Berel Kurgan

The Berel kurgan site is an elite Saka burial complex in the Bukhtarma River Valley of the Altai Mountains in eastern Kazakhstan, dating to the 5th-3rd centuries BC. Over 20 burial mounds have been explored, yielding vast quantities of golden jewelry including diadems and ornaments sewn into textiles. Horses were buried alongside their owners in elaborate outfits; Kurgan 2 alone contained a wealthy woman accompanied by seven decorated horses. The permafrost layer preserved organic materials remarkably well, including wooden deer figurines with gold overlay and intricately woven textiles, allowing a reassessment of the sophistication of Central Asian nomadic cultures.