Historical context and importance of archaeological research in Kazakhstan -
The ancient history of Central Kazakhstan has long remained poorly understood due to the scarcity of written sources. Even in the works of authors such as William Rubruk or Abulgazi Bahadur, there is practically no information about this region. Therefore, archaeological sites have become the main source for reconstructing the past, especially the unscripted Sary-Arka period. Their study makes it possible to fill in the gaps in history and reveal the unique features of local cultures. In recent years, a complex of monuments has been studied in Central Kazakhstan, which, together with materials from previous years, allowed us to identify an original ethnocultural group that developed during the Saka period. The features of the funeral rite and inventory, which were most clearly manifested in the six burial mound groups of the Tasmol burial ground, gave reason to define this culture as "Tasmolian". Its characteristic features, which distinguish it from other steppe cultures of the Scythian-Saka circle, require a detailed analysis of funerary traditions and finds.
The Early Iron Age (1 thousand BC) was of key importance for the region. During this period, nomadic cattle breeding was formed, which became the basis of the economic system for thousands of years. Powerful tribal alliances have emerged, and socio-economic and political ties have strengthened. In parallel with the development of bronze metallurgy, the development of iron began, and the social structure shifted to military democracy, the last stage of the decomposition of the primitive communal system. The increased mobility of the nomads contributed to the expansion of ties with neighboring and remote regions, which led to the formation of common cultural elements. The Tasmolin tribes, which were part of the circle of related cultures of Altai, Southern Siberia and Semirechye, had a distinct identity and probably influenced the formation of Scythian traditions in the western steppes.
The history of the study of Tasmolin culture began in 1927, when the local historian L. F. Semenov first described the kurgan "with a mustache" and sought advice from the State Academy of the History of Material Culture. In 1932, P. S. Rykov and I. V. Sinitsyn explored the mounds in the Three Brothers tract, including a mysterious 150-meter-long stone arch, presumably associated with the ritual. In 1933, an expedition excavated a mound with a mustache in the Dandybai tract, finding only traces of fire. The systematic study began in 1946 with the work of the Central Kazakhstan expedition led by A. Kh. Margulana. He excavated a series of mounds with moustaches, determined their range from the Chingiz Mountains to the upper reaches of the Tobol and hypothesized about the uniqueness of these monuments for the region. However, for a long time the mounds were considered only ritual structures, and their dating and cultural affiliation remained unclear.
The Tasmolin culture is part of the archaeological community of the "Scytho-Siberian world". At an early stage (VIII–VI centuries BC), its range extended from the Southern Urals to the Irtysh, from the forest-steppe of Western Siberia to Balkhash and the foothills of the Tien Shan. At a late stage (V–III centuries BC), the borders shifted — they decreased in the west, but expanded in the Ob-Irtysh forest-steppe. The origins of the "Tasmolin" culture require a separate study, but already now its connection with the tribes of the "Begazy-Dandybaevsky" period (Late Bronze Age) can be traced through the traditions of the funeral rite, the technique of constructing tombstones and anthropological data.
The mounds with moustaches are the most characteristic cultural monument. Under the large mound there was a burial pit (2.5×1.5×2 m), covered with stone slabs, with the buried man stretched out on his back (with his head facing north or northwest). In early graves, skulls of a horse or a ram were found at the feet. Nearby there was a small mound with the remains of horses, ceramics or traces of fire. From the mound to the east stretched "whiskers" — stone ridges 20-200 meters long.
In addition, there were low mounds (up to 1 m) with stone rings and ditches, as well as large structures (up to 5 m) made of mud blocks with stone boxes and dromos.
The social structure of Tasmolinian society is reflected in the funeral equipment:
Warriors – weapons, horse harnesses, set belts.
Priests – stone altars, mirrors, tattooing tools.
Ordinary people – arrowheads, knives, touchstones.
Arts and crafts are represented by bronze daggers of the Nurmanbet type (with a wavy handle and a mushroom-shaped pommel), animal-style products (golden tiger figurines, bronze images of mountain goats, engravings of wild boars and moose), as well as horn buckles in the form of curled animals. The basis of the economy was nomadic cattle breeding (sheep, horses, camels), complemented by advanced metallurgy (settlements of miners and foundry workers).
The Tasmolin culture was formed on the basis of the Begaza-Dandybai traditions with the influence of the cultures of the Trans-Urals and Southern Siberia. The late stage of its development (Korgantas, III–I centuries BC, according to A. Z. Beisenov) is characterized by burial mounds with sacrificial compartments and connections with Xinjiang, Mongolia and Altai. The decline of culture is associated with the migrations of the Sarmatians, Yuezhi, Wusun and Xiongnu.
The Tasmolin culture is an important link in the history of the Eurasian steppes, reflecting the interaction of nomadic peoples and their contribution to the formation of the Scytho-Siberian world. Further research will help to reveal more deeply its uniqueness and role in the ancient history of Kazakhstan.
Photogallery:
