2,800-year-old 'royal gold jewellery' stash found in the mountains of eastern Kazakhstan

An incredible 2,800-year-old hidden treasure of 'royal gold' has been found stashed away in remote mountains of eastern Kazakhstan.

Some 3,000 golden and precious items were unearthed by archaeologists in a burial mound
in the remote Tarbagatai mountains [Credit: Oleg Belyalov-east2west news]

Some 3,000 golden and precious items were unearthed by archaeologists in a burial mound in the remote Tarbagatai mountains.

The treasure trove - described as 'priceless' - is believed to belong to royal or elite members of the Saka people who held sway in central Asia eight centuries before the birth of Christ.

The intricate jewellery proved there was sophisticated craftsmanship 2,800 years ago
[Credit: East-Kazakhstan region/east2west news]

Among the finds are earrings in the shape of bells, gold plates with rivets, plaques, chains, and a necklace with precious stones.

Gold beads decorating clothes were made with the use of sophisticated micro-soldering techniques, indicating an exceptional level of development jewellery-making skills for the period.

Among the finds are earrings in the shape of bells, gold plates with rivets, plaques, chains, and a necklace
with precious stones [Credit: East-Kazakhstan region/east2west news]

Archaeologists expect to find the remains of the prestigious couple, the owners of the glittering treasures - but they have not yet dug open their graves.

Professor Zainolla Samashev, in charge of the excavations, said: “A large number of valuable finds in this burial mound let us believe a man and a woman are buried here - the reigning persons or people who belonged to the elite of Saka society.”

The treasure trove is believed to belong to royal members of the Saka people
[Credit: East-Kazakhstan region/east2west news]

Head of the East-Kazakhstan region Danial Akhmetov said: “This find gives us a completely different view of the history of our people.”

The ancient people clearly had exceptional skills in mining, or extraction, selling and jewellery making, he said.

The first jewellery was extracted here two years ago, although in the time of Russian ruler Peter the Great
 some treasure was removed [Credit: Oleg Belyalov-east2west news]

“We are the heirs of the great people and great technologies,” he said.

There are some 200 burial mounds on the Eleke Sazy plateau where these treasures were found but many were robbed in ancient times.

Some 3,000 golden and precious items were found in a burial mound
[Credit: East-Kazakhstan region/east2west news]

The plateau with rich pastures around was seen as a “paradise” by the Saka kings.

The first jewellery was extracted here two years ago, although in the time of Russian ruler Peter the Great some treasure was removed.

Archaeologists believe they will find more treasure in the area
[Credit: East-Kazakhstan region/east2west news]

Despite this, experts believe they will find more remains with gold treasures of the Saka people.

“There are a lot of burial mounds here and the prospects are very large,” said leading Kazakh archaeologist Yerben Oralbai.

The Saka people were a branch of the Sythians - a sophisticated nomadic civilisation in central Asia stretching into Siberia.

Author: Will Stewart | Source: Mirror [July 30, 2018]