In recent archaeological studies in Kazakhstan, an important discovery was made that could affect Turkish history. Karajartas mausoleum, a 3,400-year-old pyramid belonging to the Scythian-Saka and its early period, was found in the Karaganda district. Experts state that this mausoleum belongs to a ruler from the Begazı Dandibay period, which belongs to the last phase of the Andronovo period. This discovery is considered a major turning point in the history of Kazakhstan.
Located in Shet district of Karaganda Province Taldi RiverThis pyramid, rising on the left bank of , was detected by the Sari Arka Archaeological Committee of Karaganda University and examined for a total of 4 excavation seasons. From the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Dr. Aibar Kassenali presented the first evaluation about the discovered pyramid to TRT Haber. Dr. Kassenali announced that as a result of carbon 14 analysis, the pyramid was dated between the 14th and 12th centuries BC. This discovery Turkish historyWhat an important light it sheds and illuminates the mysteries of the past.
Pyramid Begazi Belongs to the Dandibay Period
Dr. According to Kassenali’s statements, this pyramid is a historical artifact belonging to the Begazı Dandibay period. The presence of more than one pyramidal stepped mausoleum in the region indicates that the Taldı River valley Andronovo where their great leaders were buried by their communities valley of the kings indicates that it is used as So these pyramids may have served as burial grounds for important leaders, such as the Nile Valley in Egypt.
The findings found in the burial chamber steppe pyramid It shows that it may have been built in the name of a local ruler who ruled the Kazakh steppes during the Andronovo period. In particular, the motif style of the ceramic vessel found in this burial area was manufactured without the use of wheels and decorated with the printing method, which constitutes the last phase of the Andronovo period. Begazi Dandibay It shows that it belongs to the period.
Dr. Kassenali emphasizes that the size of the cut stones and mausoleum found in the Karajartas pyramid and the fact that such a large structure was built in the Bronze Age and in a very arid steppe region are an indication that the Beghazi Dandibay communities had a high understanding of art and rich spiritual beliefs. This discovery is of great importance in terms of history and archeology and will help us better understand Turkish history.
Historical Sources; Triangular Tomb Explains What They Built
Dr. According to Serhan Çınar, historical sources contain information about pyramidal tomb structures belonging to the Scythian-Saka and Begazı Dandibay communities. According to this information, in the writings of ancient historians such as Ctesias of Cnidus and Diodoros of Sicily, it is stated that the Saka people civilized their country and founded several cities under the leadership of a queen, Zarina, and after the death of the queen, they built a triangular tomb as the largest tomb in the people’s lands. .
Dr. Çınar states that the stepped pyramidal mausoleums found in Karajartas may be early versions of the tomb structures from the Scythian age mentioned in these historical records. This discovery, in harmony with historical sources, sheds light on the past of the Scythian-Saka communities and provides new information about the historical development of these communities.
A Proto-City Settlement Called City Found
Dr. According to the information given by Çınar, Karajartas mausoleumIt is stated that the inhabitants of the city belonged to a local ruler during the Begazı Dandibay period, which belongs to the last phase of the Andronovo period. Additionally, during the excavations in this region, a proto-city settlement called Kent, which was determined to belong to the Begazı Dandibay communities, was also found. This campus covers an area of 15 hectares.
Chronologically, in Asia Minor Troy 4, Early in mainland Greece Mycenae period and in Egypt Middle Kingdom It existed in the same historical period as the developed layers of the city-states. Inside the campus, there are features such as labyrinth gates, moats and projecting walls, and there is also a well-planned street network and water collection systems.
In these settlements, there are also special sacrificial altars offered to the gods. Additionally, ritual statues in the form of human bodies carved from small stones have also been discovered in pyramidal mausoleum-shaped complexes such as Karajartas. These statues resemble the gods of ancient Mesopotamian inhabitants and may represent deities worshiped during annual festivals. Additionally, different types of inscriptions were found on clay plates. These plates probably contain examples of an early counting system. These discoveries show that the region had a highly developed culture and civilization in ancient times.
A Sanctuary Where Religious Ceremonies Are Held
Dr. According to Aibar Kassenali’s statements, the Karajartas mausoleum was used not only as a burial ground, but also as a sanctuary where religious ceremonies were performed. As can be understood from the rock paintings, the periods when the moon and the sun met were perceived as special in the Andronovo society, and this sacred union was celebrated with various festivals. In this context, the Karajartas mausoleum pyramid may have served as a site where religious rituals were performed for Andronovo communities.
Dr. Serhan Çınar evaluated the Karajartas pyramid in the context of early Turkish archeology and history research. It is stated that Begazı Dandibay communities have close connections with the Karasuk culture of Southern Siberia. In particular, the fact that the corridors opening to the burial chambers in the mausoleums of the Begazı Dandibay period always open in the direction of the sunrise can be considered as a manifestation of traditional Turkish religious belief. These discoveries help us better understand Turkish history and learn more about the early periods of Turkish communities.
Round-type ceramic vessels discovered in burial sites from the same period can be seen as a sign of a cultural context that can be considered as ritual vessels of the Scythian-Saka period. In later periods, they appear as archaic versions of traditional cast cauldrons that were widely used among Turkish tribes starting from the Asian Hun period.
It is known that among the Turkic-Runic writing characters of the Göktürk period, there are many tamga pictograms belonging to the Andronovo and Begazı Dandibay phases. This can be considered an important indicator that points to cultural and historical ties between different periods.
In addition, geometric decorations and tamga-type characters found in grave sites also found a place in the art of medieval Turkish tribes. These findings can be considered as important signs showing the belonging of Proto-Turkish tribes determined by their lifestyle. Therefore, such findings appear as important evidence that clearly demonstrates the historical role of steppe tribes around the world, going beyond the traditional interpretations that culture and civilization are measured only by urban life, which was widely accepted in 19th and 20th century history and archeology studies.
A Skull Belonging to Andronovo Tribe Chiefs Was Found
In the burial chamber of the mausoleum, there is a sarcophagus surrounded by granite plate stones, and inside the sarcophagus was found the skull of a ruler thought to belong to the Andronovo tribe chief.
At the top of the burial chamber, there is a special niche area where the ruler’s personal belongings are stored. A bronze ringed arrowhead, a gold ring and a mysterious piece of pottery with markings similar to the archaic writing style were discovered in this area.
In addition, animal bones used for ritual purposes in the traditional burial ceremonies of steppe tribes were also found in different parts of the burial chamber and in various step sections of the pyramid. These discoveries include important findings from this mausoleum where the Andronovo chieftain was buried.
Architectural Features of the Mausoleum Pyramid
The architecture of the Karajartas mausoleum is designed in a very interesting way. The tomb has a square plan at ground level and its outer walls are built with granite stacked stones, increasing from the edges towards the centre. The outer fence areas surrounding the tomb are surrounded by menhir stones, which consist of granite plates bonded together with clay mortar. Additionally, there is a transition area between the inner walls surrounding the burial chamber and the menhirs surrounding the outer line of the building.
In the interior of the tomb, there are five elevated sections, formed by stacking small stones on top of each other, gradually rising towards the center. Large granite slabs placed on the inner wall surrounding the burial chamber were used to cover the contours of the structure.
The internal dimensions of the mausoleum are approximately 3.5 – 4.5 meters and the height of the top cover of the grave area reaches approximately 2 meters. These elevations were provided with a total of five steps on the north-south and east-west facades, which were created by placing cut stones on top of each other. This intricate design suggests that the tomb was built specifically for religious or ritual purposes.
According to the information given about the structural features of the Karajartas mausoleum, it has been determined that there is a road connecting the burial chamber to the outside in this region. Dr. Aibar Kassenali explained this path and the details about it as follows:
“The entrance of the road is located from the east side, which is the direction of sunrise. When the lowest layers of the Karajartas mausoleum were reached, traces of the inclined track technique, which was previously used in pyramid structures in Asia Minor, were found during the construction of the tomb. This confirmed that the mausoleum was built in a stepped pyramidal style.”
Pyramidal Stepped Structures Are Found in the Kazakh Steppes
It is especially important to note that the monumental structure in Karajartas is not the first pyramid structure in the Kazakh steppes. There are similar pyramidal stepped mausoleum type structures along the Taldı River. For example, during the excavations completed by AH Margulan in 1946, burial areas called Sangru 1-3 belonging to the Andronovo period were also found. These two burial sites differ from the Karajartas mausoleum in that they are smaller in size and do not have a pathway leading to the burial chamber.
Dr. While giving information about the Begazı Dandibay culture, Serhan Çınar stated that this culture belongs to the Late Bronze Age and its main economic activity is metal export. This culture specialized in the process of casting metal and exporting it outside the region. In particular, the rulers of the Begazi Dandibay period, who built the Karajartas pyramid, had a trade network covering a wide geographical area in metal exports. This new phase represents a period in which the steppe aristocracy took shape and social elitism emerged in the region. This is considered a period when the lower stages of state formation began to develop among steppe communities in Kazakhstan.
