Pazyryk burial mounds of Altai

In the Altai Mountains people have lived since time immemorial. They seemed to attract these incredibly beautiful places with special energy. So far, local residents say that the Altai land is not accepted by every person. After all, the most hidden traits of character appear here, and in some places of power the traveler can even personally see, as in a mirror, a reflection of his own fears and illusions. To forget the experience is not possible to everyone, so many tourist routes are not available to ordinary people. Even the local people will not take you to any places for some money, behind which the glory of bad lands stretches. This category includes numerous ancient burials, which are very interesting for historians and archaeologists. The fact is that many of the burial mounds and cemeteries have been preserved in very good condition and can give the world a huge number of unique exhibits. One of the most mysterious burial grounds of Altai is Pazyryk burial mounds. Scientists became interested in them even in the Soviet times and until now, the finds, extracted from the ground by archaeologists, are considered unique and are investigated by different specialists. Today we will tell you in detail about the Pazyryk burial mounds, their location and how to get to these amazing historical monuments of ancient culture.

Brief information about repositories

Scientists and locals allege thatPazyryk burial mounds are burials of ancient tribes of the Scythian period. Historians date the burial grounds around the fourth or fifth century BC. It was during this period that the Altai Mountains were inhabited by a large number of nomadic tribes, whose cultural traditions are still a mystery for specialists, despite the abundance of excavated burial grounds.

Unfortunately, not all of us have reached our timesfinds from the Pazyryk barrows. The Hermitage stores today the most valuable exhibits brought from Siberia, but many of them because of improper storage during excavations have been lost, which was "helped" by wild animals and local residents. The appointment and skilful execution of some objects amazed archaeologists and historians so much that they introduced even such a special term as "Pazyryk culture," of which very little is known.

Pazyryk burial mounds are fivemounds located near the village of Balyktuil in the tract Pazyryk. The settlement is about four and a half kilometers from the cemetery, therefore locals are often forced to pass and pass past ancient burials. This path does not give them any pleasure, moreover, it is associated with a number of anomalous phenomena, the description of which we will devote one of the sections of the article. It is noteworthy that there are a lot of ancient cultural monuments around the village that eventually turned into landmarks of the natural boundary. In addition to burial mounds, Aragol irrigation system is of great interest to tourists and scientists.

We think, even from such a brief description, you could understand that the place, which we will tell you today, is truly unusual and has incredibly strong energy.

Features of mounds

Photo of Pazyryk burial mounds, which can be found inInternet, immediately show that these burials are extremely interesting. Almost all of them are located in pairs in the north of the tract. The exception is the fourth burial ground, it stands alone from all groups and is located at a sufficiently large distance from them.

Interestingly, in the translation from Tuvan language, the name of the tract means "mound", so the phrase "Pazyrykskie kurgans" is a tautology.

Four years ago, the cemeteries werejurisdiction of the museum-reserve. Ak-Cholupsha Nature Park occupies vast territories, which includes populated areas and historical monuments, many of which have no similarity anywhere else in the world.

For a long time the project of constructionThe museum itself is near the mounds. But all the time on the way enthusiasts faced serious obstacles, so it was decided to open a museum in the regional center. The main reason for the abandonment of the original project was the lack of water at the cemetery and a large distance to large settlements. It is easy to guess that the museum staff could not agree to work and live there, where once found its rest to know the Pazyryk culture.

Research of burial grounds

The excavations of the Pazyryk barrows began at twentythe ninth year of the last century. Literally after the first days of work, burials were called "royal", because the number of objects found was simply amazing for archaeologists. Despite the fact that the local population was categorically against excavation and considered it sacrilegious, the research continued for twenty years.

In the process of work, objects were taken to the lightlife, decorations, transport, mummified bodies of horses and people. It is noteworthy that the mummies were in such good condition that they were perfectly visible ritual drawings, made during lifetime. Scientists managed to draw almost all the unique tattoos. In the Pazyryk barrows were found things brought from Persia, as well as ornaments from small shells that can not be found on the territory of the Altai.

Interestingly, all five mounds were lootedeven before the start of scientific work, but the archaeologists were lucky. A layer of permafrost concealed from marauders a huge number of unique items, which, after inventory, were almost immediately sent to the Hermitage.

Pazyryk burial mounds are also known for the fact that in themThe burials of horses were found, which were preserved in excellent condition. On some of them, scientists discovered leather masks with horns and harness elements. Unfortunately, many mummified animal bodies were eaten by wild animals after being removed from the burial ground intact.

The appearance of mounds

At the very beginning of the research work on the Pazyryk barrows of scientists, it was struck by the fact how thoroughly the ancient tribes approached the burial of their kinsmen.

Also could not but mention the archaeologists trulygigantic dimensions of cemeteries. The diameter of embankments made of large stones ranges from twenty to fifty meters. Above the surface of the earth burial grounds rise on average by five meters, there are burial mounds and lower ones - up to two meters. The cemetery itself goes underground for seven meters, while the burial chamber reaches in some cases fifty square meters. It is difficult even to imagine how such monumental structures were erected in those distant times.

It is not known, the uniqueobjects from these burial grounds, if not for thieves. Opening the mound, they launched the processes that led to the formation of vast layers of permafrost. Thanks to this, scientists could even prove that the geometric ornaments in the objects of the Pazyryk barrows are very similar to the patterns found on the Ukok Plateau. Some experts believe that they were made by the same master, in spite of the fact that the mounds divide the distance into one hundred and fifty kilometers.

Grave pit arrangement

Having excavated in all five burial grounds, scientistscame to the conclusion that the representatives of Pazyryk culture paid special attention to the construction and arrangement of the sepulchral chamber. At a depth of at least five meters, they erected log buildings of thick logs. Sometimes the burial chamber had even double walls and a ceiling covered with a large number of dried plants.

The inner chamber usually had a height of not more thanand a half meters, in it archaeologists have discovered sarcophagi. They were cut from a solid piece of wood. This was done with a small bronze ax. The sarcophagus was usually richly decorated with animal images, most often roosters and deer.

The mystical meaning of plants in graves

Usually on the roof of the funerary "home" buildersthey put chicken tea, bark of larch and birch. The scientists found out that they had a sacred significance for the nomad tribes of Altai. For example, a birch symbolized the eternal purity, but larch was considered a special tree, which connects two worlds - a light heavenly and a dark underground. Thanks to the bark of this tree, the deceased could easily pass into another world.

The Mystery of the Fifth Barrow

The fifth Pazyryk burial mound, discovered by archaeologistslast, is considered one of the most unique. In his burial chamber were found two mummies. The man and the woman were buried, the approximate age of the deceased does not exceed forty years.

The bodies of the noble members of the tribe were veryit is good not only due to permafrost, but also careful treatment after death. Presumably, the man was a noble warrior and his skin is almost completely covered with tattoos. A woman could be his wife or concubine. This is indicated by the rich decoration of the sarcophagus and the remnants of clothing sewn by their cotton fabric and fur.

Method of mummification

Thanks to the found bodies, scientists were able to find out,how shamans and ancient doctors mummified the bodies of the nobility. First of all, they made a small hole in the skull of the deceased and with a special instrument extracted the brain from it. In return, dried fragrant herbs were placed in the skull.

The body was cut, it was completely deprived of internal organs, tendons and muscles. After these manipulations, the empty space was filled with herbs and sewed with horsehair.

In order not to spread around the moundsthe smell of rotting flesh, next to the sarcophagi housed a large dish filled with hemp seeds. They absorbed all the unpleasant odors. In the fifth mound this dish was found covered with a thin silk cloth.

The most unique finds of the mound

The burial ground discovered by the latter is known not only for two perfectly preserved mummies of people, but also for other unique finds that reveal the culture of the nomadic tribes of the Scythian period.

Outside the walls of the log house archaeologists were able to discoverburial of several horses. According to some sources, they originally numbered fourteen. Surprisingly, in addition to well-preserved harness, scientists found a complete harness, leather masks, scoops and chariot. Some carcasses of horses were classified as Mongolian breed, characterized by low growth.

Two historians were greatly interested in carpet,which are well preserved until the opening of the mound. The first is supposedly made by Pazyryk craftsmen. He covered the walls of the burial chamber and was made of snow-white felt. He was noted for his bright appliqués, on one of the fragments a fairy-tale character in which the features of a man and several animals (some of them were not found in the territory of the Altai Mountains) combined, fought with the Phoenix.

Another carpet is nap and is considered one of the most ancient and valuable exhibits. It is made in knitting knitting and brought from Persia. Similar findings in the Altai have not yet been done.

Pazyryk culture

Surprisingly, until now, scientists do not know howthere was this culture, where it came from and how long it existed. Some historians believe that the Pazyryks came to the Altai from the Near East and maintained strong trade relations with different tribes.

According to one data, they existed unifiedpeople no more than fifty years and then completely dissolved among the locals. Other scientists argue that the Pazyryk culture lasted more than two hundred years in the Altai.

Where are the finds from Pazyryk burial mounds (Altai) kept?

If you find yourself in the Hermitage, then definitely visit the department of primitive culture. It is here that the most valuable specimens brought from the burial grounds are exhibited.

Also, several items are inlocal lore museums of two cities: Biysk and Gorno-Altaisk. Of course, there is not too much exposition here, but still the exhibits will give an opportunity to appreciate the uniqueness of the civilization that has sunk into eternity.

Road to the mound

Those who plan to leave next summer forinspection of cemeteries, it is best to start your journey from Biysk. From here it is necessary to go along the Chuysky tract, the distance is just over five hundred kilometers.

At the village of Aktash, travelers need to turnleft to Ulagan. Further the road goes to Balyktul, and from there to the Pazyryk burial mounds there is no more than fifty kilometers to go. Orient tourists can follow the signs.

Anomalies of mounds

Of course, many people come here, but notIt is worth forgetting that local people always warn about anomalies of mounds. Often in front of them cars are stalled, and horses refuse to go further, trailing on the spot sometimes for several hours. To force an animal or car to move at such moments is impossible. After a while everything passes, and the travelers continue their journey as if nothing had happened.

Often locals see the high and sada woman in rich clothes who wander around the mounds and lament over their destruction. And sometimes, before the eyes of the witnesses, a red-haired beauty appears, emerging directly from the burial ground. It easily flies over the graves and disappears in a flash of bright light.

Who knows what these ghosts are. Perhaps it was their bodies that were once buried here, and their secrets are still being uncovered by modern historians and archaeologists.