This article aims at cultural, chronological, and social interpretation of the “long” burial mound 3, containing Kipchak graves, studied in the Menovnoye VII necropolis of different periods in the Upper Irtysh River region. The “long” mound, built in with its structures among the largest kurgans, suggests joining of three burial structures into a single memorial ensemble, reflecting the posthumous union of representatives of the ruling family group of the Kipchak tribal association. The analysis of the inventory from burials of individuals of different age groups and a horse bridle, located in the same burial space, allows dating the mound to the end of the 11^th — beginning of the 12^th c. AD. The composition of the material assemblage reflects the high social status of the buried within the framework of the Kipchak cultural tradition.

Keywords: Upper Irtysh region, Middle Ages, Kipchaks, burial mound, burial rite, burials, inventory.

 

Funding. The article has been written within the State Project No. АААА-А17-117050400147-2.

 

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Accepted: 09.06.2025

Article is published: 15.09.2025