The Scythian Presence in Tuva: Tunnug 1 Kurgan

Abstract

The Tuvans, as one of the ancient peoples of Southern Siberia, represent the ethnographic richness of Eurasia through their historical and cultural heritage. Their nomadic way of life, shamanic beliefs, and ritual practices that evolved in harmony with nature have shaped the traditional structure of Tuvan society. The historical identity of this community can be traced not only in oral narratives but also in the material cultural elements they left behind. In this context, one of the key points for understanding the cultural heritage of the Tuvans is archaeological evidence. One of the most striking examples of this heritage, the Tunnug 1 kurgan, is located in the Uyuk Valley of the Republic of Tuva and dates back to the 9th century BCE. This monumental burial structure stands out as one of the oldest and most comprehensive archaeological examples of the Early Scythian culture. Elements such as horse sacrifice, wooden architecture, and animal-style art reveal not only the funerary rituals of nomadic communities but also their artistic and social worlds. Its multi-layered construction and repeated rituals demonstrate how Tunnug 1 was kept alive in cultural memory for millennia. This study aims to analyze the archaeological data obtained from the Tunnug 1 kurgan within the framework of a qualitative research approach. Using the document analysis technique, excavation reports, geophysical surveys, dendrochronological data, and other academic sources will be systematically evaluated. Through the findings obtained, the cultural characteristics of the Early Scythian period will be illuminated, and the place of the Tuvan people within historical continuity will be revealed in greater depth.

Keywords

• Tuvans
• Kurgan
• Scythians
• Siberia

TUVA’DA İSKİT VARLIĞI: TUNNUG 1 KURGANI

Öz

Tuvalar, Güney Sibirya’nın kadim halklarından biri olarak tarihsel ve kültürel geçmişleriyle Avrasya’nın etnografik zenginliğini temsil etmektedir. Atlı-göçer evli kültürün yaşam tarzı, şamanik inançlar ve doğayla uyum içinde gelişen ritüel pratikleri, Tuva toplumunun geleneksel yapısını şekillendirmiştir. Bu topluluğun tarihsel kimliği, sözlü anlatımlarda olduğu kadar bıraktıkları maddi kültür öğelerinde de izlenebilmektedir. Bu bağlamda Tuvaların kültürel mirasını anlamanın anahtar noktalarından biri arkeolojik bulgulardır. Bu mirasın en çarpıcı örneklerinden biri olan Tunnug 1 Kurganı, Tuva Cumhuriyeti’nin Uyuk Vadisi’nde yer almakta ve MÖ 9. yüzyıla tarihlenmektedir. Bu anıtsal mezar yapısı, erken İskit kültürüne dair bilinen en eski ve en kapsamlı arkeolojik örneklerden biri olarak öne çıkmaktadır. At kurbanı, ahşap mimari, hayvan stili sanat gibi unsurlar, atlı-göçerevli toplulukların ölüm sonrası ritüellerini ve sanatsal ve toplumsal dünyalarını da gözler önüne sermektedir. Çok katmanlı yapısı ve ritüel tekrarları, Tunnug 1’in binlerce yıl boyunca kültürel hafızada nasıl canlı tutulduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. Bu çalışma, Tunnug 1 Kurganı’na dair elde edilen arkeolojik verileri nitel araştırma yöntemi çerçevesinde analiz etmeyi hedeflemektedir. Belge analizi tekniği kullanılarak kazı raporları, jeofizik incelemeler, dendrokronolojik veriler ve diğer akademik kaynaklar sistematik biçimde değerlendirilecektir. Elde edilen bulgular aracılığıyla erken İskit döneminin kültürel özelliklerine ışık tutulması ve Tuva halkının tarihsel süreklilik içindeki yeri daha derinlikli bir biçimde ortaya konacaktır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Tuvalar
• Kurgan
• İskitler
• Sibirya

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