Latest news with #Sarmatians
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Archaeologists Found a 2,500-Year-Old Tomb Filled with Treasure—and Completely Untouched
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Archaeologists recently discovered precious artifacts from a burial site—one of few that hasn't been looted—left behind by the ancient Alanian people of Eastern Europe. Early Alans were nomadic horse lords who created elaborate equine decorations, including a tourmaline-studded bridle found at the site. Originating from Iran, the Alani eventually diverged from the Sarmatians and went to conquer parts of Eastern and Western Europe and North Africa. Just west of Grozny, Chechnya, lies the ancient Alkhan-Kala necropolis. The Alani people, or Alans, of the Pontic-Caspian steppe once sent their dead to the afterlife here. Though many of the richer burial mounds, or kurgans, at the site have long since been looted, the excavation of one of them recently revealed Alanian treasures that have not seen sunlight for at least 2,500 years. Glittering green tourmalines set in gold were unearthed by a team of archaeologists—led by Azamat Akhmarov of the Academy of Sciences of the Chechen Republic—when they excavated a rare undisturbed kurgan from the early period of Alanian culture. What they were looking at was a bejeweled harness made by horse lords who followed in the nomadic footsteps of the Sarmatians and Scythians before them. They found several harnesses, a bridle, three bladed weapons, vessels made of imported metal, and a handful of garnets, all dating from the 5th to 2nd centuries B.C. It was a wonder that this grave had not been ransacked. Whoever was buried here had to have been among the Alani elite. The intricacy of this person's grave goods, along with the fine materials they were crafted from, was clearly the craft of skilled artisans whose work was intended for someone with a high rank in society. Early Alani were nomads who roamed the steppes on horseback (though they would later become more a settled, pastoralist culture). Perhaps this was the grave of a military leader who died heroically after leading horsemen into battle. While the identity of this individual remains unknown, the Alans—much like the Scythians and Sarmatians from whom they would later diverge—were an Indo-European people who originated in what is now Iran. They spoke an Iranic language that would spread through the North Caucasus and across much of Eastern Europe, some of Western Europe, and the northern parts of Africa. Some Alans would eventually either integrate with the Hunnic Empire of Attila barging into Rome, or join forces with Romans and Goths in defeating the Huns. Others rode with the Vandals (who also sacked Rome) and more Germanic tribes on their way to Gaul and Spain. Alkhan-Kala was first excavated by Count Alexey Bobrinsky, the illegitimate son of Catherine the Great who rose to prominence as head of the Imperial Archaeological Commission of Russia. This find adds to the few early Alanian burials that have not been plundered by grave robbers. Gilded swords inlaid with garnets had been buried with a fallen warrior at the Brut burial ground in the North Caucasus. At a site near Komorovo, Saint Petersburg, another wealthy figure (this time a woman) was buried with intricate gold jewelry and figural plaques. Another Alanian necropolis yielded pottery and a gold harness ornament carved with birds. Motifs involving animals are often seen in Alanian art and jewelry, such as bracelets carved with cats and a necklace with what appear to be ram heads functioning as a clasp. The Zmeisky catacomb cemetery may be the most recognized Alanian burial ground. Though the burials here are from the 8th to 12th century A.D.—far later than the one discovered in Alkhan-Kala—it is where one of the most elaborate and unusual equine ornaments surfaced. From the grave of yet another warrior came a gilded bronze brow piece in the form of a woman holding a cup. She is thought to be either Dzerassa or Satana, both epic heroines, holding the magical cup of Uatsamong. Drinking from it would reveal if heroic deeds were true, or merely bluster and brag. 'This undisturbed burial offers a unique window into an era we know very little about,' Akhmarov told The Archaeologist. 'It allows us to better understand the social structure, burial practices, and cultural connections of the Alans.' You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Miami Herald
30-01-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
2,500-year-old tombs hold treasure of lost empire in Kazakhstan. See ornate jewelry
Archaeologists in Kazakhstan recently unearthed a pair of ancient burial mounds linked to a lost empire, officials said. The mounds — which are filled with numerous ornate artifacts — were discovered in the country's Atyrau region, which is located on the northern coast of the Caspian Sea, according to a Jan. 27 government news release. The tombs were dated to the fifth century B.C., making them around 2,500 years old. They are believed to have been built by Sarmatians, a nomadic, horse-riding people who originated from modern-day Iran and expanded northward between the fourth and sixth centuries B.C., according to Britannica. Kazakhstan's Atyrau region had previously been thought of as the edge of the Sarmatian Empire, but the newfound discovery indicates it was far more central than once thought. Trove of artifacts Between the two mounds, archaeologists uncovered about 1,000 artifacts — including the skeletal remains of several dozen people. Some were buried alone, while others were found in collective graves. Among the more eye-catching finds were pieces of gold jewelry, the heaviest of which was a bracelet depicting mountain leopards. Other pieces portrayed wild boar, tigers and saiga antelope — which inhabited the region at the time. A drawing of a wolf was also found in one of the mounds. Additionally, a pair of 'test stones' with golden handles were unearthed. These artifacts, which had not previously been documented in the country, were used to test the purity of gold. Bronze and iron weapons as well as household items — including two wooden cups and larger vessels — were found at the site as well. Google Translate was used to translate a news release from the governor of the Atyrau region.
