A 13th–14th Century AD “Horse Skin Burial” At Basandaika Kurgan 1, Western Siberia

Human burials at Basandaika Kurgan 1, Western Siberia, accompanied by bones of dismembered horses, are revisited. A closer examination of the archeological assemblage and archival data has revealed new artifacts, contributing to a reconstruction of the burial rite which included placing parts of the body of a riding horse into the grave. Two versions are discussed, proceeding from the idea that the rite derives from the practice of burying an entire horse. Parallels in other regions are examined, and routes whereby the rite could have been introduced to the southern taiga zone of Western Siberia are traced. Future studies will include taphonomic field analysis along with zoological, pedological, and traceological evidence.