The gold man

In 1970 at a distance of 50 kilometers form Almaty a sensational discovery was made during an archaeological excavation. Scientists found the remains of a saks warrior in gold clothes in a burial mound six meters high and sixty meters in circumference. There were more than four thousand pieces of ornaments made of gold near him. They were sewed on clothes, footwear and cap. Some gold rings, figures, bronze and gold weapon, and various jugs were found nearby. It is supposed that it is a descendant of an outstanding saks leader or a member of a king’s family. The find is dated back to the 600-500s B.C. Comparing the finds in other burials some suggestions have recently appeared that it is the remains of a young woman.

The find testifies that the tribes settled in the territory of modern Kazakhstan already had a high level of culture and social relations during that period. Different things made form bronze and iron were actively used in everyday life. Nomadic cattle breeding gave large opportunities for material wealth production. It resulted in an intensive accumulation of wealth. Appearing at that time the saks tribe aristocracy tried to emphasize their authority by constructing enormous mounds over their tombs. It was done for the purpose of immortalizing the memory of themselves and their wealth. The Saks dressed their dead rulers in rich clothes and the bodies were set in the monumental burial chambers over which a large mound was spread.

The fact of discovering a silver bowl with an inscription in the Issyksky Mound testifies a high level of saks’ development. These strange letters and signs have not been interpreted yet. The art of Writing as it is known is the evidence of state power development.

The treasures form this mound have provoked great interest and have gotten wide popularity. Just after the find “the Gold man” on winged snow leopard has become one of the national symbols of Kazakhstan. The figure of this knight have been put up in many cities of the country. One of them crowns the Monument of Independence in the main square of Almaty. A young warrior on the back of a winged snow leopard is also represented in the Kazakhstan President’s Standard.