SEPARATE BURIALS OF HORSES IN THE RITUAL PRACTICE OF EARLY MEDIEVAL TURKIC PEOPLE OF CENTRAL ASIA
The article presents the conclusions of the study and interpretation of the results of excavation of individual graves of horses demonstrating a special group of objects belonging to early medieval Turks of Central Asia. Consideration is given to the experience of the semantics of such complexes at different times illustrated by domestic researchers. Analysis is given to the main characteristics of the individual graves of horses: the characteristics of their location as part of cemeteries, land and underground constructions, the specificity of the rituals. The features are highlighted that distinguish the burials of horses from the burial of cenotaphs and other objects, the most important of which are the lack of: 1) the remains of the deceased person; 2) accompanying inventory items intended for humans; 3) inner burial constructions associated with burial of the humans and their detachment from the horses (stone slabs, “bridge” from the bed of the untouched continent and others.). It is found out that the results of the individual graves of horses' excavations show elements of continuity with the early medieval Turkic population of Altai Bulan-Koba culture of Hunnish-Syanbi-Zhuzhan time. Comparison of the “independent” burials of horses under the burial mound with the “memorial” objects allowed presenting the main stages of the transformation of the traditions of ritual practices of nomads in the early stages of development of Turkic Culture (second half of the 5th - the first half of the 7th century.). Continuation of research in this direction is also important to define the semantics of the individual graves of horses and their place in the system of philosophical ideas of early medieval Turkic of Central Asia.