Study of the Chinese "northern barbarian": materials of Russian researchers

The half of century portions out the Karasuk and Xiongnu cultures, but the problems of their chronological and cultural attribution are relevant not only to the Late Bronze Age and Late Antiquity, respectively. They are immediately related to the problems of the Scythian-Siberian world. First, many researchers persevere in their attempts to find the sources of the Scythian art in Karasuk culture. It is no wonder, because this style of art follows by “Karasuk” in time and in the same area. Secondly, according to the images of weapons, knives and other objects on deer stones of Mongolia, it was purposed that these items were made since the Late Bronze Age, and during almost all of the Early Scythian period (i.e, from 9th to the end of 7th century BC). Thirdly, we suggested that some items of Karasuk character were continued to be produced in Mongolia, Northern China in the Scythian time. Opinion of N.L. Chlenova about the knives and daggers was not confirmed, but some ornaments really preserved at the territory from Transbaikal to Northern China even in the 5th century BC. The cultures of Xiongnu-Xianbei time took the place of Scythian communities. Two epochs on the boundaries of Iron Age can not be completely studied without materials of Chinese archaeology. Searching for analogies gave a life to intensive investigation of Chinese antiquities, which had fared quite well in that stage.