Arzhan

Coordinates: 52°03′32″N 93°36′14″E / 52.05889°N 93.60389°E / 52.05889; 93.60389

Arzhan (Russian: Аржан) is a site of early Scythian kurgan burials, located in the Tuva Republic, Russia, some 60 kilometers (40 mi) the north-west of Kyzyl.

Arzhan is situated on a high plateau, traversed by the Uyuk River, a minor tributary of the Yenisei River.

The excavations showed burials with rich grave goods including horses and gold artefacts. The total number of kurgans is several hundred, arranged in several parallel chains.

Arzhan-1 was excavated by M. P. Gryaznov in the 1970s, establishing the origins of Scythian culture in the region in the 9th to 8th centuries BCE.

Further excavations were conducted in 1997 and in 1998-2003 (Arzhan-2). Arzhan-2 turned out to be an undisturbed (unlooted) burial.

See also

• Srubna culture
• Andronovo culture
• Karasuk culture

Further reading

• Konstantin Čugunov, Hermann Parzinger, Anatoli Nagler: Der skythische Fürstengrabhügel von Aržan 2 in Tuva. Vorbericht der russisch-deutschen Ausgrabungen 2000-2002. In: Eurasia Antiqua 9 (2003), S. 113-162
• А. Д. Грач. "Древние кочевники в центре Азии." Москва 1980.
• M. P. Gryaznov: Der Großkurgan von Aržan in Tuva, Südsibirien. Materialien zur Allgemeinen und Vergleichenden Archäologie 23. München 1984
• А. М. Мандельштам. "Ранние кочевники скифского периода на территории Тувы." В М. Г. Мошкова, "Степная полоса азиатской части СССР в скифо-сарматское время". Археология СССР. Москва 1992

External links

• Arzhan - a Scythian royal necropolis in Tuva, Southern Siberia
• Archaeology in Tuva – Scythian Gold From Siberia Said to Predate the Greeks