Maikop kurgan, Bronze Age burial mound in Maykop, Russia.
Maikop kurgan is a Bronze Age burial mound in the Northern Caucasus region, with multiple chambers constructed beneath its earthen surface. The structure was built with rammed earth and stone, layered around a central burial chamber containing remains and artifacts.
The mound was built around 5,600 years ago during the Bronze Age to honor a major leader or religious figure. Scientific excavations in the late 1800s uncovered the burial chambers and revealed details about the society that created this monument.
The burial reflects the social importance of the deceased through the quality and arrangement of offerings placed within the chamber. These ritual practices reveal how communities in the Northern Caucasus organized themselves around religious and leadership roles.
The site is most accessible during warmer months when paths in the region are dry and passable. Since it remains an open archaeological area, visitors can explore the grounds freely, though the terrain is uneven and requires comfortable footwear.
The excavation was one of the first scientific expeditions in the region and fundamentally shaped our understanding of early Caucasus civilizations. This discovery transformed how archaeologists understood Bronze Age societies and their technological capabilities in metalworking.
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