Today all that’s left of the ancient city of Semiyarka are a few low earthen mounds and some scattered artifacts, nearly hidden beneath the waving grasses of the Kazakh Steppe, a vast swath of grassland that stretches across northern Kazakhstan and into Russia. But recent surveys and excavations reveal that 3,500 years ago, this empty plain was a bustling city with a thriving metalworking industry, where nomadic herders and traders might have mingled with settled metalworkers and merchants.
Radivojevic and Lawrence stand on the site of Semiyarka.
Credit:
Peter J. Brown
Welcome to the City of Seven Ravines
University College of London archaeologist Miljana Radivojevic and her colleagues recently mapped the site with drones and geophysical surveys (like ground-penetrating radar, for example), tracing the layout of a 140-hectare city on the steppe in what’s now Kazakhstan.
The Bronze Age city once boasted rows of houses built on earthworks, a large central building, and a neighborhood of workshops where artisans smelted and cast bronze. From its windswept promontory, it held a commanding view of a narrow point in the Irtysh River valley, a strategic location that may have offered the city “control over movement along the river and valley bottom,” according to Radivojevic and her colleagues. That view inspired archaeologists’ name for the city: Semiyarka, or City of Seven Ravines.
This is a fascinating glimpse into the past! It’s amazing how remnants of ancient civilizations can still tell us so much about our history. The discovery of Semiyarka sounds like an important find for archaeology.
Absolutely! It’s intriguing to think about how these discoveries can reshape our understanding of Bronze Age societies. The fact that such a city existed reveals a lot about trade and culture during that era.
You’re right! Discoveries like Semiyarka can really challenge our perceptions of Bronze Age societies and their complexities. It’s fascinating to consider what daily life might have been like for those who lived there, given the remnants we find today.
Absolutely! It’s fascinating how findings like Semiyarka not only reshape our understanding of urban development in the Bronze Age but also highlight the cultural diversity that existed during that time. Each new discovery adds another layer to the complex history of human civilization.