Images of weaponry and banners of the Tocharian warriors on frescoes of Karashar, Kyzyl and Shorchuk (based on materials of Albert von Le Coq)

Purpose. We examined images of warriors depicted on frescoes from several archaeological sites explored on the territory of Xinjiang at the beginning of the 20th century by the German archaeologist Albert von Le Coq. He studied the ancient and medieval objects as part of German scientific expeditions during several years and published a series of books on the archaeology of Eastern Turkistan. Results. Tocharian warriors are depicted on murals at the sites of Karashar, Kyzyl and Shorchuk, that were studied by Albert von Le Coq. In accordance with the results of his exploring, the warriors represented on frescoes of Karashar and Shorchuk are dressed in spherical helmets and long armour similar to the armour of the Iranian warriors in the Early Middle Ages, in particular, during the period of Sassanid Dynasty in Persia. The warrior represented on the fresco from Kyzyl is shown wearing a helmet with wings. The German explorer described in detail the helmets, armour and shields, as well as the banners of the Tocharian warriors. The top of the spear hold by the warrior from Kyzyl is in the form of the head of a dragon. Such tops were characteristic for the warriors of Parthia in accordance with A. von Le Coq. The horseman from Karashar is shown with a semicircular banner in his hand with two triangular closes. The pictures of the Tocharian warriors studied by the scientist were described by him in several books devoted to the analysis of the results of the German scientific expeditions in Eastern Turkistan at the beginning of the 20th century. Conclusion. During the last years, the scientific heritage of the European scientists who explored the ancient and traditional cultures of different people inhabiting Eastern Turkistan in the periods of ancient and medieval history at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century has been actively studied by Russian orientalists and archaeologists. A significant place in this heritage belongs to scientific works of German archaeologists, including A. von Le Coq. He described the details observed on the frescos studied with great accuracy. For example, the Tocharian horseman on the mural from the site Shorchuk is represented with an oval shield on his belt behind his back. He has a sword in sheath, a quiver and a bow bag hung on the belt. The warrior is in the saddle, astride his militant horse. The horse is depicted with its mane and tail cut short, wearing bridle and belts that tie the saddle. Descriptions of these images provide explorers with very informative graphic sources for reconstructing the armament complex of the Tocharian warriors of Eastern Turkestan during the Early Middle Ages.