Pazırık Kurganları

Pazırık Kurgans are monumental burial structures left by nomadic groups who lived in the Altai Mountains and surrounding regions during the 5th and 4th centuries BCE, known in archaeological literature as the “Pazırık culture”.

The kurgans are located in the eastern part of the Upper Altai, near the border with Tuva, within the Great Ulagan Valley area of the Gorno-Altai Region, which is part of the Russian Federation. To date, over 600 kurgans have been identified across more than 135 burial sites.

^{Internal Structure of the Kurgans} (Mazhar Narşap)

The area where the kurgans are located experiences low annual temperature fluctuations and long, harsh winters. The thin snow cover and low temperatures caused water seeping into the kurgans to freeze, preserving organic materials in the same state as when they were buried. Architectural and burial traditions show cultural continuity with Proto-Turkic and early Turkic peoples and exhibit strong connections with the Scythian world.

Artifacts recovered from the Pazırık kurgans are currently exhibited at the Ermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

The first surface survey of the region was conducted by Messerschmidt in 1722. The first scientific excavations, led by S. I. Rudenko in 1924, revealed the Pazırık culture and gained momentum through the excavations of M. Gryaznov. The finds from these excavations showed typological similarities with Scythian kurgans north of the Black Sea; due to weapons, horse harnesses and animal-style artworks, the culture was regarded as part of the Scythian/Saka world.

In 2005, international projects in the Bayan-Ölgii region of Mongolia (led by Molodin, Törbat, Parzinger et al.) identified numerous new Pazırık kurgans, with excavations at the Baga Türgen Gol site standing out.

^{Appearance of the Kurgans Before Excavation} (Mazhar Narşap)

The Pazırık kurgans are generally aligned north-south in a chain-like arrangement. They were typically constructed on sacred sites such as mountain slopes, highland pastures and riverbanks. The kurgans form monumental burial complexes consisting of a stone mound, circular stone fences or shallow ditches surrounding them, altars on the west and rows of balbals on the east.

Burial chambers were constructed entirely of wood, with carpets hung on the walls and the deceased placed inside along with their belongings. Chambers were usually built at the bottom of the burial pit; horses were buried just outside but adjacent to the chamber.

A large kurgan dated to the 4th–3rd centuries BCE, excavated in the Pazırık burial ground of the Altai Mountains and one of the most famous examples of the Pazırık culture. The chamber contains both human and horse burials.

This kurgan was excavated in 1929 by Russian archaeologist S. I. Rudenko and gained fame as one of the world’s best-preserved frozen tombs. Due to its location within permafrost, wooden, felt, leather and textile artifacts were exceptionally preserved.^【1】 

• The kurgan was constructed beneath a stone and earth mound using wooden logs and consists of a rectangular burial chamber.
• The burial chamber was sealed with planks, supported by stakes along the edges and covered with a thick layer of stone.

^{Deer-Antlered Horse Mask from the First Pazırık Kurgan} (Yunus Ekim)

• Horse burials: A group of horse skeletons, accompanied by harnesses, were found in the north of the burial chamber. Also recovered were horse harnesses, wooden saddles, deer-antlered horse masks, leather saddle covers, wooden and leather shields, animal motif decorations, gold-inlaid bridle parts and felt carpet fragments.
• Burial offerings: Gold and silver ornaments, carved wooden objects, metal decorations in animal style, felt and textile samples were found. Artifacts such as a wooden human-faced bridle piece and a necklace with griffin motifs were also recovered.

The finds from the First Pazırık Kurgan clearly demonstrate the dual role of the horse in steppe culture—as both transportation and ceremonial object. The rich animal-style decorations reflect the artistic sensibility of the Pazırık culture and provide important insights into the craftsmanship of the period. Thanks to the frozen soil, organic materials and textiles have reached the present day undamaged.

The Second Pazırık Kurgan is located in the Pazırık burial ground of the Altai Mountains. It was discovered in 1947 by Russian archaeologist S. I. Rudenko. The tomb had been looted in antiquity: the bodies were dismembered and valuable items removed, yet many artifacts remained preserved.

• The kurgan contains a rectangular burial chamber constructed of wooden logs beneath a stone and earth mound. A rectangular burial pit measuring 7.1 × 7.8 meters and 4 meters deep lies beneath a mound approximately 30 meters in diameter and 1.75 meters high.
• The chamber was sealed with thick logs, covered with a stone layer, and its contents were preserved intact due to frozen soil. The burial chamber contains both human and ritual horse burials.

^{Headdress Made of Leather, Fur and Gold from the Second Pazırık Kurgan} (Yunus Ekim)

• Horse burials: Seven horse corpses, accompanied by harnesses, were found in the north of the chamber. The horses’ manes were cut and their tails braided. Saddles were adorned with cushions filled with deer wool or grass and decorated with eagle-griffin and deer figures.
• Human burial: A man (aged 50–60) and a woman (aged over 40) were embalmed to prevent decomposition. The man was of Mongoloid type and showed signs of trauma from a weapon blow to the skull.
• Burial offerings: Excavations yielded belts made of leather, gold and tendon fibers; a leather belt with rooster appliqués; a headdress decorated with fur and gold; and red boots made of leather and textiles. The red decorated boots are interpreted as symbols of dominance in steppe culture.^【2】 
• Other finds include felt socks, silver plaques, wooden and leather cushions, a staff with a griffin head, a wooden table and table legs, horse masks made of wood and bone, gold-inlaid bridle parts, deer motif decorations, a tightly woven wool carpet fragment, felt appliquéd horse motifs on saddle covers and ritual objects.

^{Kumis Vessel from the Second Pazırık Kurgan} (Yunus Ekim)

The finds shed light on the clothing culture, ritual practices and artistic sensibility of steppe societies. Wooden furniture and carpets demonstrate the craftsmanship and aesthetic understanding of the period.

A large kurgan located in the Pazırık burial ground of the Altai Mountains, excavated by S. I. Rudenko in the 1940s. It contains both human and horse burials.

• It consists of a rectangular burial chamber built from wooden logs at the bottom of a deep burial pit beneath a stone mound. The chamber was lined with felt and the deceased were buried with their belongings.
• Altars were identified on the surface above the kurgan and rows of balbals on the east.

^{Bridle with Griffin Head Motifs from the Third Pazırık Kurgan} (Yunus Ekim)

• Horse burials: Horse skeletons, accompanied by harnesses, were found in the north of the burial chamber. The horses’ manes and tails were cut or braided in traditional style and arranged ceremonially with their harnesses.
• Burial offerings: Scythian animal-style metal decorations, carved wooden objects, examples of felt and leatherwork, gold and silver jewelry were recovered.
• Artistic elements: Excavations yielded bird-headed figures made of wood and gold leaf, carved wooden panther and deer figures, depictions of mouflon and mountain goats, deer-antler-shaped decorations, fragments of horse harnesses depicting wild rabbit scenes, bone saddle tips and symmetrical harness components, bone fragments with panther head motifs, and bridles made of leather, wood, bronze and gold leaf with griffin and mouflon motifs.

Artifacts from the Third Pazırık Kurgan provide examples of the steppe animal style. Particularly, the wooden and bone craftsmanship combined with gold leaf decorations illustrate how artistic and ritual elements were integrated in Pazırık culture. The detailed animal figures on the horse harnesses reflect the economic, military and symbolic importance of the horse in steppe society.

A large kurgan located in the Pazırık burial ground of the Altai Mountains, exhibiting typical features of the Pazırık culture. Excavations were conducted by S. I. Rudenko.

• The kurgan consists of a burial chamber built from wooden logs beneath a stone and earth mound. The chamber was lined with felt and the deceased were buried with their belongings.
• On the surface, two altars were identified beside the kurgan and four balbals on the east.

^{Bridle Fragment with Animal Motifs from the Fourth Pazırık Kurgan} (Yunus Ekim)

• Horse burials: Horses, accompanied by harnesses, were buried in the north of the burial chamber.
• Burial offerings: Carved wooden objects, examples of felt and leatherwork, gold and silver ornaments, and Scythian animal-style metal decorations were found.
• Artistic elements: Excavations yielded wooden wolf and panther figures, leather and wooden bridles decorated with zoomorphic animal motifs. These finds reflect the woodworking, leather decoration techniques and animal-style aesthetics of the period.

The figures and decorated horse harnesses from the Fourth Pazırık Kurgan are significant for documenting the ceremonial and practical use of the horse in Pazırık culture. Animal-head motifs reveal the symbolic language of Altai steppe art and its close relationship with nature.

A large Pazırık culture burial mound located in the Pazırık burial ground of the Altai Mountains, excavated in 1949 under the leadership of S. I. Rudenko. Thanks to frozen soil conditions, organic materials were exceptionally preserved; this kurgan gained worldwide fame particularly for the Pazırık Carpet.

• It is one of the largest kurgans in the area.
• The kurgan consists of a burial chamber built from wooden logs beneath a stone and earth mound. The chamber contains both human and horse burials.
• The chambers were sealed with thick logs and covered with a stone layer; due to the region’s climate, their contents remained undamaged until the present day.

^{Detail of the Carpet from the Fifth Pazırık Kurgan} (Yunus Ekim)

• Frozen tomb: Thanks to the frozen soil, wooden, leather, felt and textile artifacts were preserved.
• Horse burials: Horses, accompanied by harnesses, were buried in the north of the burial chamber.
• Burial offerings: The famous Pazırık Carpet, recognized as the world’s oldest wool pile carpet, was recovered from this kurgan. Also found were carved wooden objects, furniture, animal-style metal decorations, felt wall hangings, processed leather pieces, and gold and silver jewelry.

^{Horse Mask from the Fifth Pazırık Kurgan} (Yunus Ekim)

The Fifth Pazırık Kurgan reveals the aesthetic understanding, craftsmanship and symbolic values of steppe communities in terms of both art history and archaeology.

^{The Pazırık Carpet} (Bülent Yılmaz)

Dated to the 5th and 4th centuries BCE, the Pazırık Carpet is the world’s oldest known knotted carpet. Associated with Hun or Scythian communities, it features four-leaf plant motifs arranged in a checkerboard pattern at its center and borders adorned with deer, lions, griffins and mounted human figures. The background uses dark red, along with brown, yellow, navy blue, light blue and cream colors. Due to its symmetric knot technique, it is considered the first Turkish carpet.^【3】 

^{Horse Cart from the Fifth Pazırık Kurgan} (Luzia Kılıç)

The Pazırık Kurgans are among the most important archaeological sites representing the Early Iron Age steppe culture of the Altai region. The finds provide detailed information on the material culture, artistic production and burial traditions of mounted nomadic communities. The exceptional preservation of organic materials renders the site of great significance in world archaeology.