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Post by Admin on Jan 16, 2022 3:12:08 GMT
Karakemer
●Karakemer mound 3 (KKM001.A)
The burial ground Karakemer is an early Iron Age monument in Central Kazakhstan, and belongs to the
Tasmola culture. The mound was robbed of all its contents in antiquity. The skeleton of a man was found in
the mound №3. There were six trepanation holes on the skull (72).
Karashoky
●Karashoky I/1 mound 1 (KSH001.A): 2515±27 14C years BP; 791-542 cal. BC (2-sigma)
●Karashoky I/8 mound 8 (KSH002.A): 2649±31 14C years BP; 894-790 cal. BC (2-sigma)
●Karashoky I/6 mound 6 (KSH003.A)
●Karashoky VI/1 mound 1 (KSH004.A)
Karashoky is an early Saka burial ground in Central Kazakhstan belonging to the Tasmola culture. In
the mound №1 of the Karashoky burial ground, a one-year-old child (KSH001.A) was buried with an adult
whose gender and age could not be determined due to severe fragmentation of the skeleton. Four trepanation
holes were found on the baby's skull.
There are only two items that survived robbery in mound №1 - a plaque made of sheet gold, in the form
of a delicate openwork depiction of a cat predator and a bronze awl. The plaque expresses the idea of a
generally fantastic creature combining the images of a tiger and an eagle, images characteristic of early Saka
art (70, 73).
Kyzyl
●Kyzyl mound 4, left (KZL001.A): 2491±33 14C years BP; 786-490 cal. BC (2-sigma)
●Kyzyl mound 4 (KZL003.A)
●Kyzyl mound 5 (KZL004.A): 3109±22 14C years BP; 1432-1301 cal. BC (2-sigma)
The burial ground of Kyzyl was discovered by A.Z. Beisenov in 2006. This site is located in Central
Kazakhstan, in the territory of the Aktogay district of the Karaganda region. It is located on the slope of Mount
Begazy, on the right bank of the river Karatal. Based on the characteristics of land structures, funerary rite
and inventory items, mounds №2-5 belong to the Tasmola culture. Unlike the bulk of the Tasmola burials,
people in the barrows of the Kyzyl burial ground were buried in a crooked position (75).
Kyzylshilik
●Kyzylshilik /2 mound 2 (KYZ001.A): 2421±29 14C years BP; 747-584 cal. BC (2-sigma)
●Kyzylshilik /8 mound 8 (KYZ002.A): 2530±29 14C years BP; 796-545 cal. BC (2-sigma)
The Kyzylshilik burial ground was discovered in 1992 by A.Beisenov. The site is located in the territory
of the Bayanaul district of the Pavlodar region. It is located in a wide valley and it consists of 10 different
structures, arranged along a southwest – northeast oriented chain. Two sites belong to the category of mounds
with stone ridges. The mounds are extended to a length of 640 m.
Mound №2 is represented by a complex of mounds with a “mustache”. The complex consists of the
main structure (mound №2), two small “satellites” structure (mounds №2a and №2b) and two stone ridges
(chain), the “mustache”.
The central mound №2 is the burial of a man and there are traces of looting. The mound is 25 m in
diameter and 1.8 m in height.
During excavations, fragments of human skull (KYZ001.A) and fragments of human bones, as well as
animal bones, were found. Studies have shown that the skull belonged to a man aged between 45–55 years
old. The skull has three trepanation holes in the occipital area. At the foot of the grave, the human tibias were
preserved in anatomical order.
Furthermore, the small and hard-to-detect fragment of a bronze object, possibly a knife, was found in
the grave.
In the northeastern sector of mound №2, at a distance of 0.3 m from the crepidoma, a large fragment of
a horse's femur was found (UBA-24915: 2396±29 14C years BP) (76).
During the excavations, mound №8 was found to have already been plundered. Scattered bones from
human skeleton, individual animal bones (possibly a horse) were found at different levels of the grave. The
skull was found separately in the central part of the grave. According to the study, the skull belonged to a
woman aged between 18–25 years (KYZ002.A). The original orientation and position of the deceased could
not be determined. In the lower layers of the grave pit, stone beads and gold items were found (76).
Nurken II
●Nurken II/2 mound 1 (NUR002.A): 2504±27 14C years BP; 785-540 cal. BC (2-sigma)
The Nurken II burial ground is located at 10 km south of Nurken village (Central Kazakhstan). The core
of the burial ground is composed of two structures - large mounds №1 and №2, studied in 2001-2002. These
two mounds are monocultural monuments that share the same construction features. The distance between
them is about 300 m. Most likely, these monuments arose as two separate mounds around which new burials
were built over time. In addition to these two mounds of the Early Saka period, burials of the Korgantas period,
Middle Age, as well as two mounds with a “mustache” and Kazakh burials were found in the burial ground.
The works on Nurken II burial ground showed that all the ancient structures were significantly destroyed
due to the intensive plowing of the valley for the cultivation of crops, undertaken by Nurken state farm in the
1960-1970’s. It is also obvious that the mounds were looted multiple times.
In mound №1, the bones of two human skeletons, lower and upper, were found outside the burial
chamber. Bones from the lower skeleton (NUR002.A) were found in a layer of a predatory manhole, at a
distance of 0.35–0.5 m south of the burial chamber, at a level of 0.3–0.6 m above the top of the stone structure
covering the grave. Skeletal elements included an incomplete skull, bones of the arms and legs, etc. On the
occipital bone of the skull a trepanation hole was found. The bones belong to a man in aged between 35-45
years old. In the nearby area fragments of two vases were found that might be associated with this skeleton.
In the mound №2, only a few small fragments of bones of a human burial remain together with the
fragment of a pestle and several ceramics fragments of one vase, found in the central part of the mound, under
clay blocks, in the upper stone layers.
On the northwestern and southeastern sides of the mounds are located systems of stone altars (credenza).
Two findings are associated with the altar, located on the northwestern side of the mound №2 - a grain grater
(0.46 m long) and a bronze plaque with relief images of a rider and other human figures (77).
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Post by Admin on Jan 16, 2022 20:10:40 GMT
Serekty II
●Serekty II mound 6 (SRK001.A)
Serekty II (mound 6) is an early Saka burial ground in Central Kazakhstan. It was discovered by A.Z.
Beisenov. According to anthropological studies, the burial belonged to a man aged 35-45 (78).
Taldy II
●Taldy II/4 mound 4 (TAL003.A)
●Taldy II/5 mound 5 (TAL004.A): 2540±40 14C years BP; 800-540 cal. BC (2-sigma)
●Taldy II/8 mound 8 (TAL005.A): 2529±23 14C years BP; 789-548 cal. BC (2-sigma)
The burial ground Taldy II (located at 50 km north-east of Nurken village, Central Kazakhstan) is one
of the most important monuments in the territory of Central Kazakh. It contains various types of mounds
related to different time periods. Seven mounds of the Early Saka time were investigated by A.Z. Beisenov
between 2009 and 2010 and attributed to the Tasmola culture (79). Six of them (№s 1-6) contained human
remains. Mound №7 lacked human remains but contained a stone sculpture. It could have been a specially
constructed ritual mound as a part of a funerary ensemble for representatives of one reigning dynasty, or
maybe the body of the warrior it was meant to honour was not found and replaced by a statue.
In mounds №1 to №4 and №6, the burial chambers were in the form of stone boxes arranged in a ground
pit with the dromos running eastwards. In mound №5 the burial of a man (TAL004.A) was found at the level
of the ancient horizon, on a site framed by six pits, probably to the left of wooden pillars. In mound №2, two
individuals, a man and a woman, were buried in the same chamber. In mound №4 a man of 25-30 years old
(TAL003.A) was buried.
Persons of high social rank in richly decorated clothes were buried in the burial ground of Taldy II, some
details of clothes are preserved, despite the fact that the mounds were robbed in ancient times. For example,
the graves in mounds №3 and №6 were found completely empty a part from the human remains. Despite the
lootings, over 200 gold items were found in mounds № 1, 2, 4, 5, as well as over 34 thousand small items.
Most of these items were found in mounds №2 and №5. The results of a spectral study on the gold items
showed that the metal came from gold mines in Northern Kazakhstan (Bestobe) and is of high quality. The
total weight of gold items is approximately 700 g.
For many features (stratigraphy of the mounds, the design of funerary structures, the presence of menhirs
in the mounds) Taldy II mounds are close to other large mounds of the Tasmola culture studied in Kazakhstan
and also many items from mound №5 in the execution and style coincide with the ones found in the elite
mounds of Tuva (especially Arzhan 2) (79).
In the mound 8, a skeleton of a 35-45-year-old man was found (TAL005.A). The authors of the
excavations assumed that this burial belongs to the Korgantas type (78), but the obtained 14C dates allows to
attribute it to the Tasmola culture.
Berel
●Berel 2013/44 mound 44 (BRE002.A): 2179±13 14C years BP; 354-182 cal. BC (2-sigma)
●Berel 2013/5 mound 5 (BRE001.A): 2197±22 14C years BP; 360-175 cal. BC (2-sigma)
●Berel 2017_80А/80Е, object 80A/80E (BRE003.A)
●Berel 2017_69, object 69 (BRE004.A): 1728±13 14C years BP; 254-380 cal. AD (2-sigma)
●Berel 2017_80, object 80 (BRE005.A): 1975±13 14C years BP; 14C.cal (2-sigma) 21 BC - 67 AD
●Berel 2017_67A, object 67A (BRE006.A)
●Berel 2017_76, object 76 (BRE007.A): 1789±13 14C years BP; 143-323 cal. AD (2-sigma)
●Berel 2017_90A, object 90A (BRE008.A): 1730±13 14C years BP; 252-378 cal. AD (2-sigma)
●Berel 2018_105, object 105 (BRE009.A): 1958±25 14C years BP; 34 cal. BC - 125 cal. AD (2-sigma)
●Berel 2018_108A, object 108A (BRE010.A)
●Berel 2018_90, object 90 (BRE011.A): 1720±25 14C years BP; 252-409 cal. AD (2-sigma)
●Berel 2018_76B, object 76B (BRE012.A): 1958±22 14C years BP; 32 cal. BC - 123 cal. AD (2-sigma)
●Berel 2018_68/№2, object 68, №2 (BRE013.A): 1821±21 14C years BP; 131-241 cal. AD (2-sigma)
●Berel 2018_68/№1, object 68, №1 (BRE014.A):1733±18 14C years BP; 248-380 cal. AD (2-sigma)
Berel is a necropolis of the Pazyryk culture of the Scythian-Saka tribes of the Altai, located in the East
Kazakhstan region. From the moment of the first scientific research of Berel, stone fences (smaller burials)
have been recorded near the bigger mounds representing the main elite monuments of the Berel necropolis.
Until recently, the excavations of these small burials were episodic and random, and because of the similarity
in the burial rite, they were classified as either burials of the early Türkic period or altars of the elite mounds.
Systematic researches of these stone fences started in 2015 and continue to this day. During the course of the
scientific work, a number of characteristic features of the burial structures were identified as typical of the
Xianbei-Hun cultural-chronological horizon (between the epochs of the Xiongnu and the ancient Türks).
To date, over fifty different-sized stone fences (mounds) have been investigated on the territory of the
Berel necropolis, of which about a half are either cenotaphs or altars. The other half are simple shallow burials
in soil pits (N=15) or in stone boxes (N=15) and in three cases the burials had wooden structures. The vast
majority of these mortuary elements are located around two “royal” (tsar) mounds №1 and №2 belonging to
the Pazyryk Culture.
The materials obtained during the field work presents direct analogies with the monuments of
Transbaikal, southern Siberia and the adjacent territories of the Altai. Some suggests that the analogies hold
only with the cultural elements from the East Baikal region, and therefore it may indicate that the Xianbei
monuments of Berel were made by tribes who came directly from there, in pursuit of the defeated Xiongnu.
The ethnocultural variability of these monuments is indicated in particular by differences in the
orientation of the deceased (the deceased were laid elongated on their backs, their heads oriented mainly to
the east-north-east in 26 cases, in four cases to the west-southwest and north-northwest); specific
characteristics of burial structures and rituals (the deceased were buried in a simple soil pit, in a stone box or
in a wooden structure); or the co-occurrence of horses in the burial (sometimes a horse was buried together
with deceased either next or above it).
An interesting set of weapons were found in these burial grounds, which characterize a lightly armed
equestrian warrior for offensive remote and close combat (arrowheads and bow fragments, some horse
equipment). These are the main chronological marker highlighting the Xianbei-Hun period in the early
medieval history of the Kazakh Altai.
These Berel materials and their chronological layouts fit into the broad framework of the so-called era
of the Great Migration of Peoples (II century BC - VI century AD) (80).
Berel 2017_90A – Before the excavation, the mound looked like a small hill with individual stones that
formed an irregular circle. The original size of the mound before excavation was 3.5x3 m.
At a depth of 60 cm, in the western part of the grave pit, a human skull was found. The complete excavation
revealed the presence of an undisturbed skeleton. The skeleton was located in an elongated position on the
back. The head was oriented to the west. The bones of the right clavicle and the hand of the right arm were
displaced from the correct position, most likely moved by rodents. The left foot was missing. In front of the
skull, bones of a sheep and a corroded iron object (probably a meat knife) were found. There were no other
objects found with the buried man.
Berel 2017_69 - It is the last mounds from the south, formed by in a group of three large monuments.
Excavations of the grave pit showed that in the northern part there was a burial of two horses. Many parts of
the horse’s skeleton were destroyed, one skull was almost not preserved - only a damaged and displaced upper
jaw and folded limbs remain. No equipment or decorations were found with the horses.
To the right of the horses there was a stone hill. Stones were removed and as a result a double burial
was cleared. The first skeleton was located 10 cm from the carcass of the horse. It was laying on its back, but
was turned to the left. The skull lied on the left side, slightly thrown back, facing the skull of the second
individual buried. On the right side of the skull there was a fracture. A medium-corroded small iron knife was
found lying parallel to the leg line.
25 cm to the left of the skull of the first skeleton, the skull of the second buried person was found. The
preservation of the skull was extremely poor - it was completely broken and only the fragments of the skull
and jaws could be traced. Based on their position the skull was probably laying on the right side and turned
toward the front part to the skull of the first person. Other than the skull fragments, only the right arm and
parts of the lower base of the spine were preserved for the second person. The right hand was under the left
hand of the first skeleton. Other bones were either degraded or taken away by rodents. Several rusted iron
fragments were found together with the skeletons.
Berel 2017_67A – Under a stone laying, a deceased was buried in a simple soil pit. The deceased was
oriented towards northeast. Together with the deceased a horny cinch buckle and bronze and iron objects and
fragments were found.
Berel 2018_68 - The mound contained two burials. The first burial was in a stone box with overlapping
slate slabs, with the deceased oriented toward the northeast, laid in an elongated position on his back, without
any inventory.
The second burial was made in the grave's niche with a mortgage of slate stones. A gold earring
(damaged - the pin was found separately), an iron buckle and functional details of shoes were found; under
the wing of the right iliac bone of the human pelvis, a cylindrically shaped tube made from a bone or a horn
with ornaments was found.
Berel 2018_108A - It is a two-level burial - under the bones of a horse the remains of a woman who,
judging by the remains of wood, was buried in a wooden structure. The inventory included hat-shaped bronze
plaques, stone beads and a cowrie shell.
Berel 2018_90 - It contained the burial of an over 55 years old man in a stone box with a north-western
orientation. The stone box presented several layers of slate slabs. Hunnic-type bow fragments, horn overlays
of the composite bow with a pattern on the front in the form of the letter "X", bone and iron arrowheads, and
a hollow bone tube were found with the deceased. According to the conclusion of the anthropologists that
studied the physical parameters, the skull had “Mongoloid” features. There are practically no analogies in
synchronous time on the territory of East Kazakhstan, probably its origin is associated with the territory of
South Siberia and Mongolia (archaeologist Z. Samashev).
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Post by Admin on Jan 17, 2022 0:42:19 GMT
Borovoye
●Borovoye#240/#15/ (BRV001.A)
This hillfort belongs to the Gorokhov culture of the forest-steppe Trans-Urals and the Southern Urals
dated to the VI - II centuries BC. The authors suggest a Finno-Ugric related ethnicity of the population of this
site with the inclusion elite Sarmatian contingents.
During the excavations, one burial was found in the cultural layer of the settlement, inside a house below
its floor. A woman (BRV001.A) and an infant were found buried together with one ceramic vase. No other
burials were found in Borovoye hillfort (81).
MayemerII
●Mayemer II mound 1 (MMR001.A)
The Mayemer II burial ground is a funeral-memorial complex consisting of burials of different eras -
from the era of the early nomads to the Turkic times. The monument is located on the southeastern outskirts
of the modern village Mayemer, on the left bank of the Narym River, in the Katonkaragai district of East
Kazakhstan region.
Three mounds were investigated - 1, 2 and 3. Mounds 2 and 3 are attributed to the Early Saka period. Of
these, mound 2 turned out to be a burial (funeral) structure, and mound 3 was a memorial. Mound 1 was
plundered. The skeleton of the deceased (MMR001.A) was disturbed and the bones were scattered. There were
no accompanying items found in the mound. The chronological define of the mound 1 was made on the basis
of an analogy with the construction of the burial structure. In East Kazakhstan and adjacent territories, similar
constructions are dated by the Turkic time (82, 83).
Bidayk
●Bidayk mound 5 (BDY001.A): 2208±19 14C years BP; 359-204 cal. BC (2-sigma)
●Bidayk mound 1 (BDY002.A): 2269±35 14C years BP; 400-209 cal. BC (2-sigma)
●Bidayk mound 3 (BDY003.A): 2137±27 14C years BP; 351-57 cal. BC (2-sigma)
Bidayk burial ground was discovered by A.Z. Beisenov. It belongs to the Korgantas mound type of
Central Kazakhstan. Three skulls from the Bidayk burial ground were investigated anthropologically (1 male
from the mound 3; 2 females from the mounds 1 and 5) (78).
Karaoba
●Karaoba mound 16 (KBO001.A): 2292±24 14C years BP; 402-232 cal. BC (2-sigma)
The Karaoba Necropolis is located 18 km southeast of the village of Krivinka along the KrivinkaSemiyarka highway in the Beskaragai district in East Kazakhstan. The monument occupies an elevated
position of the main terrace on the right bank of the Irtysh river and it is formed by two different elements.
One is an elite Saka burial ground located west of the road. The other one located to the east of the road,
consists of a number of structures in the form of rectangular cists, made of raw and burnt bricks recessed into
the ground. In this group, 4 brick structures are on the surface, including a barrow-shaped elevation with a
depression in the center (84). Sample KBO001.A comes from 1 male skull (78) found in mound 16 which
belongs to Korgantas period.
Aigirly 2 sanctuary
●Aigirly 2 sanctuary, individual 1 (AIG001.A)
●Aigirly 2 sanctuary, individual 2 (AIG002.A)
●Aigirly 2 sanctuary, individual 6 (AIG003.A): 2236±24 14C years BP; 384-207 cal. BC (2-sigma)
●Aigirly 2 sanctuary, individual 4 (AIG005.A): 1889±22 14C years BP; 63-210 cal. AD (2-sigma)
●Aigirly 2 sanctuary, individual 3 (AIG006.A)
The sanctuary of Aigirly 2, located 17.5 km southwest of the village of Taushyk, Tupkaragan district,
Mangistau region was investigated in 2015-2016 (85). Planographically, chronologically and structurally, this
sanctuary is not very different from the sanctuaries of the baitin type, which are characterized by complex of
architectural structures, as well as monumental steles and statues, stone altars of the round or rectangular
shape, etc. The main feature of these monuments is the presence of anthropomorphic sculptures (86).
The central element of the sanctuary is the cult structure, which possibly have had a three-stage structure
- two annular stone walls and a dome. The indoor space of the sanctuary had a cross-shaped shape; a sacrificial
altar was installed in the center. A descent into the central room took place through a narrow entrance-corridor
with a length of 2.5 and a width of 0.5–0.6 m. Anthropomorphic sculptures were not found in the territory of
the sanctuary. Inside of this memorial monument several people were buried with their items. The sanctuary
of Aygyrly 2 falls within the funeral-memorial rituals of the Iron Age nomads of the Aral-Caspian steppes
and it is tentatively dated to the IV–II centuries BC (87).
Bisoba
●Bisoba mound 3, burial 1 (BSB001.A): 2493±24 14C years BP; 771-540 cal. BC (2-sigma)
●Bisoba mound 3, burial 2 (BSB002.A)
●Bisoba mound 3, burial 3 (BSB003.A)
●Bisoba mound 8, burial 1 (BSB004.A)
The Bisoba burial ground consists of ten mounds and located in West Kazakhstan (Martuk district,
Aktobe region). It was recorded at the beginning of the 20th century by the topographer S.P. Bannov. The first
purposeful research of the monument in 1977 was organized by Aktobe local historian V.V. Rodionov (88).
Later in 1986, some mounds of the Bisoba burial ground were excavated under the direction of S.Yu. Gutsalov
(89). During the excavations in 2018, three mounds (№3, 8, 9) were investigated by A. Bisembaev.
Studies have shown that mounds were built over the burials of both ordinary community members and
socially significant members of a nomadic society. A proof of the latter is also the size of the mounds. Some
mounds reach a diameter of up to 42 m, heights of up to 3.5 m. These mounds look like a steppe “pyramids”
with complex gravestones.
As a result of excavations, it was found out that under the mounds ancient nomads were buried, who
lived in the middle and second half of the 1st millennium BC. Buried people lay on their backs, their heads
face towards west and south. In the center of mound 8, the remains of three people were buried, next to which
various items of weapons and household items, as well as three bronze cauldrons were found. The funeral rite
of the mounds allows to assume that in the basin of the river Ilek in the middle and second half of 1st
millennium BC nomadic tribes settled, migrating here from the Aral Sea region. All investigated burials
according to finds were dated to the end of the VI-V centuries BC (archaeologist A. Bisembaev).
Chelkar
●Chelkar #283/1 (CLK001.A)
The Chelkar burial ground is located near Chelkar Lake in Western Kazakhstan. Mound 5, burial 1 is
the main burial in the mound, formed by a wide oval pit with a hoard. It is a Savromat burial and dates back
to the 5th century BC (90).
Kaynbulak II
●Kaynbulak II mound 4, burial 1 (KBU001.A)
●Kaynbulak II mound 4, burial 2 (KBU002.A)
●Kaynbulak II mound 4, burial 4 (KBU003.A)
The monument is located in the Kaynbulak tract on the watershed elevation of the Butak and ZhaksyKargala rivers, 8 km north-east of the village Butak and 10 km southwest of the village Petropavlovka (West
Kazakhstan). The burial ground was identified by S.Yu. Gutsalov in 1988. According to the report of S.Yu.
Gutsalov the burial ground of Kaynbulak II consisted of 5 mounds of various sizes.
During the excavations of 2017, mound №4, dating back to the Early Iron Age, was explored. In the
mound, 4 burials were found: in burials 1 and 4 the deceased’s heads were oriented westwards while in burial
3, to eastwards. Burial 2, built later, where the deceased were oriented with their head to the south.
The shape of the burial structures (narrow soil pits with recesses along the long sides), abundant traces
of meat (parts of the carcasses of small cattle and horses were found) and the position of the buried with their
heads to the west and east indicates that this complex belongs to the Sauromatian archeological culture (91).
Krasnoselsky I
●Krasnoselsky I, KII, P-1, K-3, package No. 18 (KSK002.A)
Sapibulak
●Sapibulak, object (mound) 7, burial 1 (SBL001.A)
The burial ground of Sapibulak is located along the basin of the Ilek River (Alginskiy district, Aktobe
region, West Kazakhstan). The site consisted of 15 mounds with stone-earthen embankments and stone fences
elongated in a wide strip from the northeast to the southwest. Mound №1, the largest in the burial ground, is
located southwest of the main group of elements (mounds 2-5 and 9-15). Mounds 6-7 were located to the west
and northeast and separated from the rest of the burial ground by a country road. Mound 8 was located to the
east of mound 1, located away from the main part of the objects on a small cape. The analyses of the materials
brought to the conclusion that the burial ground was used in the era of the early nomads and reflects the culture
of the population of the Southern Urals of the VI – II centuries BC. The territory of the burial ground during
the early Iron Age was used periodically, which is also possibly reflected in the location of the mounds
themselves. According to the funeral rite and found items, mounds 1, 6 and 7 look the earliest (92).
Mound №7 was destroyed as a result of geodetic work carried out earlier in this area, so it is difficult to
determine its chronology. The grave pit contained three skeletons at different levels. The bones of two
individuals lying higher at a shallow depth (adult and child - SBL001.A) were most damaged. Probably, the
main burial is the lower skeleton, and the bones of those buried at the upper level were transferred during
geodetic work. It is possible that a tiered burial was made in the grave, which was used in the burial practice
of the population of the Southern Urals since the pre-Scythian time. However, in this case, it is not entirely
clear whether this is a single complex or whether the mound was used later to make an inlet (additional) burial.
There were bronze bits and fragments of ceramic vessels found in the mound, which allow presumably dating
the mound to the end of the VI – V centuries BC (92).
SegizsayII
●Segizsay /1, mound 1 (SGZ001.A): 2220±19 14C years BP; 368-205 cal. BC (2-sigma)
●Segizsay /2, mound 2 (SGZ002.A)
Segizsay is a grave complex consisting of three burial grounds discovered in 2011 (Segizsay I, Segizsay
II, Segizsay III). All of them are located on the meridional watershed along the bank of the Wil River, near
the village of Wil (Aktobe region, Western Kazakhstan). Two burial mounds were excavated in the burial
ground of Segizsay II in 2012. Both mounds contained rich material illustrating the funerary rite and material
culture of the nomads of the second half of the 1st millennium BC. First of all, these mounds were the tombs
of representatives of the nomadic elite. Despite the fact that the external mounds are insignificant, the grave
pits found beneath them were quite large and diverse in their construction style (graves with dromos, undercatacomb graves, square, oval, rectangular pits). The accompanying inventory was dominated by armaments
and horse bridles (swords, arrowheads and copies, quivering hooks), and jewelry (various beads, torcs and
temple rings made of bronze and gold, bracelets). In addition, objects of priesthood (stone dishes, mirrors,
gold shackles and ritual stones) and household vases were discovered (archaeologist A.A. Bisembaev).
Caspan (Kaspan)
●Caspan 2 mound 3 (CSP001.A): 2254±50 14C years BP; 400-202 cal. BC (2-sigma)
●Caspan 6 mound 1 (CSP002.A)
●Caspan 6 mound 4 (CSP003.A): 2466±33 14C years BP; 765-430 cal. BC (2-sigma)
●Caspan 6 mound 1, southwest corner (CSP004.A)
●Caspan 6 mound 1, Skull #2 (CSP005.A): 2597±23 14C years BP; 808-774 cal. BC (2-sigma)
The Saka site of the Kaspan valley (Kerbulak district, Almaty region, Southeastern Kazakhstan) was
first discovered by A.Z. Beisenov in 2009. In 2012–2014, seven mounds were excavated here. According to
archaeological and carbon dating, the sites are divided into two chronological groups. Four large mounds
(Kaspan-6 burial ground) belong to the VIII - VI centuries BC, three mounds (Kaspan-2and Kaspan-11 burial
grounds) belong to the VI - III centuries BC.
The Kaspan-2 burial ground was damaged; many mounds have been leveled by plowing. Presumably,
the burial ground had at least 10 barrows which extended in the meridional chain. The skeleton of a man was
found in mound №3 of the Kaspan-2 burial ground. Next to the man’s right shoulder was a ram’s sacrum and
a small bronze knife 6.5 cm long.
When examining mound №1 of the Kaspan-6 burial ground individual bones of a man, woman, and
child were found scattered, often lying interspersed with numerous animal bones because the burial place has
been heavily looted. In the mound №4 of the Kaspan-6, in addition to small indeterminable bones, a fragment
of a human skull was found (93, 94).
Nurly
●Nurly, object 6, mound 1 (NUL001.A): 2478±24 14C years BP; 769-485 cal. AD (2-sigma)
Kurayly (Sand quarry “North detour”)
●Kurayly 2018 (KRY001.A): 1666±1314C years BP; 344-413 cal. AD (2-sigma)
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Post by Admin on Jan 17, 2022 4:00:52 GMT
A unique burial ground from the Hunnic time period was discovered during construction work on the
sand quarry of Georgievka near the village of Kurayly (Aktobe region, West Kazakhstan). The burial was
located at a depth of 3.5 m.
Presumably, the burial belonged to a Hun warrior. Horse remains and a saddle were also found together
with a rich inventory of gold, silver and bronze items. In the collected findings were large and small plaques,
various buckles, a chalcedony sword overlay, various pads with inserts of precious stones and about 100
fragments of gold foil, probably adorning the saddle. In general, these items are created in a polychrome style
which was common among the Huns. The absence of a high mound further suggests that this burial belongs
to the Hunnic era rather than earlier Saka or Sarmatian times, who instead built mounded tombs. Furthermore,
Huns did not leave any traces on the surface of the earth even for the burials of noble people (95).
Karakaba
●Karakaba /9 mound 9 (KKB001.A): 1185±18 14C years BP; 775-887 cal. AD (2-sigma)
●Karakaba /11 mound 11 (KKB002.A)
The Karakaba burial ground consists of several scattered mound groups (Karakaba I and Karakaba II).
To date, about 60 objects of different time period have been recorded at this burial ground.
Mound №9 presents two pits (entrance pit and bottom pit). In the entrance pit there was an
accompanying burial of a horse. An adult man (KKB001) was buried with his head oriented east in the bottom
pit. A trepanation hole was found on the skull. The buried man lay on a mat (underlay) of barks and coniferous
branches. A waist bag made of leather was found below the elbow. A wooden bowl and a wooden dish were
found to the left of the skeleton. On the dish were found a vertebrae tail, ribs and the shoulder blades of a
horse, as well as the vertebrae of small cattle. To the right of the skeleton were placed a set of weapons: a
bow, a saber, a quiver with iron arrowheads. Under the bow several layers of large fragments of dense brown
silk were found. A bridle set and a wooden saddle, a bronze clip, a buckle with fragments of leather belt, silver
plaques with gilding, iron stirrups were placed at the feet of the buried man.
Mound №11, like mound №9, included two pits (entrance pit and bottom pit). In the entrance pit there
was an accompanying burial of a horse. A man (KKB002) was buried with his head oriented to the east in the
bottom pit. The remains of the mat on which the buried lay were preserved. Also, the remains of cloth pants
from a brown fabric have been preserved.
There was a trepanation hole on the skull. Traces of a mask of a very thin silver plate were fixed on the
lower part of the face. In the area of the right temporal bone, a rounded bronze wire earring was found. To the
right of the buried was found a combat bow wrapped in birch bark. Near the right leg was found a wooden
bowl, a ceramic vessel and a wooden dish, on which the tail vertebrae and the horse’s rib, as well as an iron
knife, laid. To the left of the buried laid a birch bark quiver with a closed “pocket”. The frame, bottom and
top of the pocket were made of thinly cut boards, and the valve was made of leather. On the surface of the
leather valve, nine rounded and one cross-shaped silver plaques were placed. Several arrows with iron tips
were found in the quiver. At the feet was placed a wooden saddle and other parts of horse equipment. On top
of the pelvic bones between the legs to the knees was placed a leather case for a combat bow decorated with
silver plaques. Fragments of a “saadak” (saydak) belt were also found. Also, on the left leg of the skeleton
(between the quiver and the case for the combat bow) were found fragments of a string musical instrument. It
was similar to the sample found in Jargalant Khairkhan on the territory of the Mongolian Altai.
In other mounds of Karakaba I and Karakaba II, accompanying horse burials and sets of weapons were
also found. In two mounds also fragments of musical instruments were found. These mounds of Karakaba I
and Karakaba II belong to two successive chronological periods, the Hun-Sarmatian and the early medieval
(early Turks) period. There is a connection and continuity (succession) between two periods in their ritual
practices (for example, accompanying horse burials and the construction of mounds). Although, there are
some differences in the construction of mounds and rituals. For example, horses were buried without any
equipment and the horse equipment were deliberately placed at the feet of a buried person in a bottom pit.
These differences reflecting not different ethnocultural traditions, but rather the specifics of social
stratification and some new world outlooks of the population of the region under study in the early Middle
Ages. Findings of musical instruments in three mounds testify features of spiritual development, in particular
with regards to the role of shamanism in the life of the ancient Turkic nomadic society. Cases of trepanation
may be associated with the cult of shamanism (96).
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Post by Admin on Jan 17, 2022 20:38:01 GMT
Konyrtobe (Mardan-Kuik)
●Konyrtobe K1/16_1f, mound 1, burial 16 (KNT001.A): 1741±14 14C years BP; 245-343 cal. AD (2-
sigma)
●Konyrtobe K1/16_2f, mound 1, burial 16 (KNT002.A)
●Konyrtobe K1/17m, mound 1, burial 17 (KNT003.A)
●Konyrtobe K1/6m, mound 1, burial 6 (KNT004.A): 1762±14 14
C years BP; 236-331 cal. AD (2-sigma)
●Konyrtobe K1/1m, mound 1, burial 1 (KNT005.A): 1724±12 14C years BP; 256-381 cal. AD (2-sigma)
The Konyrtobe burial ground belongs to the Otrar oasis ancient city (South Kazakhstan) which was a
large center of the Otrar-Karatau culture. Settlements and burial grounds of the Otrar-Karatau culture are
located in the southern and northern spurs of Karatau, in the valleys of Arys and Buguni, in the middle reaches
of the Syr Darya, extending from the northeastern spurs of Karatau in the north to the sands of Izakuduk in
the south.
Konyrtobe is located 0.3-0.4 km west of the Otrar hillfort and covers an area of 12-13 hectares. The
excavations brought to light about 130 burials located close to each other. Burials were not disturbed; the
bones lied in anatomical order and grave goods were found in situ. Burials were made in the so-called “crypts”
style. Grave goods differed depending on the age and gender of the deceased. There have been some cases of
burial of the deceased in ceramic vessels. The orientation of the burials was variable, but mainly the bodies’
heads were facing northeast and southeast. Anthropological examination of a series of twenty skulls found
that fifteen of them had annular deformation. The burial ground was dated between the III – V centuries AD.
The analyses of the complex findings gave reasons to declare the relative synchronism of burials, despite the
variability of the burial norms such as position of bones and cases of burial in ceramic vessels (97, 98).
Kayalyk Mausoleum
●Kayalyk Mausoleum, individual 2 (KLK002.A)
The ancient settlement of Kayalyk (Antonovskoye) is a medieval settlement located in the territory of
Almaty, east of the Koylyk village (formerly Antonovka), on the banks of the Aschy-Bulak River. In the VIIIXIV centuries, it was the largest trade, craft and cultural center in the north-east of Semirechye, the capital of
the Karluk state. The ancient settlement was surrounded by a3.5–4.5 m tall wall. The length of the northeastern side was 1200 m and the south-western one was 750 m. The remains of round towers located at a
distance of 30 - 40 m from each other have been preserved, some of them being 6-8 m high. Archaeological
research on the ancient settlement was carried out in 1964. Since 1998, annual excavations have been carried
out at the site under the direction of Academician K.M. Baipakov. Buddhist and Manichaean temples, objects
belonging to Muslim culture dating to the 12th-14th centuries (a cathedral mosque, a complex of mausoleums
and a khanak) have also been excavated. In the vicinity of the settlement (6 km to the north-east), the
supposedly Nestorian fortified settlement of Lepsy was excavated (99).
Samples from Kyrgyzstan
Alai/Nura I, II, Tuyuk II
●Alai/Nura I, II, Tuyuk II #360/1 (ALN001.A): 1736±21 14C years BP; 244-380 cal. AD (2-sigma)
●Alai/Nura I, II, Tuyuk II #360/3 (ALN002.A): 1822±25 14C years BP; 131-324 cal. AD (2-sigma)
●Alai/Nura I, II, Tuyuk II #360/4 (ALN003.A)
●Alai/Nura I, II, Tuyuk II #360/5 (ALN004.A): 1725±18 14C years BP; 253-404 cal. AD (2-sigma)
●Alai/Nura I, II, Tuyuk II #360/6 (ALN005.A): 1696±22 14C years BP; 258-402 cal. AD (2-sigma)
●Alai/Nura I, II, Tuyuk II #360/8 (ALN006.A): 2439±22 14C years BP; 748-410 cal. BC (2-sigma)
●Alai/Nura I, II, Tuyuk II #360/10 (ALN007.A): 2332±22 14C years BP; 413-378 cal. AD (2-sigma)
●Alai/Nura I, II, Tuyuk II #360/12 (ALN008.A)
●Alai/Nura I, II, Tuyuk II #360/14 (ALN009.A)
In the high Alai valley (a broad, dry valley running east to west across most of southern Osh Province
in Kyrgyzstan) Saka mounds were excavated in 1961–1962 and in 1966–1967 under the guidance of
archaeologists Yu. Baruzdin and A. Abetekov. In the first year, about 15 burial grounds were discovered and
more than 100 mounds from different eras were excavated at seven sites. The material was not rich, since all
the large so-called “royal” mounds were looted in antiquity, and the mounds of ordinary nomads were
represented by the simplest inventory: ceramics, arrowheads, and less commonly, short daggers - “akinaks”.
But this material completely coincided with the finds of similar mounds of the Pamirs and was identical to
finds from Saki mounds of other territories of Central Asia.
The Nura burial ground is located at the confluence of the Nura river and the Kyzyl-Su river a few
kilometers from the village of Irkeshtam. The burial ground counted 50 stone mounds of different times
scattered on both sides of a stormy river.
The Tuyuk burial ground is located on the right bank of the Gulcha River (145 km of the Osh-Khorog
highway linking Ferghana valley with the Pamir). It is the largest among the famous burial mounds of the
Alai. It contained over 150 mounds, the sizes of which reach 40-50 m in diameter and a height of 4-5 meters.
There are four types of mounds: 1 - large earthen mounds with a moat at the base and a large funnel in the
center; 2 - hemispherical earthen mounds; 3 - stone fences of a rectangular shape; 4 - low stone hills. 17
mounds of various types have been excavated so far.
During the excavation, several bone plates were found on the bow of an ancient hunter or warrior. In one of
the mounds, the upper wheel from a millstone (a home flour mill) was found. Probably, the nomad had already
been engaging in agriculture in the Pamir regions more than 2 thousand years ago. A gold earring was also
found. By analogy with other jewelry, it is possible to judge the ties of the population of the Alai with other
areas of Ferghana, Tien Shan, and the Pamirs (100).
Chilpek
●Chilpek #8186, mound 2 (CHK001.A): 2361±22 14C years BP; 506-390 cal. BC (2-sigma)
●Chilpek #8187, mound 8 (CHK002.A): 2444±23 14C years BP; 749-411 cal. BC (2-sigma)
●Chilpek #8188, mound 6 (CHK003.A): 2450±22 14C years BP; 750-415 cal. BC (2-sigma)
●Chilpek #8189, mound 4 (CHK004.A): 1213±21 14C years BP; 722-885 cal. AD (2-sigma)
●Chilpek #8191, mound 7 (CHK005.A)
Two burial grounds are located near the village of Chilpek, 4-5 km from the city of Karakol. The mounds
on these burial grounds are scattered in a disorderly manner on the gentle slopes of the spurs of the foothills.
They were investigated in 1929 by M.P. Gryaznov and M.V. Voevodsky and dated by them no earlier than
the III century BC up to the I century AD, attributed to the "Usun" burial grounds.
The burial inventory of Chilpek mounds is quite poor. It consists of ordinary simple household items -
a small amount of rather rough wooden and clay dishes, extremely small jewelry, among which the "luxury
goods" are a bronze mirror and a pin. There were no gold and weapons in the graves. The remnants of bows
found in two mounds were probably a hunting tool, and not a military weapon (101, 102).
Ken-Su
●Ken-Su #551 (KEN001.A): 2170±23 14C years BP; 357-165 cal. BC (2-sigma)
●Ken-Su #651* (KEN002.A): 2386±24 14C years BP; 540-398 cal. BC (2-sigma)
●Ken-Su 2 #556 (KEN003.A)
Samples from Russia
Bogdanovka
●Bogdanovka#228/1, burial 3 (BGD001.A)
●Bogdanovka#228/2, burial 5 (BGD002.A)
●Bogdanovka#228/4, burial 9 (BGD004.A)
The ancient settlement of Bogdanovka is a monument of the Irtysh forest-steppe zone, attributed to the
Sargat culture (second half of the V century BC - II–III centuries AD). It was identified and examined by the
reconnaissance detachment of the West Siberian expedition under the leadership of V.A. Mogilnikov in 1966
(103). Bogdanovka monument consists of rather large mounds (with a diameter of about 20 m and a height of
about 2 m), located at great distances from each other and containing usually several burials - one main,
central, over which the mound was originally constructed, and several inlet burials, chronologically close to
the central within one relatively short period of time.
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