Afanas'evo culture in Xinjiang

The article presents the most complete information on the currently knownmanifestations of Afanasievo culture in Xinjiang. The author argues that, contrary topopular belief, any signs of the influence of Afanasievo culture in the territories southof the Tien Shan, including sites of the Gumugou type, are not registered. Only two Afanasievo type mounds have been excavated in the very north of region, the materialshave not yet been published yet. Other evidences of Afanasievo presence in Xinjiangare limited to clay and stone vessels with typical Afanasievo features. Fifteen images ofobjects available for the study are published. Their ornamentation and shapes, as well asthe connection of a number of finds with Qiemuerqieke cultural phenomenon of the EarlyBronze Age, in the author's opinion evidence penetration of the bearers of Afanasievoculture to Xinjiang on the late stage of its existence (in the second quarter of the 3rd mill.BC) and the newcomers' coexistence with the bearers of Qiemuerqieke phenomenon.Dispersed distribution of specific features of Afanasievo ceramics of Xinjiang in theAltai and Upper Yenisei regions shows that Afanasievo people of Xinjjiang, in their turn,influenced their northern neighbors. Besides evidence of the influence of the bearers of theChemurchek phenomenon in Afanasievo ceramics of Xinjiang some components of EastEuropean origin can be traced. This could be yet another confirmation of participation ofthe population of the East European steppes in migration of the Qiemuerqieke populationfrom as far as France to Altai in early 3rd mill. Bc.