Berel'deki 4. Kurgan

Abstract

Berel Kurgans are located in the Berel Valley on the western slope of the Altai Mountains, Eastern Kazakhstan Province of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Berel is the cemetery where kurgans of the mid İron Age Scythian/Saka communities of the Altay Mountains referred in archaeology as the Pazyryk culture had been identified. Archaeological findings obtained as a result of excavations which started in 1998 and continue nowadays attract particular attention of the scientific community. Therefore, Berel has been one of the greatest discoveries of Kazakh archeology after independence. The kurgans at Berel which considered belonging to ruling dynasty due to its architectural features and remarkable artifacts are of great importance. After the kurgans 1st, 2nd, 10th and 11th, kurgan 4 was also dated to Pazyryk culture. It is considered that 4th kurgan belongs to a person of high status in society due to similar architectural characteristics and its close positioning to 10th and 11th kurgans. It has been possible to reveal only small number of finding during excavations due to heavy damages and destruction by grave robbers. Nevertheless it still illustrates architectural characteristics of Pazyryk culture. The kurgan is unique with its domed superstructure which was formed by stone material over the burial chamber. Dome superstructure over the burial chamber was revealed only in two Berel kurgans. Significance of the 4th Kurgan is undoubtable in terms of pre-Islamic Turkish Art and architecture thanks to discovery of the dome application as the covering system. It also provides valuable information concerning grave pit’s pre-excavation condition.