Kazakhstan Bronze Age City: A Lost Hub of Trade and Craft

In the open grasslands of modern-day Kazakhstan, a Bronze Age settlement named Semiyarka has emerged, potentially serving as a crucial center for exchange and power around 1600 BC. Discovered by an international team, this expansive site, nicknamed "The City of Seven Ravines," spans 140 hectares and features remains of houses and a central monumental building, possibly used for rituals or governance.

The findings, published in the journal Antiquity, highlight the discovery of tin bronze production facilities, a rare find in the Eurasian Steppe. This technology enabled the creation of sturdier tools and materials, significantly advancing capabilities for the time. The settlement's size and location suggest a level of urban sophistication comparable to other contemporary global centers, challenging the prevailing view of the steppe as solely inhabited by mobile pastoral groups.

While some experts debate Semiyarka's classification as a major city due to artifact density, proponents argue its unique nature and services, like metal production, define its urban character. Ongoing excavations are expected to further illuminate Semiyarka's role in prehistoric Eurasia, offering insights into metallurgy, political organization, and economic connectivity within steppe societies.