Archeologists find unique golden bear figurine in ancient Kazakh grave

Archeologists discovered a small golden bear figurine in a looted ancient burial mound at the Karagaily site in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The site dates back to the 4th or 3rd century BCE and belonged to the Saka, a nomadic culture known for elaborate gold craftsmanship and a distinct animal style. The golden ornament likely served as part of a ceremonial headpiece or clothing decoration. Kazakh authorities state that they have not found a similar item in the country before.

While previous looters emptied much of the grave's treasures centuries ago, this specific piece remained underground until the recent excavation. The team also found a high number of human remains, which may belong to four adults and three children. This discovery is unusual because mounds of this size typically contain remains for only one or two people.

Researchers plan to conduct anthropological analyses to confirm the exact number of people and the circumstances of the burial before displaying the artifacts at the Almaty Museum.