A 2,800-Year-Old Siberian Burial Mound Reveals Insights into Scythian Origins!

An extraordinary 2,800-year-old burial mound uncovered in southern Siberia is providing new insights into the origins of the Scythians, a nomadic culture renowned for their horsemanship and elaborate burial customs.

Photo Credit: Trevor Wallace

The Siberian Burial Site: A Glimpse into Early Scythian Rituals

This ancient burial mound, or kurgan, was discovered in the Tuva region of Siberia and has been dated to the late 9th century BC. The site contains the remains of a high-status individual buried with 18 sacrificed horses and at least one human, believed to have been sacrificed as part of the funeral rites. Researchers consider this discovery one of the earliest known examples of burial practices similar to those of the Scythians.

The kurgan is located in an area referred to as the “Siberian Valley of the Kings,” a valley rich in similar burial mounds. Radiocarbon dating suggests the burial took place during the late Bronze Age to early Iron Age transition, offering early evidence of customs that would later become common among the Scythians, who spread across the vast Eurasian steppes.

Gino Caspari, an archaeologist from the University of Bern and lead researcher of the study, said: “Unearthing some of the earliest evidence of a unique cultural phenomenon is a privilege and a childhood dream come true.” Caspari and his team have published their findings in the journal Antiquity.

Photo Credit: Trevor Wallace

Connections to Scythian Culture

The Scythians, who thrived between 900 and 200 BC, were famous for their mastery of horse riding, artistry, and combat skills. They were influential figures in the ancient world, often feared by civilisations such as the Greeks, Assyrians, and Persians. While the Scythians left no written records of their own, historical accounts like those of the Greek historian Herodotus offer a glimpse into their world. Herodotus described their funeral rites as involving lavish sacrifices of horses and humans, ceremonies that honoured their elite.

The burial in Tuva, with its sacrificed horses and possible human sacrifice, closely mirrors Herodotus’ descriptions. His writings recount how Scythians arranged gutted, stuffed horses alongside humans, creating scenes as if they were riding around the burial mound. These echoes suggest that the roots of Scythian funerary traditions might stretch back to earlier Siberian cultures.

Artefacts Reflecting Scythian Culture

Many of the artefacts uncovered in Tuva bear striking similarities to later Scythian culture. The horses’ skeletons still had brass bits between their teeth, and various objects found in the mound reflect Scythian-like designs, particularly those featuring animal motifs. The discovery suggests that the culture and rituals we associate with the Scythians may have originated earlier and further east than previously believed. Caspari's team proposes that the funeral traditions seen in southern Siberia may have influenced later Scythian practices in regions such as Ukraine and southwest Russia.

Photo Credit: Sadykov T, Blochin J, Taylor W, et al., Antiquity (2024)

Connections Beyond Scythia

Interestingly, the researchers also identified links between this early Scythian-like culture and the horse-based societies of Mongolia. They noted similarities between the burial mound in Tuva and graves from the Late Bronze Age in Mongolia, hinting at wider cultural exchanges across Eurasia.

Dr Caspari and his team suggest that these funerary practices were not only important for honouring the dead but also played a significant role in the broader political and cultural transformations of the era. As Caspari noted, “Our findings highlight the importance of Inner Asia in the development of transcontinental cultural connections,” adding that such burial traditions may have contributed to the rise of later pastoralist empires.

This discovery continues to shed light on the complex web of cultural influences that shaped early Eurasian civilisations, offering a deeper understanding of the Scythians and their legacy.