Besshatyr Ili River Terrace North Mounds (Ili Delta North Terrace)
Ili Terrace North Mounds · Besshatyr Ili North
Saka (600–350 BCE)·Semirechye Saka·🇰🇿 Almaty Region, Altyn-Emel NP, Ili River right bank delta north terrace 4.1 km from river, Kazakhstan
About
About Besshatyr Ili River Terrace North Mounds (Ili Delta North Terrace)
North terrace row 4.1 km from Ili River right bank delta (605 m) with 6 mounds 18–42 m diam, 2–5 m high linear along terrace scarp (920 m). Mound 31 (42 m) with double timber chamber (upper looted, lower intact with felt + horse gear). Terrace shows paleosol with Ili flood rhythmites. Row orientation 18° aligns to Ili channel paleo-shore. National Park zoning protects core 2 km2; this north row outside strict core, grazed.
Why it mattersKey kurgan illustrating Semirechye Saka hydraulic/geoglyph/kite/kurgan tradition in Almaty Region, Altyn-Emel NP, Ili River right bank delta north terrace 4.1 km from river.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Double chamber function
Theories
- 01Terrace alignment to Ili paleo-shore
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.600–350 BCE
- Period
- Saka (600–350 BCE)
- Culture
- Semirechye Saka
- Purpose
- Ili River terrace outlier row north of Besshatyr core
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.600–350 BCE
Initial construction
2020
Drone/UAV high-resolution mapping and heritage inventory
On the ground
Structures & features
43.8500° N · 78.5000° E · 605 m · 4 mapped features
- Mound 31 (42 m) Double Chamberkurgan42-m mound with intact lower felt chamber43.8510° N · 78.5010° E
- Terrace Row Alignment (920 m)earthwork920-m 18° terrace-aligned row43.8510° N · 78.5010° E
- Paleosol Flood RhythmiteslandscapeIli flood rhythmite paleosol exposure43.8490° N · 78.4990° E
- Mound 29 Horse Gearkurgan26-m mound with horse gear43.8480° N · 78.4980° E