Pazyryk culture
The Pazyryk culture is an Iron Age archaeological culture (ca. 6th to 3rd centuries BC) identified by excavated artifacts and mummified humans found in the Siberian permafrost in the Altay Mountains. The mummies are buried in long barrows (or "kurgans") similar to the tomb mounds of western Scythian culture in modern Ukraine. The type site are the Pazyryk burials of the Ukok Plateau.[1] Many artifacts have been found at this location, including the Ice Princess, indicating a flourishing culture at this location that benefited from the many trade routes and caravans of merchants passing through the area.[2]
Other kurgan cemeteries associated with the culture include those of Bashadar, Tuekta, Ulandryk, Polosmak and Berel. There are so far no known sites of settlements associated with the burials, suggesting a purely nomadic lifestyle.
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[edit] Notes
- ^ "Ice Mummies: Siberian Ice Maiden". PBS - NOVA. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/transcripts/2517siberian.html. Retrieved 2007-07-31.
- ^ "Prehistoric Art - Early Nomads of the Altaic Region". The Hermitage Museum. http://www.hermitagemuseum.org/html_En/03/hm3_2_7.html. Retrieved 2007-07-31.
