#selkups

[thenuclearmallard]

[archaeologicalnews]

Stash of Sun King's valuables found close to Arctic in Siberia

Over 300 years old, the 'jetons' - used in lieu of coins or for counting - were found along with artifacts hoarded by the Northern Selkups.

The French find and other intriguing and varied items were made during a dig in Yamalo-Nenets autonomous region, close to the Taz River. Exactly how the 'jetons' which bear Louis XIV's image came to this remote part of Siberia is not known.

Anthropologist Olga Poshehonova said a Russian-German team found 'seven similar counting tokens that depict Louis XIV'. Other discoveries - some dating to the 12th century - were 'several iron knives with handles with enamel decorations produced by Russians' and an intriguing 'lion figurine' of uncertain origin.

The treasure trove included 'brass decorations also made by Russian masters'. Read more.

[fromtribetonation]

Selkups traditional dance

The Selkups, a long-settled tribe inhabiting the north of western Siberia. The Selkup language belongs to the north-Samodian branch of the Uralic family, as do the languages spoken by the Forest and Tundra Nentsi, Entsi and Nganasans.