Stonework of the Altai population at the 2nd century B.C. - the 5th century AD

In this work we generalize the results of our study of stonework in Altai at the Hun-Sarmat period, based on the researches of the archaeological sources. It is noted that this craft is represented in the region only by products of stone cutting manufacture, which are basically tools and adornments, among which the most common ones are spindles, grinding bars or whetstones, beads and pendants from various types of stones. Findings of other stone products (incense-burner, stone graters, and plaques) are rare. A set of technological operations and tools was quite diverse: to make stone adornments the Altai ancient masters used such operations as cutting, grinding, drilling, and polishing. As a result of the study, we conclude that tools and part of adornments were made of local rocks: rock crystal, calcite, fine-grained white marble, microcrystal green slates. Types of stone, from which were made the rest of the found adornments (carnelian, sard, sapphirine, amber, jade etc.) were imported. Studies of geological formations in Altai did not show deposits of carnelian, sarder and sapphirine. Deposits of carnelian (serdolik) are widespread throughout the world: they are known in the Trans-Baikal region, Yakutia, the Far East, the Crimea, India and Central America. Sard is usually found along with carnelian. In Russia, significant reserves of sard have been found only in the Trans-Baikal region. Sapphirine is a rare variety of chalcedony, its deposits have been found only in India. Natural amber has not been found in Altai; its nearest deposit is located in Burma and the Baltic-Dnepr amber-bearing area. Jade is a widespread decorative stone. The deposits of jade are known in Yakutia, Tuva, China and many other areas, but it was not mined in Altai. Adornments from these types of stones appeared in Altai rather as finished products, than raw materials. The place of their production is to be identified.