Archaeologists from Kazakhstan’s Margolan University have discovered the remains of a mausoleum dating back to the late 14th century, the Golden Horde era and the beginning of the Kazakh Khanate, in the Janty Nature Reserve in Pavlodar Province.
The mausoleum is distinguished by its use of bricks conforming to the "Golden Order standard" (25 x 25 cm), its mud-brick walls, and tombs believed to belong to elite figures, as well as an adjacent, complete cemetery. These discoveries were made in an area where historians had expected to find only traces of nomadic Bedouin settlements.
But the most significant discoveries were made inside the mausoleum. Bronze ornaments made from a lead- and tin-rich alloy indicate a sophisticated metal industry in the region. A kauri shell, originating from the Indian Ocean, was also found, providing direct evidence of trade links between the Kazakh steppes and South Asia.
Bioarchaeologist Natalia Miller said that the Eurasian steppes were "more globalized than previously thought."
The entire archaeological site has also been documented using 3D scanning technology via an automated geological scanner, which will allow for a virtual visit to the shrine in the near future.
It is worth mentioning that the Golden Horde, or "Ulus Jochi", originated in the thirteenth century AD, and united under the rule of the descendants of Genghis Khan vast territories that extended from Siberia and Central Asia to Eastern Europe.
Researchers believe that the discovery of a large brick building in the steppes of the Irtysh River Valley, in Pavlodar Province, expands historians' understanding of the nature of settled civilization in the Golden Horde Empire and the paths of its expansion.
Archaeologists noted that finding artifacts of this scale in northern Kazakhstan is rare, as these areas have long been considered the homeland of nomadic tribes. This discovery confirms the existence of sophisticated administrative and cultural centers in this part of the Eurasian steppes.
