Reconstruction of Sarmatian chieftain. Araltobe barrow, Kazakhstan, III-II c. BCE. Excavation of Z. Samashev.[1][2]
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  Shown within Continental Asia  Araltobe kurgan (Kazakhstan) Show map of Kazakhstan | |
| Coordinates | 47°7′19″N 54°43′4″E / 47.12194°N 54.71778°E / 47.12194; 54.71778 |
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| Type | Kurgan |
The Araltobe kurgan (Ru: Аралтобе курган) is a burial ground found near Araltobe, Zhylyoi District, in northwestern Kazakhstan, thought to belong to a member of the post-Saka Sarmatian culture, and dated to the 3rd-2nd century BCE.[2][3]
The mound (Zhylyoi "Araltobe" necropolis 1-mound) was excavated in 1999 in the Atyraw region by archaeologists Zeinulla Samashev and Zhumash Dzhetybaeva. They found the remains of a "Golden Man", who presents some parallels with similar "Golden men" found in Issyk kurgan or the kurgan at Shilikty.[2][4]
Long swords with T-shaped pommel and long swords with mushroom-shaped pommel were discovered during the excavation. These are types of "Scythian swords" usually found in the Scythian/Saka kurgans in Central Asia and Eastern Europe, but also known from Sauromations burials as in tumulus no. 3 of the Onaibulak graveyard, tumulus no. 1 and 2 of the Mortik graveyard, or tumulus no. 1 of the Araltobe graveyard.[5]
About 400 gold objects were discovered in the tomb.[3]
