A 5,000-year-old burial mound containing gold and silver vessels with animal art. The earliest evidence of wheeled vehicles in the Caucasus. Steppe chiefs accumulated wealth before written history began.
Alexander Tsirlin, CC BY-SA 4.0
A Chief's Extravagant Tomb
In 1897, archaeologist Nikolai Veselovsky excavated a large earthen mound, or kurgan, near the city of Maikop in the foothills of the North Caucasus. The mound stood nearly 11 meters high with a circumference of about 200 meters. Inside, he discovered the burial of a high-status individual from what is now called the Maikop culture, dating to the Early Bronze Age, approximately 3700–3100 BCE.
The main tomb was a large pit, lined with timber and divided into three compartments. The principal occupant, a male, lay in the largest chamber on a layer of pebbles, his body stained with red ochre. He was adorned with thousands of beads made of gold, turquoise, and carnelian, along with gold diadems. The grave goods were exceptionally abundant and included more than 7,000 gold objects and around 1,000 silver ones. Notable finds are small, cast figures of bulls, two from gold and one from silver, that may have decorated the poles of a canopy or tent. Two other individuals, possibly retainers or wives, were interred in the other two chambers with fewer accompanying items.
Evidence of Advanced Technology
The artifacts within the Maikop kurgan reveal a society with sophisticated technology and long-distance trade connections. The presence of arsenical bronze tools and weapons points to advanced metallurgical skills. Beads made from lapis lazuli from Afghanistan and turquoise from Iran show that the Maikop people participated in extensive exchange networks.
Notable finds include the remains of what may be the oldest wheeled vehicles in the Caucasus. The discovery of solid wooden wheels in Maikop culture sites, dated to the second half of the fourth millennium BCE, suggests this technology was present in the region and may have spread from here to the Eurasian steppes.
A set of eight long tubes, made of silver and gold sections, were found alongside the main burial. Initially identified as scepters, recent analysis suggests a different function. Residue from the inner surface of one tube's perforated silver tip contained barley starch granules and plant phytoliths. This evidence supports the theory that these were elaborate straws for communally drinking beer from a large vessel, a practice also depicted in contemporary Mesopotamian art.
💡Fun Facts
Recent analysis of residue inside long metal tubes found in the tomb revealed barley starch, suggesting they are the world's oldest surviving drinking straws.
An engraved scene on a silver vessel depicts a procession of animals and a mountain landscape, which some researchers interpret as a map of the surrounding Caucasus region.
The body of the chief was covered so heavily in red ochre pigment that his bones were stained bright red.
Some of the semi-precious carnelian beads discovered in the tomb originated from the Indus Valley, indicating trade networks spanning thousands of kilometers.
The original kurgan site in Maikop was fully excavated and no longer exists as a mound. The artifacts are housed in the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, which is generally open daily except Mondays. Check the official website for current hours.
Admission
An admission fee is required for the Hermitage Museum. Prices vary, so consult the museum's website for details.
Accessibility
The original archaeological site is not a formal tourist destination. The Hermitage Museum is a large, historic complex with varying levels of accessibility; visitors should check the museum's accessibility guide online.
