Address: Nikol'sko-Burlukskoe Village
Tucked into a forested hillside beyond the remote village of Nikol'sko-Burlukskoe, findings at the Botai Archaeological Complex changed the world's understanding of ancient humanity. Evidence of domesticated wild horses by the Botai culture in 3500 BCE moved the timeline of known equine domestication back a full thousand years from our previous understanding. Traders and hunters across the open steppe, the handful of excavation pits and reconstruction of a traditional Botai dwelling on-site (one of nearly 250 that would have existed here at the height of the Botai culture) belie the massive importance of the site on our understanding of history.
Nikol'sko-Burlukskoe is about 50km from Saumalkol, the final 10km of which will take around half an hour on shockingly bad steppe roads. From the village, cross the river bridge and turn south towards the signed entrance to the site – excavations are a little further on.
