Altai nomadic peoples' Social systems in late antiquity and early middle Ages: main results of the studies based on archaeological material

This paper presents an overview of results of the studies dedicated to socialsystems of the Altai peoples in Late Antiquity and Middle Ages conducted by scholarsfrom Altai State University (Barnaul). It summarizes main conclusions regarding theinterpretation of excavation materials from the archaeological sites located in the culturaland historical area, dating to the Arzhan-Mayemir, Scythian-Saka, Xiongnu-Xianbei-Rouran periods and the Early Middle Ages. The paper focuses on characterization ofmethodological aspects of the previous studies and highlights prospects of follow-upresearch in the said areas