Golden woman burial site in West Kazakhstan called unique

    By Alina Usmanova
    Remains of the “Golden Woman” in the West Kazakhstan Oblast were recently named by scientists as the most ancient burial site to be uncovered in Kazakhstan to date.
    “Based on the results of laboratory studies, it was found that the burial relates to the 6^th-5^th century BC and is the oldest of the ‘golden’ burials found in Kazakhstan,” Aidar Batyrkhanov, head of the Department of Culture, Archives and Documentation of the West Kazakhstan Oblast said at a May 6 press conference.
    The Golden Woman burial was discovered in 2012 at the Taksay 1 complex of the West Kazakhstan Oblast.
    The burial dates back to the Sarmatian period.
    This is the burial site of a noble female priestess in appropriate attire and headdress. Next to her, about 80 gold ornaments were found: a mirror, a knife, a bronze cauldron and an altar.
    A wooden comb that was also found in the burial mound depicting battle scenes in the war of Sakas and Persians, is considered a unique artifact by scientists.
    According to Batyrkhanov, scientists from Japan, Germany and Russia were involved in the study, research and restoration of the remains of the Golden Woman and discovered artifacts. Currently, works on design of the Golden woman exhibition are underway.
    To promote the historical and cultural heritage, two sculptures of the Golden Woman were made, the catalogue “Early Nomads of Western Kazakhstan” (on the example of Taksay complex)” and the booklet “The Crest of Taksay” were published, according to the Astana Times.