Archaeologists from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University have uncovered artifacts from the Scythian era in Kazakhstan’s Almaty region, including a rare gold ring weighing nearly eight grams.
A Symbol of Power and Authority
The excavations took place in the Uyghur district near the village of Togyzbulak and were led by Professor Dosbol Baigunakov, dean of the university’s history department. The team studied the Togyzbulak-1 and Togyzbulak-2 burial mound complexes, which contain more than 20 ancient burial sites.
Among the most notable discoveries were burial mounds No. 3 and No. 4, which contained the remains of a man and a woman, along with ceramic vessels, iron and stone artifacts, and gold jewelry. The standout find was a gold ring engraved with a lion, a symbol of strength and authority. Researchers believe the image combines human and animal traits, reflecting the spiritual worldview of the Saka tribes in the 3rd-4th centuries BC.
“These findings confirm that the territory of the modern Uyghur region was a cultural center of the Saka civilization,” the university said in a statement.
Ruins of a Burned City
Image: Al-Farabi National University
Separately, a potentially groundbreaking discovery has been made in the Zhetysu region. Olga Gumirova, executive director of the Petroglyph Hunters Foundation, reported the discovery of ruins from a medieval city previously known only through historical texts.
Archaeologists unearthed remnants of a tower, fragments of brick walls, and traces of fire, suggesting the city may have been destroyed during the Mongol invasion. While further research is ongoing, early comparisons are being drawn to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Talkhiz and Koylyk.
A month earlier, archaeologists from the Saryarka Archaeological Institute discovered 25 historical and cultural sites in the Shet district of the Karaganda region. These include burial mounds, necropolises, and complexes dating to the Bronze Age, Iron Age, and Middle Ages. According to the institute’s director, Alexei Kukushkin, this marks the beginning of an extensive research campaign, with formal dating pending excavation approvals.
The “Golden Man” and Buddhist Relics
One of the most significant archaeological discoveries in recent years is the 2018 find in the Tarbagatay district of East Kazakhstan, where over 3,000 gold artifacts were unearthed in a burial site. Led by renowned archaeologist Zainolla Samashev, the expedition found women’s bell earrings, gemstone necklaces, and ornate horse adornments dating to the 7th-8th centuries BC, treasures of exceptional artistic and historical value.
Another major discovery occurred in the Ayranada Gorge in the Merken district, where archaeologists found fragments of an ancient Buddhist temple and a carved stone head of Buddha.
Anna Krokosheva, senior researcher at the Museum of Ancient Taraz, noted that the find reinforces the region’s historical importance along the Silk Road. Despite the site’s remote location at over 3,000 meters above sea level, the artifacts are well-preserved and could enhance scientific and cultural tourism in southern Kazakhstan.
