A new type of Early Iron Age stela from Tuva (Inner Asia)

Here we present three stelae found on the surface of the Early Iron Age burial mound Tunnug 1 in Tuva Republic, Southern Siberia. An abstract pattern of arcs and lines and the focus on one side of the standing stone makes these stelae substantially different from other known cultural traditions of the Late Bronze Age steppe region. Traceological, petrographic, and geochemical analyses of the material were carried out. The comparison with standing stones of the Deer Stone Khirigsuur complex and the Slab Grave culture do not indicate a direct affiliation with either tradition. The deliberate placement of the stelae on the burial mound and their stratigraphic position indicate a role in funerary ritual activities of the Early Iron Age (9th c. BCE).