Archaeologists in Kazakhstan have discovered 10 kurgans, or burial mounds, dating back to the Middle Ages, some of which feature stone ledges running across them.
Found in the Ulytau region of central Kazakhstan, three of the kurgans have been referred to by archaeologists as “kurgan.” Zhanbolat Utubaev, an archaeologist at the Margulan Archaeological Institute and the leader of the team that discovered the kurgans, stated that these burial mounds have stone ledges running across them.
Remains of a kurgan, or burial mound with stone ledges (Photo: Margulan Archaeological Institute).
Utubaev mentioned that “dome-shaped” kurgans from the Middle Ages (approximately 600 – 1500 AD) are quite common in Kazakhstan; over 400 of them have been discovered in central Kazakhstan alone. He noted that these mounds have diameters ranging from about 3 to 15 meters.
The research team also excavated a kurgan without stone ledges and found the remains of a man buried with a triangular arrowhead, Utubaev stated. It is unclear who he was or how he died, but further studies may shed light on the cause of his death.
The kurgans appear to date back to the Middle Ages, according to a statement from the Margulan Archaeological Institute. During this time, some people in Kazakhstan lived a nomadic lifestyle, while others settled down.
For example, many settlers lived in the city of Taraz, a thriving area in southeastern Kazakhstan and a major stop along the Silk Road between China and Europe. However, others in Kazakhstan preferred a more nomadic way of life. The most notable group may be the Mongols, who conquered the region in the 13th century. The newly discovered kurgans may predate the Mongol conquests, but they seem to belong to a nomadic group.
