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Archaeologists of the Saryarka Archaeological Institute together with students of the Faculty of History of Karaganda University named after E.A. Buketov conducted field work at the Bronze Age necropolis of Taldy-1, located on the territory of the Taldinsky historical and archaeological park (Shetsky district, Karaganda region).
The object of study was a rectangular fence measuring 18x4 m, oriented along the line “northeast - southwest”, which consisted of slabs up to 0.45 m high vertically dug into the continental layer, some of which were displaced or missing.
A design feature is the construction of a common sub-rectangular pit that unites all burials at once. The burial chambers in the form of 10 stone boxes made of granite slabs were stretched out in a chain, sequentially, one after another, which indicates the one-time nature of the mass funeral rite.
The presence of such fences probably indicates the simultaneous death of members of small tribal groups. It is premature to talk about the causes of death at this time.
However, perhaps this structure is evidence of the poor epidemiological situation in ancient times.
During the work, in the eastern half of the excavation, scattered bones of a horse were discovered in the space inside the fence, probably evidence of a funeral ceremony. At the head of the animal, fragments of ceramics were found from at least two vessels, which were covered with geometric patterns..
During the sampling of burial fillings, numerous women's jewelry made of bronze, bone arrowheads and fragments of pottery were discovered. The accompanying inventory corresponds to the Alakul culture of the Bronze Age of Central Kazakhstan and allows us to date this monument to the 17th-16th centuries. BC.
The widespread egalitarianism of the funeral rites observed during this period may indicate the increasing influence of the female part of the population associated with the cult sphere, as opposed to dying traditions, where for a long time the dominance of male warriors who stood at the head of society did not raise much doubt.
During the period of relatively peaceful and stable development of steppe sedentary-pastoral societies, obviously, the art of war became less in demand, which contributed to the rise of new social institutions, probably priestly and economic-administrative, which began to play a leading role in the organizational structure of Bronze Age society.
