Uyuk Valley Second Kurgan Terrace (North Arzhan Satellite)
Uyuk North Terrace Royal Mounds · Turan-Uyuk Second Valley of Kings
Early Iron Age (Arzhan-Chertomlyk)·Arzhan (Early Scythian / Saka Royal)·🇷🇺 Tuva Republic, Pi-Khem District, Uyuk River north terrace (Valley of the Kings), Russia
About
About Uyuk Valley Second Kurgan Terrace (North Arzhan Satellite)
Second terrace north of Uyuk River (950 m, 52°03′N 93°51′E) in the Tuva Valley of the Kings, complementing Arzhan 1 (9th c BCE) and Arzhan 2 (7th c BCE) on south terrace and Tunnug 1 (9th c) centre. Letter-mapping (Caspari) LiDAR mapped 22 royal mounds 18-75 m diameter on valley floor below 1000 m overlooked by 2000 m Sayan ranges, northern terrace now less looted due to swamp. Largest 75-m mound (Uyuk-N06) with central log chamber and 14 horse pit parallels Arzhan 2 scale but 2 km north, suggesting dual lineage burial. Core samples 9th-6th c BCE. Siberian Valentin capacity 700 km².
Why it mattersSecond Arzhan royal terrace doubling Valley of Kings capacity.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Dual terrace kingship
Theories
- 01North vs South phratry
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.900-600 BCE (Arzhan horizon)
- Period
- Early Iron Age (Arzhan-Chertomlyk)
- Culture
- Arzhan (Early Scythian / Saka Royal)
- Builders
- Uyuk early Saka royalty
- Purpose
- Royal kurgan necropolis dual terrace
- Abandoned
- c.500 BCE
- Rediscovered
- 2020 Letter-mapping Caspari LiDAR
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
2017
Tunnug 1 9th c BCE identified
2020
North terrace 22 mounds LiDAR mapped
On the ground
Structures & features
52.0500° N · 93.8500° E · 950 m · 2 mapped features
Uyuk North Terrace Royal Kurgan N06
burial75-m mound with log chamber and 14-horse pit
52.0520° N · 93.8520° EUyuk River North Terrace Horse Alignment
burial14-horse sacrificial pit line east of N06
52.0480° N · 93.8480° E