A 2,800-year-old burial mound has been discovered in southern Siberia, offering new insights into ancient burial practices. The site, found in Tuva, includes the remains of an elite person buried with a human sacrifice and 18 horses. Archaeologists have linked these findings to early Scythian burial traditions. These nomadic peoples were known for their elaborate rituals, which often included sacrifices in honor of their dead. This discovery is one of the earliest examples of such a practice, dating back to the transition between the Bronze and Iron Ages.

Burial traditions like skete

The burial mound or kurgan is significant because of its early association with Scythian customs. Found in the “Siberian Valley of the Kings”, the site contains artifacts related to horse riding, as well as animal-themed ornaments. Some of the horses found still had brass limbs in their mouths, which proves their use in Scythian life.

The presence of these items suggests that the Scythian culture, which spread westward in later centuries, may have originated in this region, according to a study published in the journal Antiquity.

Human and horse sacrifices

Sacrificial practices seem to have been an integral part of this burial, and both human and horse remains have been found at the site. Researchers have identified the remains of a woman, believed to have been sacrificed as part of a funeral ritual.

The horses were probably killed and buried with the dead elite to accompany them to the afterlife. These findings echo the descriptions of ancient historians such as Herodotus, who wrote about the Scythian practice of sacrificing animals and servants for their kingship.

Insights of an archaeologist

The study was led by Gino Caspari, an archaeologist from the University of Bern in Switzerland. Caspari and his team believe this discovery provides key evidence of the early origins of Scythian culture. Using radiocarbon dating, they determined that the burial dates to the late ninth century BC, making it one of the earliest examples of such rituals found so far.