Altai Nationalism and Archaeology

Abstract

The article examines the mutual influence of archaeology and Altai nationalism. It discusses the role played by ideas of regionalism in forming Altai national discourse and the impact of political currents on the manner in which ethnic reconstructions of archaeological data were done during the Soviet time. The part that Altai intellectuals played in forming and disseminating ethnic-historical myths is discussed as well. Special attention is paid to political and social-economic factors determining the major aspects of interrelation between archaeology and Altai nationalism at present.