Riding saddles from Noin-Ula burials

In consequence of Noin-Ula burials researching the fragments of saddle were found by Russian-Mongolian expedition. Earlier the same findings were made during the excavation of Sixth Noin-Ula burial mound. They were interpreted as the remains of pack-saddles. The details of saddles from 22 th burial mound were analyzed. It gave an opportunity to conclude that more than likely riding saddles were put to the burials of Xiongnu noblemen. This type of saddles falls in between soft saddles (Pazyryk type) and hard saddles with high shaft bow, which appeared in III - IV centuries AC.