By Meruyert Zhakiya
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In this episode of Voices from Central Asia, we meet renowned Kazakh archaeologist Zainolla Samashev, whose groundbreaking discoveries have redefined Kazakhstan’s ancient past and challenged long-held myths about nomadic civilizations in the region.
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Dr. Samashev’s most celebrated discovery is the Berel tombs in East Kazakhstan, which he uncovered in 1998. A pioneer of the multidisciplinary approach in Kazakh archaeology, he shed new light on the culture and traditions of the ancient Saka people who inhabited what is now Kazakhstan over two thousand years ago.
Another of Dr. Samashev’s remarkable discoveries is the Golden Man unearthed at the Eleke Sazy site in East Kazakhstan — a tomb filled with gold artifacts. The intricate jewellery showcases sophisticated craftsmanship, challenging the notion that the Saka were purely nomadic.
Now in his late 70s, Dr. Samashev shows no signs of slowing down. He continues to write, research, and pursue new archaeological discoveries.
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