Home Region: Mongolia (Central and Northern Eurasia)

Early Xiongnu

1400 BCE 300 BCE

D G SC WF R

EQ 2020 mn_hunnu_early / MnXngnE

Preceding Entity:

No Polity found. Add one here.

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.

209 BCE 60 BCE Xiongnu Imperial Confederation (mn_hunnu_emp) [continuity]

General Description

The Orkhon Valley is located on either side of the Orkhon River, in north-central Mongolia. Here, we are interested in the phase of its prehistory in the millennium preceding the establishment of the Xiongnu empire, that is, 1400-300 BCE. Unfortunately, very little is known about this period, ^[1] though Chinese historians note that at the very end of this period the Xiongnu were one of three major steppe confederations in Mongolia more widely. ^[2]
No population estimates could be found specifically for the an average independent political unit in the Orkhon Valley at this time, though it is worth noting that, according to McEvedy and Jones (1978), the total population of Siberia and Mongolia in this period did not exceed 400,000. ^[3] Similarly, no information could be found on political organization at this time.

[1]: (Yu 1990, 118)

[2]: (Rogers 2012, 220)

[3]: (McEvedy and Jones 1978, 160-156) McEvedy, Colin. Jones, Richard. 1978. Atlas of World Population History. Penguin Books Ltd. London.

General Variables

Identity and Location

1 Original Name

Temporal Bounds

1 Duration

Political and Cultural Relations

1 Supracultural Entity

1 Succeeding Entity

1 Polity Succession

Language

1 Linguistic Family

1 Language

Religion

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale

2 Polity Territory

2 Polity Population

Hierarchical Complexity

1 Settlement Hierarchy

1 Religious Level

1 Military Level

1 Administrative Level

Professions

1 Professional Soldier

1 Professional Priesthood

1 Professional Military Officer

Bureaucracy Characteristics

1 Specialized Government Building

1 Merit Promotion

1 Full Time Bureaucrat

1 Examination System

Law

1 Professional Lawyer

1 Judge

1 Formal Legal Code

1 Court

Specialized Buildings: polity owned

1 Market

1 Irrigation System

1 Drinking Water Supply System

Transport Infrastructure

1 Road

1 Port

1 Canal

1 Bridge

Special-purpose Sites

Information / Writing System

1 Written Record

1 Script

1 Phonetic Alphabetic Writing

1 Nonwritten Record

1 Non Phonetic Writing

1 Mnemonic Device

Information / Kinds of Written Documents

1 Scientific Literature

1 Sacred Text

1 Religious Literature

1 Practical Literature

1 Philosophy

1 Lists Tables and Classification

1 History

1 Fiction

1 Calendar

Information / Money

1 Token

1 Precious Metal

1 Paper Currency

1 Indigenous Coin

1 Foreign Coin

1 Article

Information / Postal System

1 Postal Station

1 General Postal Service

1 Courier

Information / Measurement System

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications

1 Wooden Palisade

1 Stone Walls Non Mortared

1 Stone Walls Mortared

1 Settlements in a Defensive Position

1 Modern Fortification

1 Moat

1 Fortified Camp

1 Earth Rampart

1 Ditch

1 Complex Fortification

1 Long Wall

Military use of Metals

1 Steel

2 Iron

1 Copper

1 Bronze

Projectiles

1 Tension Siege Engine

1 Sling Siege Engine

1 Sling

1 Self Bow

1 Javelin

1 Handheld Firearm

1 Gunpowder Siege Artillery

1 Crossbow

2 Composite Bow

1 Atlatl

Handheld weapons

2 War Club

1 Sword

2 Spear

1 Polearm

1 Dagger

2 Battle Axe

Animals used in warfare

2 Horse

1 Elephant

2 Donkey

1 Dog

2 Camel

Armor

1 Wood Bark Etc

1 Shield

2 Scaled Armor

2 Plate Armor

1 Limb Protection

2 Leather Cloth

1 Laminar Armor

2 Helmet

1 Chainmail

1 Breastplate

Naval technology

1 Specialized Military Vessel

1 Small Vessels Canoes Etc

1 Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.

Religion Variables Coding in Progress.

Crisis Consequence Cases Coding in Progress.

Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

Instability Events Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range	Early Xiongnu (mn_hunnu_early) was in:
(1400 BCE 300 BCE)	Orkhon Valley

Home NGA: Orkhon Valley

General Variables

Identity and Location Early Xiongnu (mn_hunnu_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Original Name	Early Xiongnu	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Temporal Bounds Early Xiongnu (mn_hunnu_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More
Duration	[1400 BCE ➜ 300 BCE]
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Political and Cultural Relations Early Xiongnu (mn_hunnu_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Supracultural Entity	Early Nomadic	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Succeeding Entity	Xiongnu Imperial Confederation	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Succeeding Entity 209 BCE 60 BCE	Xiongnu Imperial Confederation (mn_hunnu_emp) [continuity]
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Language Early Xiongnu (mn_hunnu_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Linguistic Family	Turkic	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Language	Xiongnu	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Religion Early Xiongnu (mn_hunnu_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale Early Xiongnu (mn_hunnu_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Polity Territory	[350,000 to 700,000] km²	1400 BCE 500 BCE
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Polity Territory	[700,000 to 1,400,000] km²	400 BCE 300 BCE
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Polity Population	[25,000 to 50,000] people	1400 BCE 500 BCE
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Polity Population	[50,000 to 100,000] people	400 BCE 300 BCE
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Hierarchical Complexity Early Xiongnu (mn_hunnu_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Settlement Hierarchy	1	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Religious Level	1	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Military Level	[3 to 4]	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Administrative Level	[2 to 3]	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Professions Early Xiongnu (mn_hunnu_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Soldier	Unknown Suspected	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Professional Priesthood	Unknown Suspected	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Professional Military Officer	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Early Xiongnu (mn_hunnu_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Government Building	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Merit Promotion	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Full Time Bureaucrat	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Examination System	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Law Early Xiongnu (mn_hunnu_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Lawyer	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Judge	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Formal Legal Code	Uncoded Undecided	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Court	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Early Xiongnu (mn_hunnu_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Market	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Irrigation System	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Drinking Water Supply System	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Transport Infrastructure Early Xiongnu (mn_hunnu_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Road	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Port	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Canal	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Bridge	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Special-purpose Sites Early Xiongnu (mn_hunnu_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Information / Writing System Early Xiongnu (mn_hunnu_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Written Record	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Script	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Nonwritten Record	Present Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Non Phonetic Writing	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Mnemonic Device	Unknown Suspected	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Early Xiongnu (mn_hunnu_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Scientific Literature	Unknown Suspected	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Sacred Text	Unknown Suspected	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Religious Literature	Unknown Suspected	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Practical Literature	Unknown Suspected	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Philosophy	Unknown Suspected	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Lists Tables and Classification	Unknown Suspected	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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History	Unknown Suspected	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Fiction	Unknown Suspected	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Calendar	Unknown Suspected	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Information / Money Early Xiongnu (mn_hunnu_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Token	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Precious Metal	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Paper Currency	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Indigenous Coin	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Foreign Coin	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Article	Present Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Information / Postal System Early Xiongnu (mn_hunnu_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Postal Station	Unknown Suspected	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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General Postal Service	Unknown Suspected	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Courier	Unknown Suspected	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Information / Measurement System Early Xiongnu (mn_hunnu_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications Early Xiongnu (mn_hunnu_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wooden Palisade	Unknown Suspected	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared	Unknown Suspected	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Stone Walls Mortared	Unknown Suspected	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position	Unknown Suspected	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Modern Fortification	Absent	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Moat	Unknown Suspected	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Fortified Camp	Present	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Earth Rampart	Present	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Ditch	Unknown Suspected	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Complex Fortification	Unknown Suspected	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Long Wall	unknown Suspected	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Military use of Metals Early Xiongnu (mn_hunnu_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Steel	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Iron	Absent Inferred	1300 BCE 701 BCE
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Iron	Present	700 BCE 300 BCE
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Copper	Present	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Bronze	Present	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Projectiles Early Xiongnu (mn_hunnu_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Tension Siege Engine	Unknown Suspected	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Sling Siege Engine	Absent	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Sling	Unknown Suspected	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Self Bow	Present	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Javelin	Unknown Suspected	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Handheld Firearm	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Crossbow	Unknown Suspected	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Composite Bow	Absent Inferred	1300 BCE 501 BCE
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Composite Bow	Present	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Atlatl	Absent	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Handheld weapons Early Xiongnu (mn_hunnu_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
War Club	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 701 BCE
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War Club	Present	700 BCE 300 BCE
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Sword	Present	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Spear	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 701 BCE
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Spear	Present	700 BCE 300 BCE
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Polearm	Unknown Suspected	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Dagger	Present	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Battle Axe	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 701 BCE
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Battle Axe	Present	700 BCE 300 BCE
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Animals used in warfare Early Xiongnu (mn_hunnu_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Horse	Absent	1300 BCE 701 BCE
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Horse	Present	700 BCE 300 BCE
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Elephant	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Donkey	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 701 BCE
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Donkey	Present Inferred	700 BCE 300 BCE
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Dog	Unknown Suspected	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Camel	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 701 BCE
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Camel	Present Inferred	700 BCE 300 BCE
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Armor Early Xiongnu (mn_hunnu_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wood Bark Etc	Unknown Suspected	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Shield	Unknown Suspected	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Scaled Armor	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 501 BCE
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Scaled Armor	Present	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Plate Armor	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 501 BCE
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Plate Armor	Present	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Limb Protection	Unknown Suspected	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Leather Cloth	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 701 BCE
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Leather Cloth	Present	700 BCE 300 BCE
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Laminar Armor	Unknown Suspected	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Helmet	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 501 BCE
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Helmet	Present	500 BCE 300 BCE
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Chainmail	Present Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Breastplate	Unknown Suspected	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Naval technology Early Xiongnu (mn_hunnu_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Military Vessel	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)

Religion Variables

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Early Xiongnu (mn_hunnu_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain	Absent Inferred	1400 BCE 300 BCE
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Human Sacrifice Early Xiongnu (mn_hunnu_early)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More