамж, 77, Улаанбаатар, 51

E-mail: dtseveen@yahoo.com

HAN CHARIOT FROM MOUND 20 IN NOIN-UL (MONGOLIA)*

The article examines the archaeological context of the location of the Yao che light walking chariot in Noin-Ula mound 20. Its details are described and analogies are drawn. It is established that the chariot was placed in the grave pit in an unassembled form, but with the wheels removed. Her transportation to the burial was carried out by dromos. The tradition of placing a chariot (or chariots) in the grave corresponds to the ancient Chinese funeral rites.

In 2006, in the Noin-Ula Mountains (Northern Mongolia), the South Altai Detachment of the Institute of Ethnography of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, together with the Institute of Archeology of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, investigated a unique burial complex-the "royal" Xiongnu mound. The results of the work were reflected in preliminary publications [Polos'mak. Bogdanov and Tseveendordj, 2006; Polosmak, Tseveendordj, Bogdanov, 2007; Polosmak et al., 2008, pp. 77-87].

Description of the archaeological context of the find

The upper part of the chariot (umbrella and body parts) was found at a depth of 11.62-12.66 m (from conditional zero) at the level of the last, fifth, step of the grave pit, almost in the center, closer to the eastern wall (Fig. 1). The chariot was damaged during the looting: during the device of the robber's course, the umbrella and the rear and side parts of the body were destroyed; they were deformed under the weight of a multi-ton rammed grave filling consisting of clay and stones. The details of the chariot were arranged in a sequential order; therefore, the chariot was placed in the grave in an unassembled form, the wheels were obviously removed and laid flat, similar to the Chinese burials of the Zhanguo and Han periods. (For example, in border 2 of the Zihedian burial ground (prov. Shan-tung) only the wheels of the chariots were removed.)

The first remains of an umbrella were found (Fig. 2): in situ traces of 19 (out of 24) black lacquered spokes with gold-plated copper pommels with a four-petalled rosette at the end**were preserved.

* This work was supported by RFBR grant No. 06 - 06 - 80069a and NSH grant No. 1648.2008.6. and project No. 21.2 of the RAS Program "Adaptation of peoples and cultures to changes in the natural environment, social and man-made transformations".

** Another copper umbrella spoke pommel (20s) was found in the robber's loophole. Below Naide's chariot-

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1. Stratigraphy of the Noin-Ula burial mound 20.

2. Clearing the umbrella of the Han chariot.

3. Bronze and gold-plated tips of the umbrella spokes of the Han chariot with fragments of spokes covered with black lacquer.

4. Leather "patch" for stretching the silk covering of the chariot umbrella.

The gold-plated tips of the umbrella spokes found in situ are close in length (just over 9 cm), but not identical, so we can assume that they were cast in different shapes. Each pommel has a sharp spike facing up (Fig. 3). Many of the spikes still have small rounded leather strips folded in half, sewn with small stitches to the silk cover of the umbrella (Fig.4). Inside each "patch" were found wooden sticks tightly wrapped in silk. Most likely, small pieces of leather with wooden parts inserted in them were sewn specifically so that they could be stretched with the help of spikes on the copper tips of the spokes of the silk covering of the umbrella, without fear of tearing. Traces of knotted silk ribbons, painted red with cinnabar, are recorded on the upper wooden part of the umbrella handle, where the spokes were inserted, and on the three tips of the spokes (see Fig. 2, 5). The length of the latter, together with the pommels, was about 1 m. The diameter of the upper part of the wooden umbrella handle, similar to that found in Noin-Ulinsky mound 6, was 0.1 m (Rudenko, 1962, p. 47, Fig.42). Thus, the umbrella diameter reached approx. 2.1 m. Such an umbrella could completely cover the riders.

Under the umbrella and stone lining (at a depth of 12.25 - 13.33 m), the right part of the chariot body was found (Fig. 6). The body is made of wood, covered with silk fabric and varnish. The ip tree itself-

there are four more pommels of the same shape. They differ from those described earlier in that they are made of a different metal, do not have gilding and remnants of wood inside, are shorter (their length is not much more than 7 cm) and more massive.

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5. Pommel spokes of an umbrella with remnants of silk ribbon in situ.

Fig. 6. Side wall of the chariot

7. Pommels of a wooden rod that reinforced the side wall of the chariot.

8. Remnants of the front wall of the Han chariot.

it smouldered; the space between the layers of varnish was filled with clay with inclusions of small scattered pieces of wood. On the inner surface of the lacquered body layer, you can distinguish a relief that reflects the interweaving of the fabric. The side wall of the chariot (height 0.45-0.5 m, width 0.6 m) has a relief "checkered" surface, which is covered with red varnish and contoured with black varnish. At the edge, it was reinforced with a wooden rod with a bronze, gilded cylindrical pommel (Fig. 7). The front wall of the chariot is deformed, not completely preserved (Fig. 8). Its upper part is a ribbed "chute" (width 0.15 m), and the lower part consists of three relief strips. The entire front wall (0.4 m high) was covered with black lacquer; its layer thickness was 2 - 3 mm. The floor of the chariot (the dimensions of the preserved part are 0.5 x 1 m) is represented by traces of black-lacquered wooden slats, reinforced crosswise and creating a lattice surface (the dimensions of the rhombuses that they formed are 9 x 9 cm) (Figs. 9-11). Corroded fragments of ironwork were found under the floor of the chariot, possibly structurally related to the chariot.

To the east and west of the chariot body, at a depth of 12.9 - 13.7 m, there were the remains of two wooden wheels with a diameter of approx. 1.5 m (see Figs. 9, 12). The spokes of the wheels are covered with black lacquer, in the central part - red. The wide wooden rim (8 cm thick) was painted black and did not contain any metal parts (Figure 13). The wheel, judging by the better-preserved right one, probably had 21 spokes. The inner small rim, to which the spokes were attached, was painted red on the outside and black on the inside. The wheels were attached to the axle

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Fig. 9. Chariot body plan from the Noin-Ula mound. 20 and finds near it.

Fig. 10. Chariot seat and body part from Noin-Ula mound 20.

11. Remains of the chariot floor (in the center - corroded fragments of iron products).
with the help of two iron bushings and rings, as well as massive bronze, gilded bearings (only one was found) (Fig. 14). A bronze, gilded cylindrical pommel with the remains of a wooden rod inside was also found (Fig. 15).

Key findings and interpretation

Chariots made from Xiongnu tombs are a unique material for studying the designs and decoration of Han chariots. The chariot found in mound 20 in Noin-Ul belongs to

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Fig. 12. Plan of mutual location of finds under the chariot body.

13. Fragment of the right wheel in situ.

Fig. 14. Bronze, gilded oosnik with the remains of a wooden axle.

15. Bronze, gilded tip of a jugular pole (?).

yao che is the most popular and versatile type of carriage in Han times. Such carts were used both as light pleasure carriages and as military chariots. They are distinguished by the presence of a Hua gai umbrella, which refers to innovations that appeared in the Han period. In the Qin era, the umbrella was not widely used [Kozhanov, 1984, p. 74]. The " che " wheels were large, with a massive hub, and the spokes were different in cross-section and configuration: closer to the joint with the hub, they were ellipsoid, and near the rim, they were almost round. Such a cart was usually harnessed by one horse, sometimes by two or three [Ibid., p. 70] (Fig. 16).

Light chariots with umbrellas, judging by the finds, were also buried in other Noin-Ula mounds that were previously studied. Bronze tips of umbrella spokes (they were scattered in the burial chamber) are recorded in Mokry (N 1) [Rudenko, 1962, p. 117, Tables 28, 6, 7], Kondratievsky mounds, and kurg. 25 [Ibid., p. 123]. Parts of umbrellas, wooden wheels, as well as axles were found [Ibid., Tables 24, 5, 6], brackets-handrails [Ibid., Table. 28, 1, 2, 4], rings for attaching reins [Ibid., Tables 28, 3, 5].

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16. Reconstruction of a light horse-drawn carriage of the Han period (according to [Liu Yonghua, 2002, p. 133]).

17. Reconstruction of a chariot from Han Tomb 1 near Mount Shuangzhuashan (according to Cui Dayong, 1997, p. 24).

18. A smaller copy of a chariot from the Han burial site No. 48 near Wuwei, China. Gansu (from [Liu Yonghua, 2002, p. 105, fig. 127]).

A light wagon similar to the one in question was found in 2005 by French archaeologists in Mog. T20 of the Gol-Mod monument in the Archangai aimag of the Republic of Mongolia (Guilhem, 2007, p. 75; Desroches, 2007, pic. 21). Bronze pommels of umbrella spokes, metal parts of wheels, and remnants of red lacquer from the chariot walls were found in the grave pit (Guilhem, 2007, p. 71-73; Desroches, 2007, pic. 13).

On the territory of modern China, authentic chariots of the Yao Che type were found in many Han graves (see fig. For example, [Liu Yonghua, 2002, p. 133; Cui Dayong, 1997, p. 24]). At the chariot from the Han burial on the monument at Mount Shuangzhushan in the prov. Shandong wheels were approximately 144 cm across and had approx. 30 spokes. 30 mushroom-shaped pommels of an umbrella made of gilded bronze (5.6 cm long) were also found in the burial site. Umbrella diameter 160 cm. Traces of silk fabric are traced on the spokes. The body is poorly preserved. Numerous copper details of the chariot are inlaid with silver and demonstrate the high level of Han art (Cui Dayun, 1997, pp. 19-21). Although the chariot was not completely preserved (most of the wooden parts were decayed, and the metal parts were haphazardly laid down), Chinese researchers tried to reconstruct it taking into account the wooden and bronze models of chariots found in Han burials, materials from the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, references in written sources, as well as numerous images of chariots of the Han era. The details of chariot No. 1 from Shuangzhushan (Fig. 17) fully correspond to the details of the chariot from the burial site in Mancheng (prov. Hebei) and a smaller replica of a chariot from the Han burial site No. 48 in the area of Moz-zutzi near the city of Uwei (fig. 18). This indicates that they belong to one type, which in written monuments is called a "light military chariot" * [Ibid., p. 22].

In the" Dispute over salt and Iron "- one of the most important sources on the culture of the Western Han era - Huan Kuan, decrying the modern mores, describes this type of chariot with umbrellas as follows: "Now among the commoners, the rich (decorate the carriages) with silver and gold, including golden flowers with stems curved in the form of a claw which are fixed at the ends of the arches that form the frame of the canopy of the chariot, (and) tie bunchukas to poles and wrap (brocade) the shafts of banners; middle-class people encrust the bits of horses with gold, paint (parts of the crew) in bright red-

* Translated from Chinese by A. N. Chistyakova.

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They are decorated with jade banners and (used in carts) "flying wooden lattices" " [2001, pp. 85-86]. It is interesting to note that according to the Jin-di edict (144 BC), dignitaries who received 2000 measures of shi had the right to paint both side screens of their carriage with cinnabar, and officials who received from 1000 to 600 shi - only the left screen [Ibid., pp. 356-357].

Chariots were one of the so-called five baits of the Chinese court, designed to subdue the Xiongnu (barbarians-Hu) and force them to fall at the feet of the emperor. "We will attract, we will attract their ears, we will attract their eyes, we will attract their mouths, we will attract their stomachs, and they will be attracted in four ways," the reports of a high - ranking official to the emperor said. "And we'll also draw their hearts to us." So will we not subdue the barbarians-hu, force them to fall (at our feet)?! This is called the five lures" (cit. by: [Ermakov, 2005, p. 375]). As the first bait, the heads of the Xiongnu clans were recommended to provide, along with other luxury items, five silver - trimmed chariots, and the fourth bait - as a sign of generosity to the surrendered, large Xiongnu people who went over to the Chinese side-along with other benefits, a war chariot for personal storage [Ibid.]. Apparently, this is how the chariots got to the steppe, to the Xiongnu.

Chariots of other types are also found in the Xiongnu burials of the period under consideration. For example, in mound 7 of the Tsaram burial ground in Buryatia, a Han chariot was found (Minyaev and Sakharovskaya, 2007), which, according to the reconstruction proposed by the authors of the excavations, differs in type from the chariot from Noin-Ula mound 20 (ibid., Fig. 3, 5).

Conclusions

A light walking chariot of Yao che was placed in the grave pit of Noin-Ula mound 20 (it could be used both as a military chariot and as a hunting chariot). All its wooden parts were varnished, and the bronze parts were gilded. The umbrella was decorated with scarlet silk ribbons tied to every sixth spoke. The chariot was placed in the grave pit in an unassembled state, but with the wheels removed. Her transportation to the burial was carried out by dromos. The tradition of placing a chariot (or chariots) in a grave corresponds to ancient Chinese funerary rites. The Han nobility often left for another world accompanied by not one, but several or even several dozen chariots of various types. They were placed at the entrance to the grave, above or next to the burial chamber. The presence of a chariot in Noin-Ula mound 20 is evidence of the high status of the buried person and the observance of Han traditions in the funeral rite. According to Chinese written sources, chariots were among the important gifts of the imperial court presented to the Xiongnu nobility; representatives of the latter did not part with them even after death. However, the chariots could be not only a gift, but also military loot, the amount of which always far exceeded the voluntary donations received by the Xiongnu from the Han.

List of literature

Ermakov M. E. The Han Dynasty facing a Threat from Outside (from reports to Jia and Tron). Introduction, translations, conclusion / / Far East, Moscow: Izdat. firm " East. lit.", 2005. - Book 4. - p. 362-383. - (Countries and peoples of the East; issue 32).

Kozhanov S. T. Wheel transport of the Han era / / New in the archeology of China. Research and problems. Novosibirsk: Nauka Publ., 1984, pp. 67-75. (Istoriya i kul'tura Vostoka Azii).

Liu Yonghua. Ancient Chinese chariots and horse harness (equipment). Shanghai: Tsishu chubanyin Publ., 2002, 202 p. (in Russian) (in Chinese).

.Minyaev S. S., Sakharovskaya L. M. Han chariot from the Tsaram burial ground. to lead. - 2007. - Vol. 14. - p. 130-137.

Polos'mak N. V., Bogdanov E. S., Tseveendorzh D. Excavations of the Xiongnu mound in the Noin-Ula mountains, Northern Mongolia // Problems of Archeology, Ethnography, and Anthropology of Siberia and Adjacent Territories: Materials of the Annual Session of the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk: Izd. IAET SB RAS, 2006, vol. 12, part 1, pp. 460-462.

Polos'mak, N. V., Bogdanov, E. S., Tseveendorzh, D., and Erdene-Ochir, N., Study of the burial structure of Kurgan 20 in Noin-Ul (Mongolia), in Archeology, Ethnography, and Anthropology of Eurasia. - 2008. - N 2. - p. 77-87.

Rudenko S. I. Xiongnu culture and Noinuli mounds. - M.; L.: Publishing House of the USSR Academy of Sciences, 1962. - 203 p.

Huan Kuan. Dispute about salt and iron. - Moscow: Izdat. firm " East. lit.", 2001. - Vol. 2. - 829 p.

Cui Dayun. Zhongguo guday cheyu maju (Ancient Chinese chariots and horse equipment) / / Kaogu-1997. - N 3. - p. 16-26 (in Chinese).

Guilhem A. L'aristocratie xiongnu // Mongolie, les Xiongnu de l'Arkhagai. Mission archéologique francaise en Mongolie. Musée national des Arts asiatiques-Guimet. - P.: [S. 1.], 2007. - P. 70 - 75.

Desroches J.-P. The French Archaeological Mission in Mongolia // International symposium in celebrations of the 10-th anniversary of MON-SOL Project. - Seul, 2007. - P. 190 - 202.

Bogdanov E. S. Tseveendordj D., Polosmak N. V., Noin-Ula N 20 Tomb // International symposium in celebrations of the 10-th anniversary of MON-SOL Project. - Seul, 2007. - P. 155 - 176.

The article was submitted to the Editorial Board on 07.07.08.

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