Kazakhstan: Unique 2,200-Year-Old Golden Statue Discovered in Ancient Tomb

Archaeologists in the Kazakh city of Almaty have discovered a small golden bear statue inside a tomb dating to approximately 2,200 years ago, in a find researchers described as the first of its kind in the country. The statue depicts a bear standing on its hind legs, holding a small vessel between its front paws. It is believed to have been part of a headdress ornament, as holes in its base suggest it could have been attached to a piece of fabric.

The specialized science and archaeological news magazine Live Science reported the day before yesterday that the statue was found in the Karagayly tomb, which dates to the early Iron Age and is associated with the Saka civilization, alongside a large number of human bones and ceramic fragments. The burial mound stands about 2.4 meters high and has a diameter of approximately 26 meters. Preliminary analyses indicate it may contain the remains of four adults and three children, an unusual number for similar tombs in Kazakhstan.

This discovery adds a new piece to the archaeological record linked to the Saka civilization, providing insights into the artistic skills and decorative craftsmanship of ancient societies in Central Asia.