Archaeologists study ancient temple of Kangui era in Turkistan region

An ancient temple complex has been discovered in the Turkistan region. The religious structure features sun-ray architecture and consists of several rooms and corridors. Stone tools and numerous ritual items, such as ceramic bowls, incense burners, and millstones, have been found, indicating that sacrifices were performed at the site. According to scholars, this is the only temple of its kind in Kazakhstan offering insight into the beliefs and rituals of the state residents. Some artifacts depict lizards, rams, and even what resembles an Asian rhino. Additionally, thousands of ceramic fragments have been found on the temple slopes.

«Here we record one of the most ancient and obscure ritual actions, when agricultural tools such as grain grinders, millstones, ceramics and various graters are destroyed and scattered across a hill. There is an incredible amount of these items. I assume it may be connected with an ancient cult, where destruction is believed to bring about prosperity and growth,» said archaeologist Alexander Podushkin.

 

Near the temple, archaeologists have uncovered several burial sites with hundreds of burial mounds, which they believe were used to bury entire families, along with their jewelry and kitchen utensils. This represents a single complex where people lived and prayed over the centuries.

«These burial mounds are unique; most of the ancient tombs have been looted. I am holding a female amulet made of alabaster. In those ancient times, people believed that they would use all these items in the afterlife,» said archaeologist Gulmira Stamkulova.

 

Work at the complex will continue. Experts say that discovering artifacts from the Kangui state period, especially from sites like the temple complex and burial vaults, is a great success for domestic science. All findings will be transferred to the Central State Museum of Kazakhstan.