Major Bronze Age City Unearthed in Kazakhstan’s Steppe

An international team of archaeologists has uncovered the remains of a significant Bronze Age settlement named Semiyarka in the Kazakh steppe. This discovery, announced on November 17, 2025, marks a pivotal moment in our understanding of urban life and metal production in prehistoric Eurasia. The site, located above the Irtysh River in northeastern Kazakhstan, spans an impressive 140 hectares and is considered one of the most remarkable archaeological findings in the region for decades.

### Discovery of Semiyarka

Semiyarka, aptly nicknamed the “City of Seven Ravines,” thrived around 1600 BC and showcases an advanced form of planned settlement. Unlike the typical scattered camps associated with mobile steppe communities, Semiyarka features rectilinear earthworks, enclosed household compounds, and a central monumental building that likely served ritual or governance purposes.

The archaeological team, which includes experts from University College London (UCL), Durham University, and Toraighyrov University in Kazakhstan, has also identified a probable industrial zone dedicated to the production of copper and tin bronze. This finding is particularly significant as it suggests that the metallurgical efforts at Semiyarka were conducted on an unprecedented scale in this area. Excavations and geophysical surveys have uncovered crucibles, slag, and tin bronze artifacts, providing the first solid evidence of complex production systems rather than small-scale workshops.

### Strategic Importance

The strategic location of Semiyarka is noteworthy. Perched on a promontory that controls movement along the Irtysh River valley, it was not only a production hub but also likely served as a center of exchange and regional power. Its proximity to major copper and tin deposits in the Altai Mountains may have positioned Semiyarka as a crucial link in the extensive Bronze Age metal trade networks connecting Central Asia with other regions.

Dr. Viktor Merz and Dr. Ilya Merz, both from the Joint Research Center for Archaeological Studies at Toraighyrov University, led the investigation. Their collaboration with Dr. Miljana Radivojević from UCL and Professor Dan Lawrence from Durham University has used advanced methods to reconstruct the social and technological landscape of Bronze Age Kazakhstan.

### Insights from the Findings

Dr. Radivojević emphasized the transformative nature of the findings, stating, “Semiyarka transforms our understanding of steppe societies. It demonstrates that mobile communities were capable of building and sustaining permanent, well-organized settlements centered on large-scale metallurgical production, including the elusive manufacture of tin bronze.” This type of production has long been absent from the archaeological record of the region.

Professor Lawrence added, “The scale and structure of Semiyarka are unlike anything else we’ve seen in the steppe zone. The rectilinear compounds and the potentially monumental building show that Bronze Age communities here were developing sophisticated, planned settlements similar to those of their contemporaries in more traditionally ‘urban’ parts of the ancient world.”

Reflecting on the long-term research at Semiyarka, Dr. Merz remarked, “I have been surveying Semiyarka for many years, but this collaboration has truly elevated our understanding of the site. Working with colleagues from UCL and Durham has brought new methods and perspectives.”

The discovery of Semiyarka stands as a testament to the urban ingenuity that existed in the open grasslands of Central Asia. It highlights the capability of ancient civilizations to create complex, organized urban centers, rivaling those in more established regions of the ancient world. As further excavations commence, there is anticipation regarding what additional insights this remarkable site will reveal about Bronze Age life in the steppes of Kazakhstan.

For more information, refer to the journal *Antiquity*.