Drone finds ancient royal burial sites in Russia

Published October 11, 2011 |

The Scythians were ancient nomadic groups dwelt within the Pontic-Caspian steppe north of the Black Sea. They were famously known for their archery expertise while on horseback. As reported on MSN News, archeologists have discovered ancient burial mounds using drones in remote areas.

Archaeologists have created a 3-D model of an ancient burial mound in Russia after a miniature airborne drone helped them in capturing images of the site.

The drone tested in a remote area in Russia called Tuekta which sits in the Altai Mountains bordering China, Kazakhstan and Mongolia.

According to the researchers, the burial mounds they have discovered are believed to be 2,300 to 2,800 years old and up to 250 feet in the area, LiveScience reported.

These burial mounds, called kurgans, probably belonged to chiefs or princes among the Scythians, a nomadic people known for their horsemanship, who once had a rich, powerful empire.

Excavations of some of these have revealed extraordinary treasures of gold and other artifacts well-preserved by permafrost. Nearly 200 burial mounds were found in Tuekta, the researchers reported in the Journal of Archaeological Science.

Archaeological sites are often found in remote and rugged areas. As they are hard to reach and map following the limited budgets, archaeologists are now using drones to extend their view into these hard-to-reach spots.

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Chris Rivait

Chris loves history and hopes that Yesteeyear becomes a place where everyone can share their history knowledge. Chris owns an Internet Marketing company, Arrivait Marketing. He has a wonderful wife and four great children.