burial mound

Archaeologists from the Institute of Archaeology at the Russian Academy of Sciences have made an extraordinary discovery at the Vysokaya Mogila-Studenikin Mar necropolis in Russia's Orenburg Region - a sacrificial complex containing over 100 bronze artifacts, gold ornaments, and elite horse gear that provides unprecedented insight into the ritual practices of nomadic elites who ruled the Southern Urals during the 4th century BC. The assemblage, which includes rare bronze mask pendants, tiger-themed plaques, and elaborate bridle decorations, represents the richest sacrificial deposit ever found in the inter-mound spaces of early nomadic necropolises in this region. The excavations were conducted during the summer of 2025 by the Ural Archaeological Expedition under the direction of D.S. Bogachuk and S.V. Sirotin at a