Metal Wear of the Ancient Nomads of the Altai Foothills: Х-ray fluorescence analysis and cultural-chronological attribution

For a long time, the Mayemir (Mayemer) culture of the Early Saka period was considered insufficiently well-studied. By now the range of sources has expanded considerably with the excavation of barrows at several burial grounds. Specific archaeological materials have been obtained. This situation has determined the necessity of additional involvement of museum objects and their study at the interdisciplinary level. The article considers two metal objects (a mirror and a war hammer), which are stored in the Regional Museum of Rubtsovsk (Altai Territory, Russia). They were discovered at the junction of the northwestern foothills of the Altai and the Aleysk steppe. For the first time an X-ray fluorescent analysis of the exhibits has been made and the specifics of the bronze alloy used have been established. On the basis of the involved analogies the cultural-chronological attribution of important finds has been carried out.