Archaeologists have unearthed a trove of ancient treasures within a burial mound dating back roughly 2,000 years in .
Researchers attribute these artifacts to the Kangyu Era, a period when the Kangyu state, situated along the Silk Road – a network of trade routes connecting the East and West, according to National Geographic – flourished.
A translated press release issued by Turkistan’s regional government website in May 2024 detailed the discovery of a jug, a bronze mirror, a Roman fibula, and other items during the excavation of three burial mounds. Two of these mounds had been looted, but one yielded these ancient relics.
The bronze mirror is believed to have been crafted during the Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE), as per the press release. Mirrors resembling the recently discovered one have been found in Afghanistan and the southern Ural region.
The bronze mirror, a prized possession indicative of wealth and influence, suggests that the woman buried alongside it held a position of high status, according to the press release.
The gold earrings, shaped like the moon and adorned with turquoise and ruby, are described in the press release.
A shoe, a belt buckle, and an arrowhead specifically designed for bird hunting were also found.
The discovery was spearheaded by a team comprising archaeologists from Kazakhstan’s Ozbekali Zhanibekov University and local government authorities, as reported by Live Science.
The unearthed artifacts, as noted in the press release, reflect the diplomatic ties that Kangyu held with powerful empires, including , and China.
Professor Alexander Podushkin, leader of the expedition, stated that these ancient relics will be transferred to the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Astana, as per the press release.