Taksai Kurgans

The Taksai Kurgans are a series of Saka or Sauromatian burial mounds in the Terekti District of northwestern Kazakhstan, dated to c. 500 BC. The undisturbed Taksai-1 kurgan, discovered in 2012, contained the tomb of a wealthy Saka woman dubbed the 'Golden Lady,' buried with approximately 80 pieces of gold jewelry. The burial chamber was constructed in the form of a chariot, indicating military or noble status. Among the grave goods, a wooden comb with a carved battle scene and war chariot is the most outstanding artifact. Several objects reflect Achaemenid Empire iconography, evidencing contact between the Persian empire and these Central Asian nomadic tribes.