“Animal-Style Art,” and Special Finds at Iron Age Settlements in Southeastern Kazakhstan: Chronology, Trade, and Networks during the Iron Age

Two Iron Age settlements, Tuzusai and Taldy Bulak 2 (ca. 500 BC to 1 CE), located in southeastern Kazakhstan on the Talgar alluvial fan north of Tian Shan range, have yielded a small collection bone, antler/horn, bronze, stone artifacts with an affinity nomadic art first millennium BC. Both settlements date within period late Saka culture. pieces decorative ornamentations zoomorphic imagery: carved fragment images wing ear perforated bone disk carving three birds’ heads. The other include objects associated weaponry or economy, such as two horn psalias (cheek pieces) bronze amulet. A carnelian bead will also be described imported object. These special finds were found occupation floors mud brick houses pit not grave burial contexts. placed stratigraphic sequence settlement sites. method for placing these chronological framework “animal-style art” is through comparisons similar throughout Eurasia—a used Soviet post-Soviet archaeology. results show that functional stylistic elements six indicate part larger world-system trade communication along early Silk Route(s).