Saka tombs and the Golden man—Kazakh archaeological wonders attract local and international tourists
In this episode of Modern Nomads, we travel across Kazakhstan in search of its most captivating archaeological treasures — from the royal Saka tombs of Berel in the east to the iconic Golden Man exhibit in the capital Astana.
In partnership with MDQ
READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2025/06/25/saka-tombs-and-the-golden-mankazakh-archaeological-wonders-attract-local-and-international
Spark your senses, wake your wonder. Euronews Culture seeks to show creativity in action and inspire our audience to explore the world through the five senses. Start your journey through the best of Europe's arts, gastronomy, traditions and high-end craftsmanship.
00:00From ancient settlements to royal tombs, archaeological discoveries in Kazakhstan
00:08offer a window into millennia of early Central Asian civilizations
00:13and help reshape our understanding of modern Kazakh identity.
00:17Welcome to Kazakhstan! Welcome to Modern Nomads!
00:23We begin this episode in Birel, the place in eastern Kazakhstan
00:28widely known for its stunning scenery and archaeological discoveries.
00:32Nestled at the foot of the Altai Mountains, the site holds a remarkable past.
00:37On the brink of a new millennium, Kazakh archaeologists uncover here a tomb of Saka nobles, buried here for over 2,000 years.
00:46Today, it's known as the Valley of the Kings.
00:49After years of archaeological excavations, around 100 aristocratic burials have been uncovered at the site.
00:56While many date back to the Saka period, the necropolis also includes remains from the later Turkic era.
01:02Today, the 170 hectare site is protected and open to the public.
01:08The stone-paved burial mounds form a chain, led by the largest and oldest tomb number one.
01:23The earlier the period, the larger the mount.
01:38These Grand Saka-era tombs offer insights into nomadic traditions, dating back half a millennium before Christ.
01:45The most astonishing discovery was the burial of a royal couple.
01:49Alongside the man and woman, there were 13 horses, all bridled, saddled and decorated with wooden horns, like those of a mountain goat.
01:58This reconstruction stands exactly where the original burial was uncovered.
02:03Right next to the necropolis is a museum showcasing all the discovered artifacts, wooden jewelry and decorations animal-inspired, adorned with gold, household items and reconstructions of humans and horses.
02:17Today, the site draws visitors from across Kazakhstan and abroad.
02:22As Kazakhstan is rich in ancient heritage, we are now heading to the outskirts of Eskimen city,
02:51where another archaeological site awaits.
02:54Aqbaor is a complex of settlements dating back to the bronze and early Iron Age.
02:59We often find fragments of ceramics in the buildings.
03:06Can I keep this?
03:08No?
03:09Okay.
03:13In this village, it was very rich.
03:15There was a building very deeply.
03:17This is one building, here is the second.
03:20And the third one went there.
03:21So, they could create a building with a center.
03:24So, all the buildings were like this.
03:27This discovery breaks the stereotype that the Saka was purely nomadic.
03:31The settled communities reveal that today's heritage is rooted in diverse and advanced civilizations.
03:37From East Kazakhstan, we head to the heart of the country, Astana.
03:52The capital houses Kazakhstan's most iconic archaeological find, an earth in 1969 from the Issyktium in the south, the Golden Man or Altinadam in Kazakh.
04:04This is our architecture of the village.
04:05Qurig and valiant kors.
04:06This is the same property that exists.
04:07This is the one building that is found in the territory of Kazakhstan,
04:12this is the one building that is found in the territory of Kazakhstan,
04:23These are images of animals, they are performed in a bird style.
04:26These are images of birds, of a mountain lion.
04:29In the windows are the original features of these items.
04:33These are elements of the head cut.
04:35On the head cut, in the center, if you look at it,
04:39you can see the images of the horses with a mountain lion.
04:44Today Kazakhstan's archaeological finds continue to attract crowds,
04:48both local and international,
04:50becoming powerful symbols of the nation's ancient legacy
