Mirrors in the Burial Rites of Saryarka Population in the Golden Horde Period

Archaeological research at UNESCO World Heritage Site Saryarka reveals the significance of mirrors in Golden Horde burial rites, suggesting their role as symbolic status markers. Analysis of 12th-14th century grave goods from northern Kazakhstan demonstrates that mirror inclusion correlated with social hierarchy and gender, particularly among elite males. The study employed stratigraphic excavation and artifact typology to identify patterns, challenging previous assumptions about ritual uniformity in the region.

Khasenova, B., Khabdulina, M.,. (2017). Mirrors in the Burial Rites of Saryarka Population in the Golden Horde Period. Povolzhskaya Arkheologiya (the Volga River Region Archaeology), 4(22), 297–309. https://doi.org/10.24852/pa2017.4.22.297.309