New finds in the «Royal» burial-mound 1 in the Filippovka 1 cemetery (preliminary report)

During the completion of work on the eastern half of burial-mound № 1 an underground passage over 25 metres in length was fully excavated. It led eastwards from the central grave-pit and it was 80 cms wide at the outset. At its eastern end it rose up to the level of the ancient ground surface over five steps and at that point its width was 2,5 metres and the bottom step was approximately 2 meters deep. Not far from the stepped entrance into it a large cauldron cast in bronze was found (see back cover). Under the eastern side of the burial-mound, near the edge of the mound, a grave-pit was found which had not been disturbed by looters. On the floor of the pit on a multi-layered matting a human skeleton was unearthed accompanied by exceptionally rich and diverse grave-goods (Fig. I).