Dromos kurgans of the saka time on the Zharly River (Central Kazakhstan)

The features of dromos kurgans of the early Saka time studied by the author in the cemeteries Nurken-2, Serekty-1, Kosoba in Central Kazakhstan are considered in the article. Unlike the materials received during the earlier studies by M.K. Kadyrbaev in 1950–1970, new data shows that the tradition of dromos graves was widespread in the region. On the basis of archaeological and radiocarbon data, dromos kurgans date back to the VIII–VI cc. BC. Studies have shown that they are primarily connected with the elite burials. Dromos kurgans are oriented to the east, south-east and in terms of size, layout, sections are of different types. Currently they are known in almost all habitats of the Kazakh culture having the early Saka shape, whose monuments were excavated in North, Central, East, South-East (Zhetysu) Kazakhstan, as well as in the East Aral Sea region. The author assumes that among all early Saka cultures of Kazakhstan dromos graves have been the most common throughout the different regions. According to the available materials, dromos graves appeared no later than VIII–VII centuries BC in the early Saka cultures of Kazakhstan. A little later, since VI c. BC, this tradition appeared in the monuments of Savromat and Sarmatian tribes in West Kazakhstan. For the early Saka cultures of Kazakhstan dromos tradition is associated with the culture of the preceding period – the period of the Late Bronze Age.