Archaeologists find ruins of a Bronze Age city on the Kazakh Steppe

In a remarkable archaeological breakthrough, researchers have uncovered the remnants of a bustling Bronze Age city known as Semiyarka, situated on the Kazakh Steppe. Today, the site is marked only by low earthen mounds and scattered artifacts, largely obscured by the tall grasses of the expansive grasslands that extend across northern Kazakhstan and into Russia. Recent surveys and excavations, led by Miljana Radivojevic from University College London, have employed advanced techniques such as drone mapping and geophysical surveys, including ground-penetrating radar. These efforts have revealed that approximately 3,500 years ago, this now desolate plain was home to a vibrant urban center with a flourishing metalworking industry. It served as a meeting point for nomadic herders and traders, as well as settled artisans and merchants. The findings indicate that the ancient city spanned about 140 hectares and featured an organized layout, including rows of houses built on earthen platforms, a prominent central building, and a dedicated area for workshops where bronze was smelted and cast. Its strategic location on a wind-swept promontory provided a commanding view of a crucial narrow stretch in the Irtysh River valley, which likely allowed for control over trade routes and movement in the region, as noted by Radivojevic and her team. The name Semiyarka, translating to 'City of Seven Ravines,' reflects the site's dramatic topography and historical significance. Knowledge of the city has existed since the early 2000s when declassified images from the US Department of Defense's Corona satellite, taken in 1972, first revealed its kilometer-long earthworks. However, the latest research has illustrated that the city was not only larger but also far more complex than previously understood.