Barrows of Tasmola

Saka kurgans^[1]

Salbyk

Arzhan

Pazyryk

Issyk

Boralday

Taksai

Eleke Sazy

Tasmola

Ingala

Tillya Tepe

Arzhan-1	c. 800 BCE
Shilikty	c. 700 BCE
Arzhan-2	c. 650 BCE
Bes Shatyr	c. 550 BCE
Taksai	c. 500 BCE
Ingala	c. 500 BCE
Tasmola	7th-5th centuries BCE
Boralday	c. 600-400 BCE
Salbyk	c. 600-400 BCE
Eleke Sazy	c. 600-400 BCE
Berel-1	c. 350 BCE
Pazyryk-1,2	c. 300 BCE
Berel-11	c. 300 BCE
Issyk	c. 400-200 BCE
Tillya Tepe	1st century BCE

The Barrows (or Tumuli) of Tasmola are dispersed throughout central Kazakhstan in the Karaganda, Akmola, and Pavlodar regions.

Site description

Originating in the Saka period (7th to 3rd Centuries BC), the various barrows of the Tasmola culture can be found throughout the valleys of central Kazakhstan. The sites are characterized by stone complexes with up to four stone barrows, menhirs (single or in groups), and two curved ranges that can each stretch 50 to 200 m long (unique to Tasmola structures).^[2] The ranges appear to line up in accordance to equinoctial, solstitial or midsummer sunrise points. Archaeological finds in the barrows themselves can include pottery, horse skeletons, and fire pit remains. Over 300 of such barrows have been identified in Kazakhstan, of which only a small number have been archaeologically excavated.^[2]

The last caracteristic Tasmola kurgans seem to date to the 5th–4th century BCE.^[3]

World Heritage Status

This site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on September 24, 1998 in the Mixed (Cultural + Natural) category.^[2] (see List of World Heritage Sites in Kazakhstan)

Tasmola culture artifacts
Tasmola culture arrowheads and artifacts
Location of the Tasmola kurgan

Notes

^ Image file with complete data, Amir, Saltanat; Roberts, Rebecca C. (2023). "The Saka 'Animal Style' in Context: Material, Technology, Form and Use". Arts. 12: 23. doi:10.3390/arts12010023.
^ ^a ^b ^c Barrows with stone ranges of the Tasmola culture - UNESCO World Heritage Centre
^ Beisenov, Arman Z; Svyatko, Svetlana V; Kassenalin, Aibar Е; Zhambulatov, Kairat А; Duisenbai, Daniyar; Reimer, Paula J (March 2016). "First Radiocarbon Chronology for the Early Iron Age Sites of Central Kazakhstan (Tasmola Culture and Korgantas Period)". Radiocarbon. 58 (1): 179–191. doi:10.1017/RDC.2015.18. Archaeologically, the most representative Tasmola kurgans containing characteristic pieces of horse harnesses, weaponry, and ornaments disappear by the 5th–4th century BC, apparently without an external influence. Obtained 14C dates also suggest the end date of the culture as 5th century BC, thus confirming the archaeological observations and making the end date of the culture ~2 centuries older compared to the traditional end date (3rd century BC).