Zoomorphic image from Ashutasty: artistic culture of the Saryarka ancient population

A zoomorphic image of a feline predator, discovered during the excavation of kurgan no. 10 at the Ashutasty-1 burial ground in northern Kazakhstan, provides new insights into the artistic culture of ancient Saryarka populations dating back to the 7th–6th centuries BC. The image, analyzed alongside funeral ceremony features and a bronze tip, reveals close analogies with Saka-era burials such as Akbeit, Baike-2, Karashoky, and Taldy-2, suggesting shared cultural influences across the region. The study, conducted by the Institute of Archaeology named after A.Kh. Margulan in 2015, situates this discovery within the broader historical and cultural landscape of Saryarka, stretching from Shyngystau to Ulytau. Comparisons with other synchronous pictorial monuments, including those from Jetysu, Southern Aral area, Kazakh Altay, Southern Ural, and Tuva, underscore the significance of Ashutasty-1 as a key site for understanding the artistic expressions of ancient steppe societies.

Bazarbayeva, G. A., & Jumabekova, G. S. (2017). Zoomorphic image from Ashutasty: artistic culture of the Saryarka ancient population. Samara Journal of Science, 6(3), 232–237. https://doi.org/10.17816/snv201763225