Ancient settlement found in Kazakhstan

Archaeologists have discovered an ancient settlement on the bank of the Ishim River in Akmola oblast, Tengrinews reports citing the Oblast Department of Culture.

The settlement of Kursk is located on the right bank and covers the area of 45 thousand square meters. It dates back to the Middle Ages.

The archeological expedition was held by the Center for Preservation and Use of Historical and Cultural Heritage under the aegis of the Akmola Oblast Department of Culture. They were making archaeological exploration works in the north-eastern and south-eastern parts of Yesil District in Akmola Oblast when they found the ancient settlement and a total of 45 items of archeological significance. All the items were taken to the archeological museum of Akmola Oblast for further study.   

Two millstones and remains of a mortar were most valuable items among the archeological finds. The two stone discs of circular shape were discovered during excavations in one of the mounds in the settlement. "The items were discovered in the part of the settlement located closer to the river. Those are millstones," the archeologists said.

The finds were so scarce because "the excavated mound must have been looted during development of virgin lands" by the Soviets in the 1960s, they said. A chip in the side of one of the stone discs, as if hit by a plough, confirms this version.

"The millstones are granite, one dark granite and one light granite. The items supposedly belong to the Middle Ages," the centre's researches said. What makes the find so special is that no similar items had been discovered on this territory before.

Writing by Dinara Urazova, editing by Tatyana Kuzmina