noun
- ancient burial mounds or tumuli found in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, typically containing the remains of nomadic peoples
Usage: archaeological; historical
Examples
- Archaeologists discovered several kurgans on the Ukrainian steppe.
- The kurgans contained bronze weapons and horse remains.
- These ancient kurgans date back to the Bronze Age.
- Scythian kurgans often held elaborate burial goods.
- The largest kurgans required thousands of workers to construct.
- Researchers used ground-penetrating radar to study the kurgans.