Excavations of the Karashat burial ground

A detachment of the Shulba expedition of the Institute of History, Archeology and Ethnography of the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR conducted the Karashat burial ground excavations near Proletarka village Semipalatinsk region. The burial ground, consisting of small barrow groups stretching in the meridional direction, is located on the right, high bank of the Irtysh and adjoins the first terrace above the floodplain, which abruptly breaks off in this place. Ground structures are of different types: stone fills, rounded in laying out and sub-rectangular enclosures (at the level of the ancient surface, the remains of the original structure in the form of two-three-tiered fences with multi-layered intra-hill layings were recorded). 22 graves were unearthed, containing individual (17) and paired (four) burials in oval-subrectangular and side-cut (four) pits, in stone boxes (two) and in wooden frames (three). The burial rite is the burial position with an oriental orientation. Of interest is the undisturbed mound 15, where an accompanying burial of a horse in full decoration with a western orientation is recorded. It contained iron bits with massive rings, gilded bronze plaques with floral ornaments, a clip for brushes (from a shoulder strap), a heart-shaped forehead plaque, plaques from a tail belt, and part of a wooden stirrup. The remains of a blanket made of thick white material were traced in places. The deceased man was lying stretched out on his back, with his head to the east, south of the horse in a linen, the entrance was closed with logs. To the right of the deceased was a birch bark quiver with iron arrowheads, next to it were sword-belt plaques, to the left was a slightly curved saber with a handle beveled towards the blade, near the skull, were gilded bronze earrings, a bone craft with a hole and pieces of silk fabric. In the main grave of kurgan 22, a silver fish-shaped amulet with floral ornaments and two glass beads were found. In other late nomad burial mounds, the finds are represented by bits and stirrups of various types, armor plate, iron, bronze and bone buckles, knives, a quiver with arrows, silver earrings, bone clasps from fetters, an amulet and an overlay for a bow, bronze plaques, and clay vessels. The local Kimak tribes left the investigated burial mounds. They date from the 9th-11th centuries.

On the left bank of the Osikha (Karashat) River, a ruined mound was further explored in a sand and gravel quarry. In a stone box, covered with several slabs, lay the skeleton of a woman with her skull to the north. At the belt, under the right arm, a felt bag was found, in which there was a bronze mirror with a border and a loop and a two-piece wooden comb. Paste beads (180 pieces) were found in the neck area, and a bronze awl was found at the head. At the skull and on the remains of a felt bag, pieces of thin pink fabric were traced. The burial presumably belongs to the middle of the 1st millennium BC.