MAIASP. 2024. No. 16

Gulnara Jumabekova (Almaty, Kazakhstan), Yerlan Amirov (Karaganda, Kazakhstan), Kyrym Altynbekov (Almaty, Kazakhstan), Elina Altynbekova (Almaty, Kazakhstan), Ramazan Zhanuzak (Almaty, Kazakhstan), Ainash Childebayeva (Austin, USA), Galiya Bazarbayeva (Almaty, Kazakhstan)

Letum non omnia fenit(about one masterpiece of the Zhetysu Saka toreutic school)

DOI: 10.53737/2713-2021.2024.22.37.006

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Pages: 125—158

The archaeology of the Early Iron Age in Kazakhstan has rapidly expanded with new data in recent decades, including in the field of ancient art. To date, new complexes have been discovered in almost all regions of the country, indicating the existence of stable traditions in material culture, particularly in toreutics. The aim of this article is to introduce highly artistic artifacts from the early nomads’ kurgans located in the city of Almaty (late 5th — early 4th century BCE) into academic discourse. The cultural and chronological attribution of the finds involved not only searching for analogies but also incorporating anthropological and paleogenetic research data. The analyzed findings show thematic and stylistic parallels with the artifacts from the Issyk kurgan and the art of the Pazyryk culture. K.A. Akishev’s thesis regarding the existence of a Semirechenskaya school of Saka toreuts and the presence of transcontinental contacts between the populations of Western Asia and the Great Steppe is confirmed.

Key words: Zhetysu, Almaty, Early Iron Age, Saka tribes, Taugul-3, Issyk kurgan, art, animal style, Pazyryk culture.

Received July 31, 2024

Accepted for publication August 14, 2024

About the authors:

Jumabekova Gulnara (Almaty, Kazakhstan). PhD (History), Margulan Institute of Archaeology

E-mail: gdzhuma@mail.ru

Amirov Yerlan (Karaganda, Kazakhstan). LTD “Archaeological Researchers”.

E-mail: e.amirov82@gmail.com

Altynbekov Kyrym (Almaty, Kazakhstan). Scientific and restoration laboratory “Ostrov Krym”.

E-mail: tengri05@mail.ru

Altynbekova Elina (Almaty, Kazakhstan). Scientific and restoration laboratory “Ostrov Krym”.

E-mail: elina.altyn@gmail.com

Zhanuzak Ramazan (Almaty, Kazakhstan). Margulan Institute of Archaeology

E-mail: rzhanuzak04@gmail.com

Ñhildebayeva Àinash (Austin, USA). PhD (Anthropology and Toxicology), Assistant Professor, University of Texas at Austin

E-mail: ainash.childebayeva@austin.utexas.edu

Bazarbayeva Galiya (Almaty, Kazakhstan). PhD (History), Margulan Institute of Archaeology.

E-mail: galiya2002@gmail.com