Archaeologists working at the medieval settlement of Zhankent in Kazakhstan’s Kyzylorda region have uncovered a collection of valuable artifacts that could provide fresh insights into life in one of the region’s most important ancient cities.

Excavations are currently focused on the Shahristan, the residential heart of the historic settlement located in the Kazaly district. As researchers continue to explore the site’s cultural layers, they have discovered ceramic vessel fragments, asyks (traditional knucklebones), and animal remains, The Caspian Post reports via Kazinform.

According to the regional center for the protection of historical and cultural heritage, the findings offer important clues about the daily lives of Zhankent’s residents. The ceramic fragments are expected to help researchers better understand local craftsmanship, household traditions, and manufacturing techniques, while the animal bones may reveal details about diet, livestock breeding, and economic activities.

Experts say every artifact has been carefully documented, measured, and cataloged for future study.

The discoveries are expected to shed new light on the settlement’s social, cultural, and economic development during the medieval period, when Zhankent served as a significant center along ancient trade routes.

The recovered items will undergo laboratory testing and scientific analysis, potentially unlocking more secrets about the people who once lived in the centuries-old city.