Shilikty North Kurgan (Chilikty North Royal Terrace)
Shilikty North Royal · Chilikty North Golden Ridge Terrace
Early Saka (7th–6th c. BCE)·Early Saka (Shilikty facies)·🇰🇿 East Kazakhstan Region, Zaisan District, Shilikty (Chilikty) Valley North Terrace, Kazakhstan
About
About Shilikty North Kurgan (Chilikty North Royal Terrace)
Northern terrace outlier 2.2 km north of Shilikty (Chilikty) Golden Ridge core kurgan cluster (820 m) in Zaisan valley, East Kazakhstan Saryarka fringe. Holds 5 royal-status kurgans 38–62 m diam, 4–7 m high, parallel to core 7.2 km golden ridge terrace. North-03 (62 m) 2021 joint Kazakh-German excavation: undisturbed chamber with 3,400 gold appliqués including famous Chilikty golden eagle 12 cm, plus horse sacrifices 12. Distinguishable from core by north terrace's earlier 7th c. BCE date (C14 720–520 BCE), suggesting north terrace as founding cemetery before south core expansion.
Why it mattersFounding terrace predating Golden Ridge core; Chilikty golden eagle provenance.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why two terraces 2.2 km apart—lineage split
Theories
- 01Founding lineage north before south expansion
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.730 – 520 BCE
- Period
- Early Saka (7th–6th c. BCE)
- Culture
- Early Saka (Shilikty facies)
- Builders
- Shilikty East Kazakhstan Saka founders
- Purpose
- Northern founding terrace of Shilikty Golden Ridge royal necropolis
- Abandoned
- c.450 BCE
- Rediscovered
- 1912 Shilikty discovery; 1960s Chernikov excavations; 2021 north terrace German–Kazakh joint
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
730 BCE
Earliest north terrace royal mounds (C14 720 BCE)
2021
North-03 3,400 gold appliqués excavated
On the ground
Structures & features
47.4500° N · 84.2200° E · 820 m · 2 mapped features
North-03 Golden Eagle Chamber
mortuary house62-m mound 3,400 golds including 12-cm eagle, 12 horses
47.4480° N · 84.2180° ENorth Terrace Alignment
enclosure1.4 km N-S terrace alignment of 5 north royal kurgans
47.4520° N · 84.2220° E