MAIASP. 2024. No. 18

Andrey Astafyev (Almaty, Kazakhstan), Pavel Perov (Almaty, Kazakhstan)

Hoards of jewelry and coins found near mount Sherkala (Mangystau) on the medieval trading square

DOI: 10.53737/2713-2021.2024.25.83.010

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Pages: 188—216

In 2016, two coin and jewelry hoards from the early 13th century were discovered in the Mangystau region. These findings were made on the trading square adjacent to a caravanserai located near Sherkala Mountain. The hoards contained similar types of jewelry and coins. Among the jewelry, there are distinctive temporal rings, earrings with hollow spheres, rod-shaped items, shield rings, and paired plate bracelets, among other items. All objects were cast in gold and silver, with standardized forms and created in a consistent artistic style of that era. The bracelets and rings are decorated with similar vegetal patterns using various techniques, with additional complex elements like geometric signs and symbols. Besides jewelry, the hoards contained dinars of Khorezmshah Muhammad b. Tekesh and local imitations of his coinage. The Sherkala caravanserai and trading square form a unified trade and economic complex with the nearby settlement of Kyzylkala, located in the interior areas of the Mangyshlak Peninsula (Mangystau). This settlement served as a transit point on the trade route from Khorezm to the shores of the Caspian Sea.

Key words: Mangystau region, Mangystau, Sherkala caravanserai, Kyzylkala, the beginning of the 13th century, coins and jewelry hoard, silver, gold, dinar.

Received  May 20, 2024

Accepted for publication June 5, 2024.

About the authors:

Astafyev Andrey (Almaty, Kazakhstan). Senior Researcher, Margulan Institute of Archaeology.

E-mail: aasta@list.ru

Petrov Pavel (Almaty, Kazakhstan). PhD (History), Chief Researcher, Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

E-mail: ppnsainkhan@rambler.ru