Study of the Otrar oasis burial sites

The Kurgan detachment of the South-Kazakhstan complex expedition of the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR continued to study the early Muslim cemetery near the settlement of Kuyruktobe and the burial ground at the turn of our era near Altyn-tobe. In addition, some burials discovered during the excavation of the settlement of ancient Otrar were investigated, as well as observations were made along the route of the drainage channel and burials in the mausoleum near the complex of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi were examined.

From the cemetery near Kuyruk-tobe, additional data were obtained to classify burials and burial structures, which made it possible to clarify the chronology of burials. So, by early times (the end of the 9th century) there are burials in soil grave pits, where the skeletons lie elongated on the right side, with the skull to the northwest. Late (12th century) are burials in brick crypts with brick ceilings (36 X 18 X 8 cm) placed across the sidewalls of the crypt. The predominant position of the skeletons is elongated on the back, with the skull to the northwest. By the 10th-11th centuries, there are burials in brick crypts, but with an overlap of bricks (40 x 20 x 8-7 cm), placed obliquely. Burials in brick crypts are synchronous with children's burials in khums, khumchas and other household vessels.

Several scattered burials were cleared in the burial ground near Altyn-tobe. The skeletons lay stretched out on the back, with the skull to the south-southeast. The inventory (mainly ceramics) confirms the previously established upper date - the first centuries of our era.

All burials discovered during the excavation of ancient Otrar are Muslim. They are associated with the timr when certain parts of the city fell into decay and desolation.

The drainage trench in the area between the settlements of Kuyruk-tobe and Altyn-tobe cut through medieval irrigation canals and three small elongated mounds adjoining them. In two of them, two-tier burials were found, made in soil pits covered with burnt bricks (22-22.5 x 11 x 4.5-4 cm). Children's skeletons were in clay khums and khumchas. The buried lay stretched out on their backs, with their heads to the northwest. Burials date back to the 13th-14th centuries.

To the west of the mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, a mausoleum was found buried in the thickness of the cultural layer of the settlement of Turkestan (Yasi). The main façade of the mausoleum is oriented to the southeast and is highlighted by an arched doorway protruding outwards. The stepped entrance leads to a square (4.5 x 4.5 m) room with extensive lancet niches (depth 0.8 m) on the main axes. The mausoleum is covered with a dome. It is made of burnt square bricks (25-26 X 5-6 cm) laid on stucco mortar. The mausoleum is underground, built in a pit of somewhat large size and packed under the level of the dome with adobe mortar. There were seven burials in plank coffins in the mausoleum laid on a sandy bedding of an adobe floor. Rectangular coffins with an extension at the head. They had cloth or leather close-fitting. They are located along the horizontal axis of the mausoleum, including niches. The buried lay stretched out on their backs, with their heads to the northwest. Decayed pieces of tissue were found on the bones of the skeletons. Apparently, the mausoleum is a family tomb. It was built no later than the 16th century.