If this hypothesis is confirmed, the discovery will expand our knowledge of early medieval warrior burials in western Siberia, contribute to the completion of archaeological research in the region, and shed light on cultural exchanges and defense practices of that era. The research findings were published in the journal "Bulletin of Tomsk State University."
One argument supporting the existence of the burial mound was the discovery of three ancient spearheads on university grounds during the 20th century. These spearheads have been housed since the 1920s in the Florynsky Museum of Siberian History, Archaeology, and Ethnography. The exact location of the discovery is unknown, but archaeologists say that such artifacts are commonly found in warriors' graves and may indicate the presence of other nearby artifacts such as weapons, jewelry, or ritual objects.
Yevgeny Barsukov, a researcher at the BioGeoClim laboratory at Tomsk State University, said: "The discovery of three spearheads in one place cannot be explained by the presence of an ordinary settlement, whereas this convincingly indicates the presence of a burial mound, most likely related to medieval warriors."
The idea of a burial mound was revived when the memoirs of Vasily Florensky, the university's founder, were studied. Early in his time in Tomsk, he examined the plot of land on which the university complex would later be built and noticed a raised earthen mound on the southwestern edge of the orchard. Its summit overlooked the Tom River plain, and there was a lake and a marshland nearby, providing important geographical evidence for determining the boundaries of a possible burial mound and the artifacts associated with it.
This site has not been mentioned in modern scientific literature, and there are no archaeological maps of the area, which makes the potential discovery all the more exciting.
By comparing Florensky’s notes with pre-construction maps and the modern layout of the university complex, the researchers concluded that they were able to identify the likely location of the burial mound, which is probably located behind the second educational building.
Ilya Korobeshnikov, director of the Florensky Museum, explained: "Using historical and cartographic data, we reconstructed the original landscape and compared it with the modern university complex. There is a high probability that the burial mound has remained unchanged, despite the transformations that have taken place in the area."
The garden of the university complex is renowned as a site of archaeological significance. The first discoveries on the grounds of Tomsk State University date back to 1885, when a 16-centimeter-long Neolithic stone scraper was unearthed during the construction of the botanical gardens. Later, burials inside wooden coffins were discovered here. Archaeologists estimate that further excavations may reveal artifacts shedding light on the daily life and military culture of the region's inhabitants, including components of clothing, jewelry, or tools.
Korobeshnikov noted, "The university grounds were rich in artifacts from different eras, from the Neolithic period to the late Middle Ages."
Experts are currently exploring the possibility of conducting field research and excavations at the suspected burial mound site. If its existence is confirmed, it will provide unique information about the early medieval period in Western Siberia. In addition to its scientific value, the discovery will enhance Tomsk State University's standing as a center for education and research in local history and draw attention to the preservation of the university's cultural heritage.
