Unveiling an Ancient Burial, The Story of the Siberian Ice Maiden

In 1993, a team led by Russian archaeologist Natalya Polosmak made a remarkable discovery on the Ukok Plateau in the Altai Mountains, near the Russia-China border. Deep within the icy tomb they stumbled upon, a significant burial site began to unveil itself. The archaeologists cautiously melted the surrounding ice to reveal the remains of a highly esteemed individual. This person of great importance had been laid to rest alongside six horses, all in full harnesses, signifying their sacrifice. The burial itself consisted of a sturdy wooden coffin crafted from a single larch tree trunk.

Inside the coffin, they were astounded to find the astonishingly well-preserved body of a young woman. Her skin, her very tattoos, were remarkably intact. Realizing the significance of their find, the archaeologists transported the body to Novosibirsk for further study. However, this action stirred up a wave of indignation among the Altai people. To them, the "Princess of Ukok Plateau," or as she became known in the English-language press, "The Siberian Ice Maiden," was much more than an archaeological curiosity. She was believed to be the mystical guardian of Altai, a protector against malevolent forces. According to local beliefs, she was the progenitor of the Altai people, and her resting place should not be disturbed.

The body of the young woman had been meticulously embalmed using a combination of peat and bark. She was laid on her side in a peaceful slumber, her head adorned with a wig and a tall hat. Standing at a height of 167cm, she left an impression of elegance. Her pale, shaved head was contrasted by a striking 90cm felt headdress, adorned with tribal animal-style tattoos that transformed into floral patterns. The size of her coffin had been carefully chosen to accommodate this remarkable headpiece. Additionally, she was attired in a long wool skirt with red and white stripes, complemented by white felt stockings.

This enigmatic figure belonged to the Pazyryk culture, a collective term for various Scythian nomadic tribes that inhabited the Altai mountains during the 6th to 3rd centuries B.C. The astonishing preservation of her body posed an intriguing question for the researchers: How had she been able to remain so remarkably intact for centuries?