RESEARCH OF BATYRBEK MOUNDS ON NARYN SAND

Abstract

The article presents the results of archaeological excavations on the Batyrbek Mound on the Naryn sand. The Naryn sands are located in the northwestern part of the Caspian Basin, between the Volga and Ural rivers. Administrative covers Isatai Was Makhambet areas of Atyrau region and the southern part of Bokey Orda, Zhangala and Akzhaiyk parts of the West Kazakhstan region. The area is 40 thousand km 2. The sandy zone is on average 21 m below sea level. The region is formed by deposits of the Khvalyn and Khazar periods of the Caspian Sea. Consists of arrays Batbayar, Botany, Condulet, Manteca Arcticum, Zhamankum Horde. The north-East is occupied by the Kamyshovo-Samara floodplain. Often the wind blows, a dust storm. A river with a constant flow of no streams. Fresh water reserves underground (at a depth of 1.5-2 m) are plentiful. There are many wells and oases. The spring floodplain runoff of Karaozen and Saryozen sometimes irrigates the northern side of the Naryn sand. The soil cover consists mainly of pale brown, sandy loam, and salt-gray soils[1]. In September 2019, excavations were carried out of 2 burial grounds dating back to the Iron Age, located 3.36 km south of the village of Batyrbek, located on the north-western side of the Kurmangazinsky district of Atyrau region. In archaeological excavations, tombs typical of the Iron Age were discovered. 4 graves were discovered, buried in the late period. The article covers the research of these mounds. The mounds are found in the northwestern part of the Naryn sand, in the steppe areas of «takyr», consisting of hard clay rocks. There were hundreds of Iron Age burial mounds in these areas. The mound was excavated for the first time.