Archaeologists have discovered gold jewelry, arrowheads, and a large bronze mirror in southern Kazakhstan’s Turkistan region. These items are about 2,000 years old.
Experts believe these artifacts were made during the time of the Kangju state. The Kangju state ruled the area from the fifth century B.C. to the fourth century A.D., but little is known about it, as reported by Live Science.
Officials from Turkistan’s regional government stated that these findings showcase the advanced craftsmanship of the region. During the Kangju state era, the region traded with ancient Rome, ancient China, and the Kushan Empire to the south.
The bronze mirror, with its circular shape, eight-sided arched design on the back, and a center hole for a thread, appears to have come from China. This style is typical of the Han dynasty, which ruled from 206 B.C. to A.D. 220.
These types of mirrors were highly valued across Eurasia. Similar mirrors have been found in Afghanistan and the southern Ural region. The statement states that the mirror’s presence in the burial site suggests the woman it was buried with was wealthy and influential.
Burial mounds looted during the ancient times
A group consisting of members from Kazakhstan’s Ozbekali Zhanibekov University and local government archaeologists made the recent discoveries in three burial mounds located in Turkistan’s Ordabasinsky district. Based on their report, two of the mounds had been looted in ancient times. However, the third burial mound contained valuable relics.
Alongside the bronze mirror, the collection of artifacts comprised various items such as a Roman-style brooch called a fibula, beads of different sizes, a pottery jug, a shoe, a belt buckle, and an arrowhead designed for bird hunting. Additionally, there were two gold earrings believed to be from the first century B.C.
These earrings are particularly ornate. They are crafted from a colorful alloy called “polychromatic” gold and adorned with turquoise and rubies. The earrings are shaped like a crescent, symbolizing the moon, with additional decorations resembling grape clusters, intended to catch and reflect sunlight, as reported by Live Science.
Aleksandr Podushkin, the expedition leader and an archaeologist at Ozbekali Zhanibekov University, explained that the Kangju state was a coalition of various peoples, including nomadic tribes such as the Sarmatians, Xiongnu, and possibly the Scythians known as the Saki.
He further stated that the positioning of Kangju cities along segments of the Great Silk Roads, connecting China to the Mediterranean, allowed them to establish diplomatic ties and engage in trade across the ancient world.
Podushkin stated that the artifacts will soon be displayed at the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Astana.
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