Results of the Excavation of the Tostagan Necropolis

Abstract

The burial place, conventionally named “the Tostagan necropolis”, is located 9 km south of the
settlement of Shytty, Otyrar district. The burial ground was discovered by S. Sh. Akylbek and K. M Baipakov
during exploration work. In the 2010, the Necropolis consists of 122 mounds. Most of the mounds
are circular. Mounds with a spreading embankment are oval in shape. The diameter of the burial mounds
in the general burial ground is 10-25 m, the height is about 0.30-0.70 m. Unfortunately, until now no
archaeological research at the necropolis has been carried out dating the burial mounds, the methods
of burial, the features of the structure of the mounds and the belonging of the burials were unknown. In
2020, one burial mound was excavated in this burial ground. As a result, it was discovered that the form
of burial is cremation. This is the first time such a custom has been registered in the Otrar region. These
data were compared with other archaeological studies carried out on the banks of the Syr Darya and
were preliminary generalized as belonging to the Turks.
Key words: Shaulder, Otrar, Arys river, burial traditions, grave, burial ground, cremation