Burial Mounds (Kurgans)

Burial mounds, or kurgans, are ancient, often large, earthen structures built to cover and mark the graves of notable individuals or groups. Common in Eurasia, especially among nomadic cultures like the Scythians and early Indo-Europeans, they served both as tombs and symbols of power or status. Constructed by piling earth and stones over a burial chamber, kurgans can vary greatly in size and complexity, reflecting the importance of those buried within. They provide valuable archaeological insights into prehistoric societies, their beliefs, social hierarchies, and cultural practices.