Interaction of bronze and early iron age cultures in South Siberia, Xinjiang and Northern China

After decades of efforts by archaeologists, the general outline of the cultural exchange between South Siberia, Northern China and Xinjiang during the Bronze and early Iron Age has been clarified. There are several examples. A branch of the Europeoid population entered Xinjiang, leaving their archaeological relicts which held both some similarities to the Afanasievo culture, as well as some distinct differences. Sites of the Andronovo culture (Andronovo historical-cultural community) have been found both in the northern and the southern parts of Xinjiang, thus indicating several main routes of its penetration. Bronze items of Seima-Turbino and Karasuk appearance are wide spread in Northern China and the Central Plain (at Yinxu). The Xiajiadian upper layer culture spread in North-Eastern China (Dongbei) forms the common historical-cultural space with Slab-grave culture of Northern Mongolia and the Transbaikal region. Bronze weapons and ornaments, made in Scythian-Siberian animal style belonging to the Early Iron Age are also widespread in Xinjiang and Northern China. However, at the same time, a series of unsettled archeological issues are also gradually emerging. This article not only gives a brief summary of what has been achieved, but also puts forward our views regarding some problems. Around 2000 BC a European population of ethnic migrants came from the West to Xinjiang and left archaeological remains there, which are represented by early burials in the Сhemurchek cemetery. Andronovo culture monuments were widespread in western and central Xinjiang, and possibly further eastward, which may be reflected in relicts of cultures of the period prior to the Yin dynasty in northern China. From around 1300 BC, some ornamentations on pottery and bronze from Yinxu changed dramatically, and have great similarities with the cultures of the late Bronze Age in South Siberia and Kazakhstan. On the other hand, these factors were not found in Northern China, which shows there could be a population migration from South Siberia or northern Kazakhstan to the Central Plain in a short period of time. The fact that chariots suddenly appeared in Yinxu may be related to this. The curled animals and the shape of double and single birds on the Hongshan jades “in the form of a bent cloud” are very similar to the motifs of the Shang-Zhou culture and the art of the Scythians, their common origin shows that Northern China played an important role in the formation of the «Scythian-Siberian animal style».