Arzhan, Archaeological burial site in Piy-Khemsky District, Russia
Arzhan is an archaeological burial site in a remote area of Siberia near the Eastern Sayan Mountains. The complex includes two main mounds with burial chambers that held hundreds of artifacts and wooden structures.
Excavations in the 1970s revealed wooden structures and artifacts from the 9th and 8th centuries BC in the burial chambers. These discoveries showed how early this society had developed advanced metalworking techniques.
The burial mounds reveal the skills and knowledge of people who lived there thousands of years ago through their metalwork and decorated objects. These items show what mattered to them and how they expressed their ideas through craftsmanship.
This site is located in a remote area and requires advance planning to visit. Most people first stop at the National Museum of Tuva in Kyzyl to see the main artifacts before traveling to the burial mounds.
The artifacts reveal that early people here had developed sophisticated artistic skills long before contact with Greek cultures. This discovery fundamentally changed how scholars understood the development of craftsmanship in ancient Scythian societies.
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