Burial ground to the north of the ancient city of Jiaohe (Yar-Hoto) in Xinjiang and the problem of its chronological and cultural attribution

Archaeological materials from the cemetery on the plateau north of the ancient city of Jiaohe in Turfan county, Xinjiang-Weiguer Autonomous Region of the PRC are analysed in this article. According to ancient Chinese chronicles, the last centuries B.C. - first centuries A.D. were the time of hard fighting between Han Empire and Xiongnu for Turfan. The graves of Jiaohe belong to the nobility and common people of Jushi (Chushi) state. According to archaeological finds ancient cemetery to the north of the city of Jiaohe is dated not to hunno-sarmathian (Han), but to the previous Scythian period (V-IV centuries B.C.).