Medieval burials of Taldinskiy-1 burial ground

Abstract

The article deals with the burials at the Taldy-1 burial ground (Republic of Kazakhstan). They belong to the early and classical Middle Ages. Despite the low information content of the early medieval burials, they are of interest at the regional, central Kazakhstan level. The burials considered expand the factual base that is currently insufficient. The burial rite is clearly presented in building No 58. Here, the burial of a child was investigated. It was accompanied by the cattle skeleton. The skeleton position bears a resemblance the posture of a horse in the studied burials of the Turkic culture. The burial of the classical Middle Ages is dated to the XIII century by the radiocarbon method. It was a non-inventory burial of a girl aged 12–13 years. The burial was arranged in a pit. A graphic reconstruction of the appearance was carried out on the skull. The peculiarities of the burial rites allow the researchers to raise the issue of identifying syncretic Muslim-pagan assemblages and the spread of Islam in Central Kazakhstan. Analyzing the materials of the region, it is possible to establish the duration of the process of ritual transformation, which lasted for at least two centuries.

Keywords

• archaeology
• central kazakhstan
• middle ages
• islam
• paganism
• radiocarbon dating
• graphic reconstruction of appearance