Gold of Eleke Sazy Valley

The archaeologists of Al-Farabi KazNU have made a sensational discovery by finding gold jewellery for the horse harness of the ruler of the Saka Society in the Yeleke Sazy Valley, in the foothills of Tarbagatai (EKR).

A sensational discovery was made during the Shilikty-Tarbagatai expedition organised by the East Kazakhstan Regional Akimat as part of the Rukhani Zhangiru Programme. The scientific project has been carried out by archaeological expedition which consisted of scientists of Al Farabi Kazakh National University. The project was led by the university professor Abdesh Tashkenovich Toleubayev who was assisted by the head of Archeology, Ethnology and Museology Department, and also by PhD R.S. Zhumataev and PhD student S.T. Shakenov.

As a result of the excavations, a tomb and dromos (an underground corridor leading to the crypt) were excavated. In the grave, separate fragments of human skeleton bones and ceramics were found. «We decided then to examine the outer stone shell of the construction, the moat surrounding the burial mound and the eight stone memorial sites around the mound. Under the stone shell, a treasure of gold jewellery for horse equipment was found at the southeast corner of the mound. The treasure was laid in an earth sinkhole 50 cm in diameter and about 80 cm deep. There is no doubt that it was a funeral and memorable gift – an offering to the deceased ruler, perhaps from tribal units or associations under his authority», – said KazNU’s Professor Abdesh Toleubayev.

According to specialists, the colourful and rich jewellery found on horse harness made of thick plated gold and thick foil with very diverse mythological subjects, shapes and images that are presented in the entire space of the Sako-Scythian world. Items of horse harness in Sako-Scythian monuments are often found as treasures inside or outside the barrow and are a valuable discovery.

The total number of gold items is 830. According to the dating signs, the large mound at the foot of which the gold treasure was found dates back to the Middle Saka period – to the V-IV centuries BC, i.e. the artifacts are 2,500-2400 years old. In terms of manufacturing technology, materials, shapes and subjects, gold jewellery is also tentatively dated to the V-IV centuries B.C. and are particularly valuable artifacts of the Altai-Tarbagatai Saks art.

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