The Mausolea of the

Begazy-Dandybai culture Begazy-Dandybai culture is a late Bronze Age culture of mixed economy in the territory of ancient central Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, centered at Saryarka region. The culture, with its megalithic mausolea dates from c. 1350-1150 BC ...

are located in mountain valleys of Central

Kazakhstan Kazakhstan, officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country located mainly in Central Asia and partly in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the north and west, China to the east, Kyrgyzstan to the southeast, Uzbeki ...

Site description

The collection of 18 mausolea, dating from the 12th to 8th centuries BC, incorporates unique architectural and constructive style. The commonality between all examples is a central room surrounded by two or three perimeter walls made of stacked stone or large vertical stone slabs. The central rooms house sarcophagi and altars, which contrast the nearby burials outside the mausolea in the open. This fact hints at an embedded social stratification and hierarchy within Begazy-Dandybai society, and signifies those buried in the mausolea as royalty, noblemen, or priests. The Mausolea usually occur within close range to ancient settlements of up to 10 hectares in area, which hints at a once flourishing economy based on agriculture, irrigation, domestication of animals, and use of precious metals found in nearby mines.Megalithic mausolea of the Begazy-Dandybai culture - UNESCO World Heritage Centre
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World Heritage status

This site was added to the

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...

World Heritage A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for ...

Tentative List on September 24, 1998, in the Cultural category.(see

List of World Heritage Sites in Kazakhstan The UNESCO, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designates World Heritage Sites of outstanding universal value to cultural heritage, cultural or natural heritage which have been nominated by countries which ...

)

Notes

References

Megalithic mausolea of the Begazy-Dandybai culture - UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Retrieved 2009-03-01. {{coord missing, Kazakhstan Kazakhstani culture Mausoleums in Kazakhstan World Heritage Tentative List