2,000-year-old Jewelry and Mirror from Enigmatic Kangyu Culture Found

Archaeologists in Kazakhstan have unearthed significant historical artifacts from three burial mounds in the Tolebaitobe cemetery, Turkestan region. Among these finds is a remarkable bronze mirror from the Han dynasty, shedding light on the little known of Kangyu state and its connections with powerful empires of the time. 

The excavation of the Tolebaitobe cemetery in Karaaspanskogo rural district, of the Turkestan region of southern Kazakhstan revealed three burial mounds, which have provided a treasure trove of artifacts. The find has been reported in a statement by the Turkestan regional government. One of the most notable discoveries is a bronze mirror found in a woman’s grave. This mirror, dated to the Han dynasty, indicates the high social status of the deceased. Such items were typically reserved for the wealthy and influential. 

The mirror is round with a hole in the center for threading, and its front side features eight arches. Similar mirrors have been previously discovered in Tillya Tepe, Afghanistan, and in the burial sites of Sarmatian kings in the Southern Urals, as well as in the tombs of the nomadic Xiongnu (Hunnu) from the Shanyu Asian Empire. These connections highlight the extensive trade and cultural exchange along the Silk Road during the Kangyu era. 

The Kangyu state, was a Central Asian polity that existed from the 2nd century BC to the 4th century AD. It was located in the Syr Darya basin, encompassing parts of modern-day Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan. The Kangyu people were known for their skills in horseback riding and archery, and engaged in trade and cultural exchanges along the Silk Road. They maintained a semi-nomadic lifestyle, although they established several fortified cities. The Kangju state played a significant role in the region’s history, influencing neighboring tribes and states through both warfare and diplomacy. 

The researchers found that two of the three burial mounds had been plundered in ancient times, but the third mound contained valuable relics that have withstood the test of time. Among the discoveries were a jug, the bronze mirror, a fibula bone used as a pin in the Roman period, earrings, beads, a shoe, a belt buckle, and a bird-hunting arrowhead. 

The earrings, inlaid with gold, turquoise, and noble ruby, were made in the polychrome style and shaped like the moon, reflecting the artistry of the period. The decoration’s lower edge, resembling grape seeds and sunlight, points to the intricate craftsmanship associated with the Sarmatian world and Kangyu culture during the 1st century BC to the 1st century AD. 

The artifacts unearthed at Tolebaitobe offer a glimpse into the Kangyu state’s relations with other major empires. The Kangyu, which included Asiatic Sarmatians, Xiongnu (Hunnu), Kangyu, and later Saki, maintained diplomatic and trade connections with Rome, Byzantium, the Kushan Empire, and China. This interaction facilitated the exchange of goods, ideas, and culture along the Great Silk Road, contributing to the flourishing of large cities in the region.