Archaeologists have made an exciting discovery in Kazakhstan: a vast Bronze Age settlement that might have been a significant city around 3,600 years ago. This site, named Semiyarka, covers 346 acres (140 hectares). For comparison, it’s more than four times larger than other villages from that time.
Recent research highlights that Semiyarka is the first in its region found to have a specific focus on metallurgy and tin-bronze production. This finding was reported in the journal Antiquity.
Miljana Radivojević, an archaeologist from University College London, stated, “Semiyarka transforms our understanding of steppe societies.” She explained that nomadic communities could build and maintain organized settlements focused on large-scale metal production.
Located on a bluff above the Irtysh River, Semiyarka commands a view of the surrounding valleys. This strategic position hints that the city might have had control over trade and movement along the river. Researchers fondly dubbed it the “City of Seven Ravines.”
During their work at the site, the team utilized drones and dug into various areas. They found two rows of earthworks, or large mounds of soil, which created spaces that look like individual households. At the center, a larger structure appeared, potentially used for rituals or governance.
Nearby, they uncovered an area rich in metal artifacts and slag, indicating it was a hub for metalworking. This area marks an early instance of industrial production, particularly of copper and tin bronze, which was essential to the Bronze Age economy.
The ores used for crafting these artifacts likely came from the Altai Mountains, near the borders of Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia, and China. Semiyarka’s location may have made it a vital center for trade in the region.
Dan Lawrence, a landscape archaeologist from Durham University, noted that the scale and structure of Semiyarka differ greatly from the simpler camps and villages typical of the region during that period. He believes this settlement demonstrates that Bronze Age communities were creating planned, sophisticated settlements similar to their counterparts in more urbanized parts of the world.
Both ongoing and future excavations may shed more light on Semiyarka’s role within its broader context.
For more detailed historical insights, you can explore the findings published in Antiquity here.
