Leonid Marsadalov

The State Hermitage Museum

Abstract

Archaeoastronomical Aspects of the Archeological Monuments of Siberia

The Sayan-Altai archaeological expedition of the State Hermitage Museum conducted a palaeo-astronomical exploration of new complexes in Siberia in 1987-2008. The big barrows Sayan-Altai are not only complex funeral-commemorative objects, but also the model of world and archaeo-astronomical monuments of ancient nomads (8-7th  centuries BC – Arzhan, Ulug-Khorum in Tuva). The Great Salbyk barrow height is more than 20 m and was originally pyramid-shaped (5 century BC in Khakasia). Under the mound was a square “fence” (71 x 71 metres) made of huge stone slabs placed vertically and horizontally (the average size was about 5 metres).
Among the most remarkable objects is the giant slab in Seleutas (Altai). The slab is 14.4 m long, 6,3 m wide and 3,1 m thick and weighs 500 tons. Perhaps originally the stone was set vertically on a granite surface as a giant anthropomorphous statue, after which the slab fell with its face side down. This is the largest stone slab in Siberia. Nomads of Saian-Altai maintained permanent astronomical observation posts, which were used in addition as sanctuary and ritual centres.

Biographical Details

Leoni d Marsadolov has worked at the State Hermitage Museum since 1978. He is Curator of the Siberian archaeological collection in the Department of Archeology and specialises in the field of the Early Nomads of South Siberia. He was Head of Sayan-Altay Archeological Expeditions of the State Hermitage Museum in the period 1985-2008. He has a diploma in History and Archaeology (Saint-Petersburg University, 1978); is Doctor of History (Moscow, 1985) and Professor of Culturology (Saint-Petersburg-Moscow, 2000). He has experience in archeology, history, cultural astronomy, dendrochronology and geography; he is a member of the Russian Geographical Society (St.-Petersburg) since 1992. He has published 280 articles and 7 monographs and has participated in many scientific conferences and symposia.