05 august, 19:27
Archaeologists have determined the age of the Saka Princess found in 2013 in eastern Kazakhstan, Tengrinews reports citing yk.kz.
Thanks to a new methodology, the restorers found that Urdzhar princess lived in IV-III centuries BC. Her approximate age at the time of death was 40-45 years. The woman’s headdress was made of red silk and her clothes of wool.
The archaeologists believe that the woman used to live in Laibulak area because of its proximity to the burial site and because it had a pure mountain stream, a source of good water crucial for a settlement in those days.
"We asked the Hermitage to make the analyses, they returned good results. There was an interesting image of a mythical bird on her headdress. We understood that it was the mythical bird of Samruk (a well-known figure in the Kazakh mythology). It is the first time that we find these images," said a leading Kazakh restorer Krym Altynbekov.
As the restorers note, field work does not always provide as much detail as laboratory studies. This is why a spacial technique was developed by Kazakh scientists to ensure preservation of discovered artifacts. It is called Kum Dorba. Its key principle is that the sarcophagus in placed in one block, and all the artifacts and objects together with the soil around them is placed into another block.
"When we use the block technique we can preserve both the remnants and the objects surrounding them.We have taken only the part that we need, now archaeologists and historians can proceed with their analyses," Krym Altynbekov said.
Conservation work at the site has been finished and restoration has begun. The scientists have sent soil, bones and textiles from the site to a lab in the United States for tests and expect the results shortly. The American lab will determine the exact time when the Saka princess lived.
After all the research and restoration works are completed, the exhibit will be sent to the National Museum of Kazakhstan in Astana.
Kazakhstan archaeologists found the tomb of the Saka Princess in Urdzhar region of East Kazakhstan Oblast back in summer of 2013. The artifacts found in the burial suggested the woman was from a distinguished tribe. One of these was a long golden headdress with zoomorchic ornaments and decorated with jewels. The tomb also contained ceramic and wooden vessels and bones of sacrificial sheep.
“Similar headwear used to be part of the official costume of the Saka tribe chieftains. It is quite possible that the woman was a daughter of a king of a Saka Tigrakhauda tribe,” expedition leader Timur Smagulov said after the discovery was made.
The golden headdress also gave the find its name - the Saka Princes. The item closely resembles the headwear of the Golden Man discovered in Kazakhstan in a burial mound near Issyk town in 1969.
By Dinara Urazova, editing by Tatyana Kuzmina
Saka Princess tomb-chest
The Saka Princess headgear and the stone altar are clearly seen to the left from the skull. Photo by Daniyar Bozov©
Archaeological works on the burial site of the "Saka Princess" have been completed in Urdzhar region of Eas-Kazakhstan oblast. The site is dated 4-3 century B.C.
The burial site of the high-ranking young woman was discovered during reconstruction of Taskesken-Bakty road in Urdzhar region. Photo by Daniyar Bozov©
The burial site dated 4-3 century B.C. is located just a few yards from the road. Photo by Daniyar Bozov©
Archaeologist and painer Georgiy Peresvetov. Photo by Daniyar Bozov©
Head of the expedition Timur Smagulov (L). Photo by Daniyar Bozov©
The tomb-chest of the princess was made of 6 stone slabs on the sides and two parts of the upper headstone. Photo by Daniyar Bozov©
The slabs that covered the tomb. All the holes in the tomb-chest were sealed with clay. Photo by Daniyar Bozov©
Everything that was found in the tomb was treated with antiseptic. Photo by Daniyar Bozov©
The steppe view. Photo by Daniyar Bozov©
Famous restorer Krym Altynbekov will restore the clothing of the Saka Princess. Photo by Daniyar Bozov©
A beheaded skeleton without the right arm was discovered next to the tomb of the princess. The platform where the first sceleton was discovered. Photo by Daniyar Bozov©
The site was protected by police all the time, as the local citizens showed interest in the discovery. Photo by Daniyar Bozov©
A field tent was erected over the tomb to let the experts work in any weather conditions. Photo by Daniyar Bozov©
Photo by Daniyar Bozov©
The archaeologists had to expand the hole to extract the tomb for further study. As a result, they discovered that sides of the tomb walls were laid with boulders. Photo by Daniyar Bozov©
Wooden and clay wares were discovered in the tomb. Photo by Daniyar Bozov©
The scientists also discovered sheep bones. According to them, by then the people already had the food distribution order based on social status, gender and age. Photo by Daniyar Bozov©
A stone altar. Photo by Daniyar Bozov©
A golden earring and a possible element of the headgear. Photo by Daniyar Bozov©
The headgear was made of pure gold. Photo by Daniyar Bozov©
She was called Saka Princess because the headgear is similar to the one found with the Golden Man. Photo by Daniyar Bozov©
Tarbagatai mountains. Photo by Daniyar Bozov©
Timur Smagulov and George Peresvetov discussing plans. Photo by Daniyar Bozov©
The tomb was laid with rocks on the outside. Photo by Daniyar Bozov©
After thediscovery was registered and scetched, the tomb walls were dismantled. Photo by Daniyar Bozov©
The slabs were so heavy that they had to be triced. Photo by Daniyar Bozov©
The scientists moved the tomb-chest to a wooden plate. Photo by Daniyar Bozov©
A 40-ton crane helped extract the platform that was prepared for the transportation to Almaty. Photo by Daniyar Bozov©
The main tomb (the Princess) was a little aside. This was possibly done to confuse tomb raiders. Photo by Daniyar Bozov©
Photo by Daniyar Bozov©
The slabs of the tomb-chest were trasferred to the local history museum. Photo by Daniyar Bozov©
Photo by Daniyar Bozov©
Photo by Daniyar Bozov©
Photo by Daniyar Bozov©For more information see: http://en.tengrinews.kz/fotoarchive/463/
Use of the Tengrinews English materials must be accompanied by a hyperlink to en.Tengrinews.kz
For more information see: http://en.tengrinews.kz/science/Age-of-Saka-Princess-discovered-in-2013-determined-261407/
Use of the Tengrinews English materials must be accompanied by a hyperlink to en.Tengrinews.kz
No comments:
Post a Comment