Ancient smelting furnaces discovered in Ak-Bauyr tract

Ancient smelting furnaces discovered in Ak-Bauyr tract

Large architectural objects of the early Bronze Age, built in the 6th-7th centuries BC were discovered in the Ak-baur tract in eastern Kazakhstan. In an attempt to unveil the secrets of the ancient metallurgy of the Saka tribes, archaeologists found the remains of at least 10 stone smelting furnaces. These artifacts fundamentally change the idea of the way of life of these tribes. According to scientists, the Sakas mastered the secrets of smelting metals 3,000 years ago.

“Here is the quartz mineral itself, the ancient nomads who lived here took the necessary mineral-ores. The ores that they took were enriched in these furnaces,” said Aidyn Zhuniskhanov, an archaeologist.

All samples are subject to digitization, they are assigned a specific barcode.

“These fragments belong to the early Iron Age. I’m holding the fragments of ceramic dishes found in the 40th sector. It was used in the kitchen,” said Assiya Karazhigitova, a researcher at the National Museum of Kazakhstan.

Over the past 6 years, the collection of the country's museum funds has been replenished with 26,000 artifacts found in the east of the country. In September 2021, the Kazakh collection "Gold of the Great Steppe" was a triumph at an exhibition in the UK. Kazakh researchers promise new archaeological sensations.

 

 

Translation and editing by Saule Mukhamejanova