Origin of the Alans

[Merlkir]

I think you did mention these "bow shaped objects" found in the Northern zone and also in Fu Hao's tomb. 
I'm fairly convinced they're actually rein holders for chariot driving. I've seen them reconstructed like that a few times by reenactors and in paintings, worn at the belt. I wondered why there. 




Before going to bed I've just been reading on deer stones and what a surprise, there they are! Worn on the belt, along with other tools:


(not sure which specific one this is, the paper attributes it as "Saian Altai deer stones per Volkov's typology")

The MET describes them thus: 

"Often described as "bow-shaped," and thought to have been associated with chariotry, this fitting has a hollow central section with curved arms ending in rattles. Fittings of this type first appear in China with the introduction of wheeled vehicles in the thirteenth century B.C., and are not found there after the tenth century B.C. Comparable pieces, which have arched arms but lack rattles, are also found at early Karasuk-period sites (?12th–?10th century B.C.) in southern Siberia.

In Chinese burials, they are generally found in pairs near the chariot box in front of the charioteer. In southern Siberia, on the other hand, the fittings cover the deceased's pelvis. Their function remains unclear: they have been identified as bow-guards, crossbow fittings, and banner ornaments. It has also been suggested that they were either rein-holders, worn by a charioteer at his waist to free his hands, or rein-guards attached in some fashion to the front of the chariot."

I'd have to go look, but I remember Mike Loades doing experiments with driving a chariot using reins attached to his waist. (and him commenting it was surprisingly viable, just by twisting the hips)

Oh and here's a whole paper on these (haven't read it yet though): 

http://www.kaogu.cn/uploads/soft/Chinese...issues.pdf