Dating of burial complexes at the Pazyryk culture periphery

Basing on a comprehensive review of the dendrochronology, radiocarbon dating and archaeological material data, the authors conclude that the overwhelming burial grounds number in the Pazyryk culture areal periphery refers to its later stage. That is supported by the following points: 1) almost all of funerary structures, studied in peripheral regions and included to the tree-ring chronology, are dated within 326-275years B.C.; 2) as a rule, inventory and funeral ritual in these burial grounds also have late features. Consequently Pazyryk people spread over the Altai Mountains entire territory about the second half of IV - beginning of III cc. B.C. Recently in Altay district (Xinjiang, China) about 20 tumuli with accompanying horse burials, wooden chambers and stone boxes in various combinations were investigated. According to the inventory and funeral rite peculiarities they refer to Pazyryk culture late stage, as tumuli found in North-West Mongolia.