Moscow University
Anthropology
Bulletin
Anthropology
Bulletin
1) Researcher of Center of Physical Anthropology, Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology RAS, Moscow, Russia; 2) Institute of Archaeology aft. A. Kh. Margulan, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Kitov E.P., e-mail: kadet_eg@mail.ru
From the middle of the XX century to the present researches of monuments of Tasmola archaeo-logical culture of Kazakhstan, widespread on the territory of the extensive region of the Kazakh Upland (Saryarka) have been conducted. During the new researches conducted by A.Z. Beysenov within the last 15 years, for the first time in this region the big barrows of the early Iron Age, which were left by the rul-ing elite of society were studied. In barrows for which the big sizes are common, the difficult design, availability of prestigious products in a grave skulls with the trepanated openings located in the nape part were found. Nine skulls are originated from monuments, which were dug out in low-hills of the islands Karkaraly, Bayanaul and Chingiztau are considered in the article. According to archaeological data as well as results of the 14C analyses made on bone and wood images from two barrows of studied series, all complexes are dated within the period of the VII–V centuries BC. Two 14C dates are received from the burial ground of the barrow No. 2 Kyzylshilik in laboratory of Royal University of Belfast, Great Britain, which are in the interval of the middle of the VI–V centuries BC. In laboratory of the St. Peters-burg Pedagogical University data within the VIII–VI BC on the barrow No. 2 of the burial ground Nurken-2 is received. Most likely, trepanations on skulls from burial grounds of early nomads is connected with need of body preservation before burial or for process of symbolical clarification before its transportation to the burial place. The considered data on posthumous trepanation testify the blossoming of the difficult tradi-tions of farewell and burial of nobility representatives of the population of Kazakhstan and Central Asia during the Era of the Early Iron Age. Sak tribes of the Central Kazakhstan by traditions of posthumous trepanation were closest to early nomads from the territory of Tyva where similar cases of trepanations are met that can speak about communication of cultural traditions of carriers of different archaeological cultures. In perspective researches of tradition of skull trepanation of the population during the Saks era the ethnographic materials concerning features of funeral ceremonies of the steppe people have to be pur-posefully attracted. So, the Kazakhs in the past had the customs connected with «temporary funeral» for the purpose of body preservation before burial in the patrimonial cemetery. Data on body preservation of the body of the dead representatives of exclusive sectors of society, honored workers with the subsequent transportation and their burials in holy sites are also of great interest.
Saryarka, Central Kazakhstan, Tasmola culture, barrow, burial ceremony, mummification, ritual, cranial trepanation
Цит.: Kitov E.P., Beysenov A.Z. Skulls with trepanations from barrows of the early Iron Age of Saryarka // Moscow University Anthropology Bulletin (Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seria XXIII. Antropologia), 2015; 1/2015; с. 37-48
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