At the Intersection of Disciplines: New Data on the Archaeology of the Early Iron Age in Jetisu

This article introduces into scholarly discourse the results of interdisciplinary research on materials from four Early Iron Age kurgans discovered at the Kyzyltas, Dauylbai, and Bostan burial grounds located in the Jetisu region. The mounds of all four studied kurgans are earthen. The investigation established an east-west orientation of the grave pits and a western orientation of the interred individuals. The burial complex of the kurgans is characterized by a variety of grave goods, including a rich assemblage of belt fittings and ceramic vessels. Analysis of the metal objects using a portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (pXRF) allowed for the identification of metal alloy and the determination of probable manufacturing technologies. The origin of all ceramic vessels is associated with the Saka-Wusun cultural tradition, and they were formed using hand-building techniques. Craniological materials from the Bostan and Kyzyltas burial grounds indicate significant morphological heterogeneity within the ancient population. The conducted analysis revealed clear typological differences: the skull from Bostan exhibits pronounced Mongoloid features, while the skull from Kyzyltas demonstrates a mixed Europoid-Mongoloid complex of traits. Overall, the materials studied correspond to the spectrum of morphological variations characteristic of the Saka and Wusun tribes of Jetisu and the Tien Shan foothills. A comprehensive analysis of burial practices and material culture, combined with the results of radiocarbon dating, attributes the studied archaeological sites to the Saka and Wusun cultural-chronological horizons and positions them as an important source for reconstructing cultural and historical processes in the region during the Early Iron Age.