Archeological artifact discovered in Akmola region

Employees of the department of emergency situations of Sandyktau district of the Akmola region made a historical discovery during the ‘Orman’ preventive measure, Kazinform News Agency reports with reference to the department.

The artefact is a human face carved in stone. Following the discovery, the emergency department of the Akmola region and the local museum were duly informed.

The monument, which originated from an ancient sculptor, was brought to the attention of scientists from Astana and their colleagues abroad. It is challenging to determine the exact era to which the monument belongs.

Scientists are divided on the origins of the artifact. Some assert that the stone has been in its current location since the Bronze Age, while others attribute its presence to the subsequent Turkic period. One scientist has even proposed that the stone bears resemblance to the artefacts discovered in Siberia. The emergency situations department has taken the stone under its protection.

“Similar images have been found in the Bronze Age in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. They also appear in the Early Iron Age in Southern Siberia up to the Hun-Sarmatian period. We are all familiar with Turkic sculpture, which was widely spread in the Middle Ages throughout the Eurasian steppes. However, we cannot rule out the New Age period either,” Sergey Yarygin, a leading researcher at the Margulan Institute, stated. 

The distinctive discovery was made by Nursultan Ashkenov and Akhmet Zaripov, employees of the Sandyktau district fire service.

"It is a source of great satisfaction to make such an important discovery while engaged in our primary responsibilities. Furthermore, I believe that this achievement will have a positive impact not only on our district but also on the entire country," stated Aset Zhangozhin, head of the emergency situations department of Sandyktau district.