Found: grave of Siberian noblewoman up to 4,500 years old - with links to native Americans

1/10. Undisturbed by pillaging grave robbers, the burial site of the woman, also containing the remains of a child, offers a wealth of clues about the life of these ancient people. Picture: IIMK RAS

Her treasures include an incense burner decorated by solar symbols, 1,500 beads that once adorned her costume, and 100 pendants made from animal teeth.

The intriguing find of the remains of a 'noblewoman' from the ancient Okunev Culture was made in the Republic of Khakassia.

The Okunev people are seen as the Siberian ethnic grouping most closely related to Native Americans. In other words, it was ancestors of the Okunevs who populated America, evidently using primitive boats to venture to the ice-covered Beringia land bridge some 12,600 years ago.

The mysterious ancient culture was 'unparalleled' in Siberia in terms of its artistic richness and diversity, according to experts.

Undisturbed by pillaging grave robbers, the burial site of the woman, also containing the remains of a child, offers a wealth of clues about the life of these ancient people.

The head of the expedition Dr Andrey Polyakov said the grave of the 'noblewoman' dated back to the Early Bronze Age, between the 25th and 18th centuries BC.

'For such an ancient epoch, this woman has a lot of items in her grave,' he said. 'We have not encountered anything like this in other burials from this time, and it leads us to suggest that the items in her grave had some ritual meaning.

'We hope to get even more rare and spectacular finds next year, when will continue to study this unique (burial) mound and open the central burial plot.' [...] siberiantimes.com


Actualización: Hallan en Siberia a los posibles ancestros de los nativos norteamericanos

Un grupo de arqueólogos rusos ha descubierto una tumba con numerosos restos arqueológicos de una mujer noble perteneciente a la cultura Ókunev, que floreció en la primera mitad del segundo milenio antes de Cristo, según informa el periódico The Siberian Times.

 

El yacimiento, que afortunadamente ha permanecido intacto y a salvo de los saqueadores de tumbas, incluye un quemador de incienso decorado con símbolos solares, 1.500 perlas que adornaban el traje de la mujer y 100 colgantes hechos de dientes de animales. Por lo tanto, los arqueólogos creen que la mujer gozaba de una posición jerárquica superior y pertenecía a la nobleza. Sin duda alguna, el enterramiento, que también contiene los restos de un niño, ofrece una gran cantidad de pistas sobre...