Elite of the early mediaeval Turks in the Sayany-Altai mountains(according to the materials from burial associations)

The paper discusses principal aspects of investigations of social elite amongthe early mediaeval Turks of the Sayany-Altai mountainous region and Central Asia. Writ-ten sources contain some information on specific features of the nomadic upper circles'lifestyle. Comprehensive researches of burial complexes might contribute significantlyto obtaining more detailed information on the point. A series of elite burials of the earlymediaeval Turks with basic characteristics have been singled out as a result of the analy-sis. Nomadic social elite of the Sayany-Altai and Central Asia was characterized by he-terogeneity, which confirms complex character of social organization of the nomads in thesecond part of the 1 st mill. AD.