Frozen tombs of Siberia: the Pazyryk burials of Iron Age horsemen

Rudenko, S. I. (Sergei Ivanovich); Thompson, M. W.

Book

Frozen tombs of Siberia: the Pazyryk burials of Iron Age horsemen

University of California Press • Berkeley • Published In 1970 • Pages:

By: Rudenko, S. I. (Sergei Ivanovich), Thompson, M. W..

Abstract
Rudenko excavated these frozen tombs near Pazyryk, Russia and he discusses many details of their construction and their contents. Although the tombs had been extensively looted in antiquity, many artifacts made of fragile materials (such as wood, fabric, and leather) were preserved. In addition, the artifacts associated with the horses and the horses themselves, which were buried just outside the tombs, had not been looted and were found intact. Therefore, many of the artifacts discussed in this book are equipment associated with the horses. Also found were embalmed bodies, one with tatoos. Clothing was found with the bodies, although it is unclear which if any of the clothes would have been considered everyday wear. Rudenko proposes that the tomb construction would have been similar to their winter dwellings, including furnishings (such as hanging carpets on the walls or placing them on the floors and the use of small tables). One of the remarkable traits of the Early Nomads is their art work and many if not most of the items found in these tombs were decorated. Rudenko estimated the maximum and minimum ages for the site were 520 B.C. to 212 B.C.

Domesticated animals

Work in skins

Felted and other non-interworked fabrics

Normal garb

Special garments

Bone, horn, and shell technology