MAIASP. 2024. No. 18

Yana Lukpanova (Uralsk, Kazakhstan), Abai Seitov (Almaty, Kazakhstan), Kyrym Altynbekov (Almaty, Kazakhstan), Elina Altynbekova (Almaty, Kazakhstan), Mikhail Antonov (Almaty, Kazakhstan), Gaukhar Kaldybayeva (Almaty, Kazakhstan), Takayuki Honda (Tokyo, Japan), Yuka Sasaki (Kanazawa, Japan), Kazutaka Kobayashi (Sendai, Japan), Shinya Shoda (Nara, Japan)

The wooden box from the Urysay-2 complex (Western Kazakhstan, 5th century BCE): an interdisciplinary research experience

DOI: 10.53737/2713-2021.2024.26.77.006

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Pages: 105—126

The article is devoted to the study, restoration, and reconstruction of a poplar box originating from kurgan No. 13 of the Urysay-2 burial site. This box contained a set of ritual objects associated with a female “priestess”. The box was positioned behind the head of the deceased and was a low, square container with straight sides and a separate flat lid. The specific set of objects found in the box included a mirror, a cedar block, a “spoon” with traces of paint, a small organic vessel (leather? felt?), and silk fabric, supplemented by a small stone altar and a set of tools found nearby. During fieldwork, the box was removed in one block. Subsequently, an MRI scan was performed; a comprehensive set of procedures was conducted to identify the material of the finds, their physicochemical composition, conservation, and restoration; a 3D reconstruction of the box and the items was carried out.

Key words: Urysay-2, kurgan, burial, Sarmatians, female “priestess”, box.

Received  September 22, 2024

Accepted for publication October 12, 2024

About the authors:

Lukpanova Yana (Uralsk, Kazakhstan). Senior Researcher, West Kazakhstan Regional Museum of Local History.

E-mail: yana_2004_75@mail.ru

Seitov Abai (Almaty, Kazakhstan). Researcher, Margulan Institute of Archaeology.

E-mail: sajrim@ mail.ru

Altynbekov Kyrym (Almaty, Kazakhstan). Scientific Restoration Laboratory “Ostrov Krym”.

E-mail: tengri05@mail.ru

Altynbekova Elina (Almaty, Kazakhstan). Scientific Restoration Laboratory “Ostrov Krym”.

E-mail: elina.altyn@gmail.com

Antonov Mikhail (Almaty, Kazakhstan). Researcher, Margulan Institute of Archaeology.

E-mail: elina.altyn@gmail.com

Kaldybayeva Gaukhar (Almaty, Kazakhstan). Researcher, Margulan Institute of Archaeology.

E-mail: odd_story@mail.ru

Honda Takayuki (Tokyo, Japan). PhD, Meiji University.

E-mail: t-honda@ meiji. ac. jp

Sasaki Yuka (Kanazawa, Japan). PhD, Kanazawa University.

E-mail: sasaki928425@gmail.com

Kobayashi Kazutaka (Sendai, Japan). PhD, Tohoku University.

E-mail: cazutaca@gmail.com

Shoda Shinya (Nara, Japan). Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties.

E-mail: shodas7f@nich.go.jp.