An international team of archaeologists, including researchers from the UK’s UCL and Durham University, as well as Kazakhstan’s Toraighyrov University, has presented the results of the first large-scale investigation of one of the most significant Bronze Age archaeological sites in Kazakhstan.

The researchers have conducted the first detailed study of the ancient settlement of Semiyarka – the largest planned settlement of its kind in the region, covering approximately 140 hectares. Although the site was initially identified by Kazakh researchers in the early 2000s, the current international expedition has allowed for a comprehensive examination of the settlement.

According to the findings, Semiyarka, dated to around 1600 BCE, was one of the key regional centers during the period when local nomadic communities began transitioning to more permanent, urbanized lifestyles.

Project leader Dr. Miljana Radivojević (UCL) remarked: “This is one of the most remarkable archaeological discoveries in this region for decades. Semiyarka changes the way we think about steppe societies. It shows that mobile communities could build and sustain permanent, organised settlements centred on a likely large-scale industry – a true ’urban hub’ of the steppe”

Today, the remains of the city include rows of rectangular earthen platforms – the foundations of multi-room houses. Researchers also uncovered the remnants of a large central structure, likely used for rituals, communal purposes, or possibly belonging to a prominent family.

A key discovery was made on the southeastern edge of Semiyarka, where the team identified an industrial area dedicated to tin bronze production, the primary alloy of the Bronze Age. The archaeologists found crucibles, slag, and finished artifacts, providing the first solid evidence of complex metallurgical production in the steppe region, far beyond small-scale artisanal workshops.

The settlement is located on a promontory above the Irtysh River in northeastern Kazakhstan. Its name, “Semiyarka,” derives from the network of ravines surrounding the site. The proximity to copper and tin deposits in the Altai Mountains underscores the city’s historical role as a center of production, trade, and exchange.

Co-author Dr. Viktor Merz (Toraighyrov University) highlighted:
“We have been surveying Semiyarka for many years with the support of Kazakh national research funding, but this collaboration has truly elevated our understanding of the site. Working with colleagues from UCL and Durham has brought new methods and perspectives, and I look forward to what the next phase of excavation will reveal now that we can draw on their specialist expertise in archaeometallurgy and landscape archaeology.”

Analysis of ceramics and metal artifacts indicates that the settlement was predominantly inhabited by members of the Alekseevka-Sargary culture, one of the first sedentary groups in the region. Items linked to the Cherkaskul culture also suggest active trade and interaction with neighboring communities.

The expedition was supported by the British Academy, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the DREAM Project (ERC/UKRI).

The Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the United Kingdom welcomes the contribution of Kazakh-British research teams to the study of our country’s ancient history and will continue to support collaboration in science, culture, and archaeology.

Media Contact: For more information or to speak with the researchers involved, please contact: Michael Lucibella, UCL Media Relations

Tel: +44 (0)75 3941 0389

E-mail: m.lucibella@ucl.ac.uk

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-london/press/news/details/1109246?lang=kk