Golden Horde-era mausoleum discovered in Kazakhstan

Archeologists in Kazakhstan have discovered a large mausoleum dating back to the 14th century, the expedition leader said on Friday. The 20-meter high Golden Horde-era mausoleum is one of the largest historic buildings in the territory of the Saryarka (Yellow Range) steppe in central Kazakhstan, Timur Smagulov said. A skeleton of a man believed to have been a representative of the local ruling elite was found inside the mausoleum. Archeologists also discovered golden and copper coins from Eastern Europe and China, a number of medieval workshops and an irrigation network at the site. "One of the most interesting things is the decorative tiles on the mausoleum walls," Smagulov said. "They are decorated with a geometric ornament consisting of mysterious symbols, which have yet to be decrypted."