‘Mustached’ Burial Mounds Discovered in Kazakhstan

Archaeologists have uncovered ten ancient burial mounds, known as kurgans, in Kazakhstan's Ulytau region, with some displaying distinctive "mustaches." These kurgans, which likely date back to the Early and Medieval Nomadic periods, were found by a team led by Zhanbolat Utubaev from the Margulan Institute of Archaeology.

Three of the kurgans are unique in that they feature two ridges of stones that extend outward, giving them the appearance of mustaches, said Zhanbolat Utubaev, an archaeologist at the Margulan Institute of Archaeology in an email response to Live Science.

This distinctive feature has led to their classification as "mustached kurgans," a type of burial mound that is fairly common in central Kazakhstan. More than 400 such structures have been documented across the region. The sizes of these mounds vary significantly, ranging from about 10 to 50 feet (3 to 15 meters) in diameter, Utubaev explained.

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Burials of several different types were uncovered. (Courtesy of the Margulan Institute of Archaeology)

A Range of Burial Types

The team excavated one of the newly discovered kurgans, which lacked the stone mustaches. Inside, they found the remains of a man, buried with a triangular arrowhead. However, little is known about the individual, including how he died or the exact time period in which he lived.

Further research and analysis of the site may provide additional insights into the life and death of this mysterious figure.

Burial of one man was found with an arrowhead. (Courtesy of the Margulan Institute of Archaeology)

The precise age of the newly discovered kurgans has not yet been determined, though they are believed to date to the medieval period. This was a time when Kazakhstan was home to both nomadic and settled groups. For example, the city of Taraz in southeastern Kazakhstan was a flourishing hub along the Silk Road. While some people lived in such cities, others, like the Mongols, led a more nomadic lifestyle.

Although the newfound kurgans may predate the Mongol conquest of the 13th century, they likely belonged to a nomadic group from that era.

Top image: The remains of a kurgan burial mound found in Kazakhstan with two stone ridges known as "mustaches."                  Source: Courtesy of the Margulan Institute of Archaeology

By Gary Manners