Decorated belts in the culture of the nomads of Tuva
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25178/nit.2021.1.2Keywords:
nomads; Scythian period; Tuva; Tuvans; traditional costume; belt; belt fittingsAbstract
One of the most important components of the nomadic cultures of Central Asia is the belt, which is both of huge pragmatic importance and endowed with a symbolic meaning. This makes it possible to match the structural features of the belt and its accessories and the cultural and historical developments in a nomadic society, with the former being excellent indicators of the latter.
From the early Scythian times (8th century BC and later) and up to the late Middle Ages, the so-called ‘decorated belts’ reached the peak of their popularity. The leather belt of this type was covered with metallic or bone decorations which were used for attaching the staple items and weapons. In Tuvan culture, leather belt is mainly worn as a shoulder rig to carry weapon. At the same time, textile belts were also used (and have survived up to now) as a robe girdle. The use of this important accessory reveals a certain cultural continuity between Scythian-time nomads and the ‘ethnographic’ nomadism, due to, among other things, the similarity between their economies and cultures.
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For citation:
Kilunovskaya M. E., Semenov V. A. Semenov A. V. and Busova V. S. Decorated belts in the culture of the nomads of Tuva. New Research of Tuva, 2021, no. 1, pp. 30-50. (In Russ.). DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.25178/nit.2021.1.2
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Author Biographies
Marina E. Kilunovskaya, Institute for the History of Material Culture, Russian Academy of Sciences
Candidate of History, Senior Researcher, Department of Archaeology of Central Asia and the Caucasus, Institute for the History of Material Culture, Russian Academy of Sciences.
Postal address: 18 Dvortsovaya nab., 191186 Saint-Petersburg, Russia.
Tel.: +7 (911) 191-52-06.
E-mail: kilunmar@mail.ru
Vladimir A. Semenov, Institute for the History of Material Culture, Russian Academy of Sciences
Candidate of History, Senior Researcher, Department of Archaeology of Central Asia and the Caucasus, Institute for the History of Material Culture, Russian Academy of Sciences.
Postal address: 18 Dvortsovaya nab., Saint-Petersburg 191186, Russia.
Tel.: +7 (911) 266-04-53.
E-mail: ranbov@yandex.ru
Anatoly V. Semenov, Institute for the History of Material Culture, Russian Academy of Sciences
Junior Researcher, Laboratory of treatment and digital processing of archaeological collections, Institute for the History of Material Culture, Russian Academy of Sciences.
Postal address: 18 Dvortsovaya nab., Saint-Petersburg 191186, Russia.
Tel.: +7 (911) 139-31-34.
E-mail: blaze85@inbox.ru
Varvara S. Busova, Institute for the History of Material Culture, Russian Academy of Sciences
Junior Researcher, Department of Archaeology of Central Asia and the Caucasus, Institute for the History of Material Culture, Russian Academy of Sciences.
Postal address: 18 Dvortsovaya nab., Saint-Petersburg 191186, Russia.
Tel.: +7 (921) 300-92-98.
E-mail: kulturnijkarman@gmail.com
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