Archaeologists working in a desolate and remote area of the Central Asian country of Kazakhstan have made a remarkable discovery. They found the remains of an adolescent couple from 4000 years ago in a ɢʀᴀᴠᴇ that had a treasure trove of gold and bronze ʙᴜʀɪᴀʟ goods. The couple was found in a ɢʀᴀᴠᴇyard that is providing insights into a rich and sophisticated culture that thrived in the region during the Bronze Age.
The astonishing ʙᴜʀɪᴀʟ was made in the remote and inhospitable Karaganda region in Kazakhstan. This was once popularly known as the ““middle of nowhere” and was a destination for political exiles from many parts of the former USSR,’’ reports The World News . The ɢʀᴀᴠᴇ was unearthed by archaeologists from the Saryarkinsky Archaeology Institute in Karaganda, led by Dr. Igor Kukushkin.
The Lovers’ Grave
The Kazakh archaeologists were working in the ‘’ancient ʙᴜʀɪᴀʟ complex called Kyzyltau ᴄᴇᴍᴇᴛᴇʀʏ, which is made up of five hills,’’ according to the Daily Mail. This is an extensive and elite ʙᴜʀɪᴀʟ ground from the Bronze Age. The excavators unearthed a ɢʀᴀᴠᴇ covered with stones; inside they found the skeletons of two teenagers, one male and one female.
The ԀeαԀ were lying side by side, looking directly into each other’s eyes. Laying the bodies of the deceased in a ʙᴜʀɪᴀʟ in this position is most unusual in any culture. It is estimated that the male and the female were 16 or 17 years old when they ԀiҽԀ some 4,000 years ago.
The position of the skeletons has led some to speculate that they were lovers who had been ʙᴜʀɪᴇᴅ side by side. It is possible that they may also have been brother and sister. All that can be said for certain is that the pair were deliberately positioned so that they could look into each other’s eyes for all eternity.
Is the Double Burial a Royal Grave ?
Kukushkin told The World News that ‘The ɢʀᴀᴠᴇ is rich’’. Gold and bronze items were found with the couple. The young female was ʙᴜʀɪᴇᴅ wearing two arm bracelets and pendants in the shape of the sun. The Daily Mail reports that the ԀeαԀ girl ‘’wore precious gold temple rings shaped like earrings’’. It seems highly likely, based on the ɢʀᴀᴠᴇ goods, that the pair were nobles or possibly even royalty. The 4000-year-old skeletons are potentially the remains of a prince and princess.
The couple was found near the ‘’ ɢʀᴀᴠᴇ of a suspected priestess from the ancient Alakul culture,’’ according to The World News . This ɢʀᴀᴠᴇ was most unusual as there are seven pots, ashes, and a human sᴋᴜʟʟ interred with the woman. The number seven has mystical and magical connotations in many cultures. The theory that a priestess was ʙᴜʀɪᴇᴅ in the ɢʀᴀᴠᴇ may explain why it was not robbed, unlike neighboring Burials.
The Rich Archaeology of Karaganda
This is not the first time that an elite couple has been found ʙᴜʀɪᴇᴅ together in the region, which has been speculated to hold remains from up to 5000 years ago. One spectacular ɢʀᴀᴠᴇ was a chariot-ʙᴜʀɪᴀʟwhich held a warrior with a dagger and arrows and a woman who was wearing magnificent jewelry.
A step-pyramid similar to those constructed by the early Pharaohs has been discovered in Karaganda too. Today, the area may be desolate, but in the distant past it was clearly once home to a highly sophisticated culture.
The study of the remains of the couple, who were possibly royalty, and their luxurious ɢʀᴀᴠᴇ goods is at an early stage. The cause of their ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜs has not been determined. It is hoped that researchers can establish some facts about the ԀeαԀ couple which could, in turn, provide insights into the mysterious but advanced culture that once flourished on the Kazakhstan Steppe.
Source: kesian.info
