Horse sacrifice in the Üzüür Gyalan Tomb: An Altai Mountain Kurgan

Abstract

This study evaluated the horse sacrifice results and tomb remains of the Üzüür Gylan tombs which were recovered in 2015 at a location 35 km North-West from the centre of the Mönhhairhan province of Hovd in western Mongolia. A woman’s corpse buried with her clothing, some goods for daily life, a mummified horse skeleton and its harness as well as sheep remains were all recovered from a rock carved tomb. Radiocarbon dating placed the tomb as the 10th century A.D. Isotope analysis carried out on the horse showed that the horse lived in an environment comprising of C3 plantation with ample water and vegetation. There were markings on the Frontal region of the horse’s skull showing that it had been killed by being struck with a hard instrument as a sacrifice for the funeral ceremony. The tomb remains have given information about the style of living of the Altay people during the period of the 10th century A.D. and place and influence of horse in their lives.

Keywords

• Horse,Kurgan,Sacrifice,Altai Mountain,Mongolia

Üzüür Gyalan Mezarında At Kurban Edilmesi: Bir Altay Dağı Kurganı

Abstract

Bu çalışmada, 2015 yılında, Batı Moğolistan’ın Hovd vilayeti Mönhhairhan ilçe merkezine 35 km mesafede kuzeybatı tarafında, Altay dağlarının 2803 m yüksekliğinde keşfedilen Üzüür Gyalan mezarında at kurban edilme ve mezar bulguları değerlendirildi. Arkeologlar tarafından kaya oyuğu içerisinde bulunan bu mezarda yürütülen arkeolojik kazı çalışmalar sonucunda kıyafetleri ile gömülmüş kadın ile birlikte günlük yaşamda kullandığı malzemeler, mumifiye olmuş at iskeleti ile buna ait koşum takımları ve bazı koyun kalıntıları tespit edildi. Mezar örneklerinden radyokarbon tarihlendirme yapıldığında, mezar dönemsel olarak MS.10 yy’a ait olduğu saptandı. İzotop analizleri, atın C3 diye ifade edilen sulak iklim şartlarında yaşayan otlarla bu atın beslendiğini göstermekteydi. Cenaze ritüeli içinde atın kurban edildiğini gösteren, kafanın Frontal kemiği üzerinde atın öldürülmeden önce sert bir darbe ile alnına vurulduğunu gösteren bulgu bulunmaktaydı. Mezar bulguları MS. 10 yy Altay toplumunun yaşam biçimi ile bu toplumda atın yeri hakkında önemli bilgiler sunmaktadır. 

Keywords

• At,Kurgan,Kurban,Altay Dağı,Moğolistan

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