Defensive armament of the Hunnu
https://doi.org/10.25205/2499-9997-2023-1-53-74
Abstract
The article analyzes the findings of protective equipment made in the archaeological monuments of the Hunnu culture on the territory of Transbaikalia and Mongolia. The description of the main features of horn and iron plates is given, their images are shown. The origin of various elements of armor plating and the period of their existence are considered. Reconstructions of the armours and helmets of the Hunnu have been created with the involvement of fully preserved analogues. The Hunnic warriors used lamellar and scaly cuirass, poncho, and robe armor, as well as lamellar helmets with a closed dome and an open top. The leading role of the Hunnu in the development of iron armor in Central Asia is noted. The appearance of new details of lamellar armor with an original system of six holes and a plate shape borrowed from scaly armor was revealed in the Hunnu. These plates were borrowed by other nomads and the Chinese. It is concluded that the level of development of defensive means allowed the Hunnu to form independent units of armored cavalry. More complete types of armour and helmets, including those of imported origin, were probably owned by commanders (representatives of the nobility). Ordinary warriors used armor of a lightweight design, where in addition to iron, less resistant materials (horn, leather, wood) were also used. Despite the fact that the Hunnu armored cavalry did not yet have sufficient penetrating power in the confrontation with the Chinese infantry, their experience in the development of defensive weapons proved useful for the subsequent evolution of armor among the Nomads.
Supporting agencies: The work was financially supported by the Russian Science Foundation (Project No. 22-18-00470 «The World of Ancient Nomads of Inner Asia: Interdisciplinary Studies of Material Culture, Sculptures and Economy»).
About the Authors
V. V. Gorbunov
Altai State University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Vadim V. Gorbunov, Doctor of History, Professor of Department of Archaeology, Ethnography and Museology
Lenin Ave. 61, Barnaul, 656049
O. S. Likhacheva
Altai State University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Olga S. Likhacheva, PhD in History, Senior Lecturer of Department of Archaeology, Ethnography and Museology
Lenin Ave. 61, Barnaul, 656049
References
1. Bai Zhongjin Reconstruction of a suit of Iron Armor from a Han Tomb in the Nortern Suburb of Xi’an. Kaogu, 1998, No. 3, pp. 79–89. (In Chin.).
2. Bobrov L. A., Khudyakov Yu. S. Military xianbei States of Northern China IV–VI centuries AD. In: Th military art of Central Asian nomadic xianbei in the era. Novosibirsk: NGU Publ., 2005, pp. 80–199. (In Russ.).
3. Gorbunov V. V. Аrmours of the Early Iron Age in Altai. In: Results of the study of the Scythian epoch of Altai and adjacent territories. Barnaul: Altai State University Publ., 1999, pp. 47–55. (In Russ.).
4. Gorbunov V. V. Xianbei armor. In: Th military art of Central Asian nomadic xianbei in the era. Novosibirsk: NGU Publ., 2005. pp. 200–223. (In Russ.).
5. Gorbunov V. V. Ethno-cultural features in the fashioning of iron plates for lamellar armour. In: Brief reports of the Institute of Archaeology, 2013, iss. 231, pp. 78–87. (In Russ.).
6. Gorbunov V. V., Likhacheva O. S. Body protection equipment of the early nomads of Mongolia (material and pictorial sources). In: Eurasia from the Aeneolithic (Chalcolithic) Era to the Early Middle Ages (Innovations, Contacts, Transmission of Ideas and Technologies). SPb.: Institute for the History of Material Culture RAS Publ., 2022, pp. 403–406. (In Russ.).
7. Gorelik M. V. Armour of the steppe zone of Eurasia and the adjacent territories in the fist Millennium AD. In: Th military population of the South of Siberia and the Far East. Novosibirsk: Nauka Publ., 1993, pp. 149–179. (In Russ.).
8. Gorelik M. V. Weapons of the ancient East (IV millennium – IV century BC). SPb.: Atlant, Publ., 2003, 336 p. (In Russ.).
9. Davydova A. V. Ivolginsky archaeological complex. Vol. 1: Ivolginsky settlement. SPb.: Fond «AziatIKA» Publ., 1995, 282 p. (In Russ.).
10. Erdenebaatar D., Iderkhangai T., Mijiddorj E., Orgilbayar S., Batbold N., Galbadrakh B., Maratkhaan A. Balgasyn tal dakhi Gol Mod-2-n khunnugyin iazguurtny bulshny sudalgaa [Investigation of xiongnu elite burials Gol Mod-2 at Balgasyn tal]. Ulaanbaatar: Ulaanbaatar University, 2015, 257 р. (In Mongolian).
11. Khudyakov Yu. S. Weapons of medieval nomads of South Siberia and Central Asia. Novosibirsk: Nauka Publ., 1986, 268 p. (In Russ.).
12. Khudyakov Yu. S. Evolution of the compound bow among the nomads of Central Asia. In: Military affirs of the population of the South of Siberia and the Far East. Novosibirsk: Nauka Publ., 1993, pp. 107–148. (In Russ.).
13. Khudyakov Yu. S. Armour of Central Asian nomads. Novosibirsk: NGU Publ., 2003, 202 p. (In Russ.).
14. Khudyakov Yu. S. Whistling arrows of Maodun: the military affirs of the Hunnu. SPb.: Eurasia Publ., 2021, 192 р. (In Russ.).
15. Khudyakov Yu. S., Yui Su-Khua Patterns and paradoxes of the development of weapons of the Nomads of Central Asia (comparative analysis of the Hunnu and Xianbi armament complexes). In: Eurasia: the cultural heritage of ancient civilizations. Issue 3: Paradoxes of archaeology. Novosibirsk: NGU Publ., 2004, pp. 181–194. (In Russ.).
16. Konovalov P. B. Huns in Transbaikalia (Funerary monument). UlanUde: Buryat Publ., 1976, 221 p. (In Russ.).
17. Materials on the history of sünnu (Chinese sources). Preface, translation and notes V. S. Tuskin, Moscow: Nauka Publ., 1968, 177 p. (In Russ.).
18. Materials on the history of sünnu (Chinese sources). Issue 2. Preface, translation and notes V. S. Tuskin, Moscow: Nauka Publ., 1973, 171 p. (In Russ.).
19. Minyaev S. S. Dyrestuysky burial ground. SPb.: Philological faculty SPbGU Publ., 2007, 233 p. (In Russ.).
20. Restoration of the iron armor from the Tomb of Prince of Qi of the Western Han Dynasty (Th Municipal Museum of Zibo, Shandong and others). Kaogu, 1987, No. 11, pp. 1032–1046. (In Chin.).
21. Rez K. I., Yui Su-Khua To the question of the defensive armament of the Hunnu and Xianbi. In: Eurasia: the cultural heritage of ancient civilizations. Issue 2: Horizons of Eurasia. Novosibirsk: NGU Publ., 1999, pp. 48–55. (In Russ.).
22. Rudenko S. I. Th culture of the Huns and mounds noinuli. Moscow, Leningrad: AS USSR Publ., 1962, 206 p. (In Russ.).
Review
For citations:
Gorbunov V.V., Likhacheva O.S. Defensive armament of the Hunnu. Universum Humanitarium. 2023;(1):53-74. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.25205/2499-9997-2023-1-53-74
Views:
423
Email this article 