The Department of Emergency Situations is responsible for preventing, conducting and supervising the procedure for emergency situations resulting from natural disasters and catastrophes in Kazakhstan. During a routine inspection in the Akmola region, its employees came across a moss-covered stone from which a face was looking at them. They quickly assessed that the bas-relief must be ancient and called in archaeologists.
When scientists arrived at the site, the stone face amazed them. Although the average person does not associate Kazakhstan with great discoveries, numerous excavations are being conducted there, which arouse considerable interest among the international archaeological community, because they reveal traces of ancient civilizations. Despite the numerous traces of human presence in this area for thousands of years, this is the first time such a discovery has been made. The obvious question that appeared in the heads of archaeologists: who and when carved the face into the rock? Finding the answer will be quite a challenge.
Determining the age of the stone face has proven very difficult, as the isotope dating method cannot be used here. Scientists hope that after excavations are opened at this site, it will be possible to find organic remains near the relief, which would allow the use of radiocarbon dating.
The first examination of the find led to various theories among archaeologists. Some believe that the sculpture dates back to the Bronze Age (which would make it over 3,000 years old). Others believe that the find dates back to the Middle Ages, and there are those who believe that it may be even younger.
Quoted by The Astana Times, Sergey Yarygin from the Alkey Margulan Institute points out that although there have been no such discoveries in Kazakhstan so far, similar ancient bas-reliefs have already been found in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. At the same time, the researcher notes that stone faces of this type were created at the beginning of the Iron Age in southern Siberia, as well as in the Middle Ages in areas where Turkish influence reached.
The face carved in the rock poses problems not only in determining the time in which it was created. It also remains a mystery who it belonged to. The face carved in the rock was preserved for posterity, which may indicate that it belonged to a prominent person. It could have been a ruler, an aristocrat, a chieftain or a high-ranking priest. However, the face could just as easily have represented the image of a god – or rather a goddess – worshipped in these areas. Considering that the face has a small mouth and slender features, scientists hypothesize that it could have belonged to a woman.
The discovery is under the supervision of the relevant services and awaits further archaeological research.