The article is devoted to the analysis of a weapon set discovered during the excavations of the Tagar kurgan in the Askiz steppe in 2020. This complex consisted of two adjacent fences and a children's burial in a stone box between them. According to the characteristic features of the burial rite, the mound can be dated within the VIII – VII centuries BC. In the grave pit of fence No. 1, a bronze dagger with a knife in a well-preserved leather case with embroidery was found near the man's right hand. Typological features allow us to attribute these items to the Early Scythian stratum. A dagger with a slightly beveled roller-shaped pommel, a flat plate handle, a straight crosshair in the form of two spikes, a four-sided blade with a double-sided sharpening has a genetic connection with the Karasuk samples. The entire gun set has extensive analogies both among random finds in the Askiz steppe and in closed complexes on the territory of the Minusinsk basin. The ornament of four «mushroom-shaped» figures embroidered with tendon threads is unique for the Khakasko-Minusinsk steppes. Such finds expand our understanding of Early Bulgarian art, which appears to be very traditional at the initial stages. The "freedom" in the ornamentation of the leather cover analyzed in the article is determined by the «game» moments reflecting the individual consciousness of the ancient master, being a specific indicator of value cultural and mythological orientations. In this case, it was possible to fix a completely new plot within a rather closed visual system.

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.

The article analyzes information from Chinese dynastic chronicles about warfare and the armed forces of the Xianbei proto-state of Tuyuhun (Togon), which existed in the area of Kukunor lake in Northeastern Tibet in 313–663. In the course of the study we identified and analyzed episodes of the military history of Togon, that captured in the Chinese chronicles of nine dynasties (including fragments that had not previously been translated into Russian). Fragmentary information on the Togonian military history with numerous analogies from the Xianbei, Xiongnu, Qiang and Tangut chiefdoms and states (contemporary with Togon), show that the Togonian warfare corresponded to the level of neighboring ethnic groups and evolved in the same trend. The article takes into account the specificity of warfare of the period preceding the resettlement to Kukunor, its evolution towards the creation of "absolute" armor for the rider and horse, and considers the possible place in this process of Togon. Written sources make it possible to draw general conclusions about the structure of the Togonian armed forces, the weapons complex, and some tactical methods. In the absence of firmly established archaeological sites of Togon from the period of independence, more specific conclusions are not yet possible. For a better understanding of the place of Togon in the military history of the region, we have given a list of all its known episodes. The relatively long existence of this political formation, its important role in international trade and politics may indicate the relatively high combat capability of the Togon Xianbeis.

The article deals with pieces of protective armor, originating from occasional findings from the territory of the Shushensky district of the Krasnoyarsk Region. The research led us to understand that these findings are a fragment of a body armor with a lamellar[1]riveted armor structure and segmented lamellar bracer-sleeves (Mong. kharabchi). The sleeves consist of two large forged pauldrons and two segments assembled of six plates each. When assembled, the sleeves covered the warrior's arm from shoulder to elbow. Part of the plates of the body armor and sleeves have the holes for sewing. Later, the armor was reassembled, and the sewn-on fastening system was replaced with riveted system which is much more technologically advanced. Judging by the location of the rivets, the sleeves were attached to three longitudinal leather straps that ran from the pauldron to the last plate of the laminar segment. The features of the construction and design allow to date this protective armor from the Shushensky district of the Krasnoyarsk Region to the 14th – the middle of the 14th centuries. The earliest plates of the set could have been made as early as the 13th century. The owner of the armor was probably a wealthy warrior from among the Mongols, Oirats or Yenisei Kyrgyz. The findings have the high scientific value due to the fact that they are the earliest known examples of Central Asian kharabchi sleeves known to date. In the last third of the 14th – 17th centuries this type of sleeves became widespread in the Muslim East, in the Chinese Ming empire, the state of Later Jin, the Chinese Qing Empire, Mongolia, Oiratia and South Siberia.

The article considers a leather quiver stored in the Novokuznetsk Museum of Local Lore (KP-1975). Previously, it has not become the object of scientific research. The purpose of the study is to introduce information about the quiver into scientific circulation, to clarify its dating and attribution. Results. It is established that in the first half of the XX century the quiver was part of the private collection of the Kuznetsk local historian K.A. Evreinov, and after his death it was transferred to the museum collection. When registering the item, it was recorded as "Quiver – shore". This type of quivers belongs to the wide range of Central Asian quivers of the second half of 16th – mid 19th centuries, but differs from other Mongolian and South Siberian quivers by some features of its construction and ornamentation. The features of the similar quivers are high pointed back, massive upper “eye” extended far forward, and refuse of the ornamentation of the outer side of the quiver with metal plates except for the buckles of the belts and rivets bordering the quiver. All quivers of this type known for today are from the south part of West and Central Siberia, South-East Kazakhstan and Tibet. These regions were invaded by Western Mongols-Oirats (Dzungars, Khoshuts, Derbets etc.) in 17th – mid 18th centuries. The period of usage of the quivers of this type coincides with the period of the domination of different Oirat’s states in the aforementioned regions. . It allows to consider the quivers of this type as quivers of “Oirat’s type”. Conclusions. Based on the design and design features , the quiver from the Novokuznetsk Museum of Local Lore can be dated to the XVII – mid XVIII centuries. It could have been made by both Oirat and South Siberian masters of this period.

In the article the scale armour from Museode Armeríade Álava collection is explored. Among the specialists it is considered to be the earliest Medieval European scale armour of 10-13 centuries. After the comparison of the scale armor fragments in Europe, on the Balkans (the fragments there belong to Byzantine armory circle) and Middle East the author puts into question its background and dating. To wide the search circle the explorer pays attention on two ceremonial armour sets. One from Museode lEjército of Toledo and the second from The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The breast plates of both sets have the same construction and decoration to the breast plate from Museo de Armeríade Álava. At the same time the set from Museo del Ejército of Toledo attribution that is given at the official museum site as the armour of Mexican Indian chief of the Conquest period is considered to be absolutely incorrect by the author of the article. Because iron as the material for local metallurgical industry of the period was simple unknown and unavailable for metalwork. The attribution of the second set from The Metropolitan Museum of Art that is given at the official museum site seams much more probable. The American specialists attribute it as Chinese and date 18tht c. Based on it the author comes to the conclusion that the breast plate from Museo de Armería de Álava has nothing to European Medieval period and can be attributed as Chinese ceremonial armour set of 18th c.

In the article, on the basis of a comprehensive analysis of sources, the uniform, armament and equipment of dragoons of the Siberian Dragoon garrison regiment during the campaign of I.D. Buchholz 1715-1716 is reconstructed. It was established that the Siberian dragoons wore a green uniform with red cuffs, red doublets and trousers. One of the varieties of caps ("carpuses") was probably used as a headdress. Widespread use of "cocked hats" is unlikely. The main type of remote combat weapons of dragoons were fusees and, possibly, carbines. Broadswords were used in close combat. The collected materials made it possible to recreate the appearance of the Siberian dragoon of the beginning of the XVIII century.