Bronze Age burial sites have been discovered in the Karaganda region.

The archaeological excavations in the Uspensky rural district of the Shet district in the Karaganda region have concluded. Researchers discovered five burials belonging to the Bronze Age necropolis of Akbaibishev, as reported by the IA "NewTimes.kz," referencing the press service of the Karaganda region akimat.

The findings confirmed by radiocarbon analysis indeed date back to the Bronze Age.

Three of the five discovered burial sites were located along a rural road, while two were found in a wasteland. Although all the burials had been looted, the scientists were still able to uncover interesting artifacts.

Among these were fragments of very high-quality pottery from that era. Notably, the clay used is characteristic of the present-day Uspensky rural district, while the technology for crafting these ceramic items originated from artisans in Central Kazakhstan. This suggests that craftsmen from various regions exchanged knowledge and learned from one another.

Additionally, archaeologists found the skeleton of a person buried without a head in an embryonic position. This indicates complex spiritual and cultural beliefs and traditions of the people who lived during that time.

“All the findings have been handed over to the Center for the Preservation of Historical and Cultural Heritage of the Department of Culture, Archives, and Documentation of the Karaganda region. From there, the artifacts were redirected to the collections of the Uspensky village museum, where they will be displayed for everyone interested to see,” said Alexander Knutov, head of the expedition and leading archaeologist of the research department of EcoProf KZ LLP.

The discovered burial sites are currently fenced off to preserve the findings.

Researchers also took detailed photographs, including aerial shots, of the ruins of the Sarysuiskaya enrichment plant, built in the early 20th century by British engineer John Wilford Wardell.

“The ruins of this plant were known to the Department of Culture, some local residents, and tourists who specifically studied the information. However, the site did not have widespread recognition. Based on the photos we took, it's possible to attempt to reconstruct the plant and virtually restore its architecture,” says Alexander Knutov.

Scientists also conducted archaeological surveys in the basin of the Sarysu River. As a result, they discovered new sites dating back to the Bronze Age, the early Iron Age, the Middle Ages, and modern times.

Among these is a large stone burial mound with "mustaches," which belongs to the Tasmolinskaya archaeological culture. This culture is associated with the early Iron Age and is characteristic of Central Kazakhstan.

The researchers plan to continue their investigation of these sites.