The Contemporary Researches of the Xiongnu Archaeology

고고학으로 본 흉노(匈奴)의 발생과 분포

Archaeological research on the Xiongnu began in the late 19th century by a Russian archaeologist Talko-Grinchevich. The Xiongnu culture has been reported in the northern steppe of China and eastern part of Eurasian steppe. Mainly, Xiongnu sites, dated from the late 2nd century B.C. to the 1st century A.D., are reported on the east side of Baikal Lake(Zabaikal), east Mongolia, and the Inner Mongolia of China. Based on the historical records and the archaeological remains, the North Xiongnu culture is defined to be the remains of Zabaikal, and the South Xiongnu culture the archaeological remains of Nothern China. The expelled North Xiongnu, while fleeing to the western part of Eurasia, left traces of their own archaeological remains in the Southern Kazakhstan, Xinjiang of China, Altai, and finally appeared in the Europe as Huns. The most characteristic archaeological materials of the Xiongnu are bronze plaques and ceramics made by handicraft, and highly developed iron weapons. After the power of the Xiongnu was dissolved in 1st c. A.D., previously subordinated peoples such as Xianbi, Wuhuan, Wusun rised in the Eurasia steppes and opened medieval age in Eurasia. The "northern type" materials found in Korea are dated to the period of Xiongnu or slightly later, we need to pay more attention to the contemporary Xiongnu. research.