Archaeologists find unique gold bear figurine in ancient Kazakh burial mound

Archaeologists in Kazakhstan discovered a 2,200-year-old gold bear figurine inside a massive burial mound at the Karagaily burial ground near the city of Almaty.

The figurine depicts a bear standing on its hind legs while holding a pot-like container between its front paws. Experts believe the artifact served as a component of a headdress, as holes at its base suggest it was sewn onto a garment.

The excavation revealed that the burial mound dates back to the Saka period, a time associated with nomadic horseback-riding people on the Eurasian Steppe. While other gold animal crafts have been found in the region, this specific bear sculpture is the first of its kind in Kazakhstan. Researchers say the find helps them trace cultural connections across Eurasia, spanning from the Black Sea region to the Altai Mountains.

The site also contained an unusually high number of human remains for a single mound of its size. While similar mounds typically house one or two people, researchers suspect this specific site served as the final resting place for four adults and three children. The mound measures roughly 8 feet tall and 85 feet wide. Archaeologists found that ancient looters had previously entered the site, leaving behind a 10-foot looting pit and scattering pieces of Saka pottery.

The Almaty Museums Association plans to involve anthropologists to determine the exact number of people buried there and will eventually display some of the artifacts at the Almaty Museum.