Rare 2,500-year-old ‘Golden Warrior’ found buried under precious ornaments in Kazakhstan
AN EXCEPTIONALLY rare ‘Golden Warrior’ has been unearthed in Kazakhstan, according to local archaeologists.
The remains are thought to be 2,500 years old and are said to be reminiscent of the famous ‘Golden Man’ who was discovered in the country in 1969.
The original Golden Man is a national treasure in Kazakhstan.
He was discovered by archaeologist Kemal Akishev in 1969 at a site called the Issyk burial mound close to the former capital Almaty.
Little is known about him but some experts are confident his remains date back to at least the 2nd-3rd century BC.
The ancient man discovered recently is reportedly of a similar status because he was buried with his horse and his clothing and the horses harness were bedecked with gold.
The find was made in a grave that was 20 foot deep.
Local archaeologists have described it as “sensational”.
This new find is the seventh ancient person covered in gold to be unearthed in the country.
Experts think that the ancient man was a Sarmatian warrior chieftan.
His remains will now be taken away for further examination.
This will include detailed DNA analysis, which should help us learn more about who is he and his culture.
The new discovery was made further west in Kazakhstan than the original Golden Man.
Local news agency TengriNews reported the finds and released some images but a full image of the skeletal remains has not been released.
Who is Kazakhstan's 'Golden Man'?
Here's what you need to know...
- The Golden Man is a national treasure in Kazakhstan
- He was discovered by archaeologist Kemal Akishev in 1969 at a site called the Issyk burial mound close to the former capital Almaty
- Little is known about him but some experts are confident his remains date back to at least the 2nd-3rd century BC
- At this time, south-eastern Kazakhstan was home to a group called the Saka people who may have been part of the broader Scythian nomadic culture
- It is thought he was a nobleman or warrior because he was buried in gold armour, footwear, a 70cm high headpiece and a hoard of gold
- He was not found to be genetically similar to modern Kazakhs but is used as a symbol of their heritage
- He is often referred to as the “Tutankhamun of Kazakhstan” and is thought to have died when he was a teenager
- His time capsule reburial was announced this year as researchers want to preserve his poorly stored bones in the hope that modern technology will be able to extract more information from them
In other archaeology news, an eerie mummy has been found wearing fur underwear frozen in -60C Siberian permafrost.
Humans survived an ‘extinction-level asteroid’ that sparked ice age and wildfires 12,800 years ago, scientists reveal.
The ‘real Excalibur’ has been pulled from a rock at the bottom of lake – and no one knows how the 700-year-old weapon got there.
What do you make of the “golden man” discovery? Let us know in the comments…
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