The investigation of this site started in 2000. The excavations of the first mound revealed a burial of rather a rare type dated to the 5th-4th centuries B.C.E. The following artifacts were found there: a bronze cauldron, a brazier, various arrowheads, pottery, as well as some horse harness details of a Scythian beast style. These molded bronze heads and figures of beasts are genuine pieces of antique art.
In the next year (2001), the excavations were continued by the Don Complex Archaeological Expedition. It consisted of two groups: a group of students from Rostov State University (headed by Professor V. Ye. Maksimenko) and an international group of volunteers (headed by the editor of "Donskaya Arkheologiya" journal Vladimir Klyutchnikov).
The 2001 expedition excavated 6 mounds. Three of them happened to be Khazarian mounds. One was from the Scythian era (4th century B.C.E.), and two of them were Polovtsian (Kipchak) mounds.
Here are short descriptions of the three Khazarian mounds:
Khazarian Mound 9: Excavated by the student group. Was robbed in the past. Very few human bones. A golden earring, some pieces of ceramics, and two arrow-heads were found.
Photos:
Khazarian Mound 3: Excavated by the international group. Was surrounded by a ritual ditch. Was robbed in the past. The human and the animal bones were mixed by the robbers. The human skeleton was a male 25-35 years old. Three bronze pendants of a belt were found, as well as pieces of rusty iron.
Photos:
Khazarian Mound 2: Excavated by the international group. Was surrounded by a ritual ditch. The human and animal bones were mixed by robbers. However, it was determined that the human skeleton was that of a 35-40 year old male. The silver pendant of a belt, a small golden plate in the mouth of a skull, the bone facings of a bow, pieces of rusty iron, and an iron stirrup were found.
Photos:
In 2002, no Khazar burials were found at Chastiye Kurgany among the 5 mounds excavated. Some of those which were located in 2002 were Bronze Age sanctuaries. A damaged stone carving was also located. In 2003, two additional mounds were excavated; both were from the Early Bronze Age and not connected to the Khazar era.