Geophysical Research 3D ERT at the Archaeological Site of the Early Iron Age ‘Boralday Necropolis’, Almaty (Kazakhstan—Eurasia)

Abstract

Thousands of burial mounds of the Sakas, Wsuns and Turks have been preserved in the vast expanse of southeastern Kazakhstan in the steppe, mountains and foothills. In ancient times, one of the spiritual centres of the nomads was formed on the territory of Almaty. There were dozens of burial mounds here, which were swallowed up by urban development over the past century. Archaeological research began in the first half of the 20th century. Archaeologists discovered new, miraculously preserved monuments. Among them, the majestic Boralday necropolis stands out. Due to its natural location, the monument has been well preserved—it was affected by urbanization, and no excavations were carried out on it. Archaeologists agreed on the need to preserve the necropolis as part of the historical landscape. In the last decade, geophysical research has been carried out on the monument. In 2015, geomagnetic scanning was carried out, and in 2024, electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) on seven elite large burial mounds. The article describes the techniques of the ERT method and presents the obtained images. For each mound, an interpretation of the research materials is given. According to certain technical and geomorphological data, these results are unique and valuable in methodological terms. Investigative techniques, such as ERT, not only provide tools for interpreting the stratigraphy and internal structures of the tumuli but also help shape conservation strategies that integrate historical knowledge with the imperatives of heritage protection. In this manner, geophysical research is interwoven with archaeology and history, yielding an integrated perspective that enhances both the technical and symbolic dimensions of these funerary monuments. The results obtained from the ERT surveys conducted on seven royal burial mounds of the Early Iron Age Boralday burial ground provide significant insights into their structural composition and post-depositional modifications. The resistivity data allowed for the identification of both the original structural elements of the barrows and the alterations resulting from anthropogenic and natural processes. Geophysical research at the Boralday burial ground will be continued using both ERT and other methods.