Coin finds in the archaeological sites of Sary-Arka

Research Article

Abstract

The finds of coins at the archaeological sites of Sary-Arka represent a unique phenomenon that is important for understanding the socio-economic and cultural history of the steppe region of Kazakhstan. Due to the predominance of barter and poorly systematized monetary circulation, coins are rare in this region, which gives the finds special value for scientific analysis. Coins are of particular interest because they show a functional transformation from an economic tool to a ritual symbol. The purpose of this article is to systematize coin finds from archaeological sites of Akmola, Karaganda, Pavlodar, North Kazakhstan and Ulytau regions, as well as their interpretation as elements of monetary circulation and ritual practices. The work uses standard methods of working with sources and scientific publications, including analysis and synthesis. These methods allowed us to identify the chronological, geographical and political features of the distribution of coins. An analysis of 60 coins found in archaeological sites has shown that the most common are the mints of the Uzbek and Zhanibek khans; the main mints are Sarai and Khorezm. Isolated finds of coins of the Timurids and the Bukhara Khanate indicate the preservation of cultural ties in the region in a later period. The discovery of Chagatai coins in burial complexes indicates that the ritual use of coins was not limited to the Golden Horde coinage. The purpose of the study is to trace the development of monetary circulation during the heyday of the Golden Horde and determine the role of coins in the barter system. For the first time, the article presents a consolidated collection of Sary-Arka coin finds recorded in the scientific literature. The results of the study allow us to conclude that the coins in the territories of Sary-Arka did not perform a mass economic function, which confirms the weak development of monetary circulation in conditions of the predominance of barter. At the same time, their regular discovery in funeral complexes, often in strictly defined positions, in the hands of the deceased, under the skull, indicates the transformation of coins into ritual objects. Thus, the coin lost its original economic function and acquired symbolic significance, becoming part of the funeral ritual. This reflects the syncretic nature of the cultural development of the region, in which elements of centralized statehood, such as the Golden Horde coin system, were adapted to the conditions of nomadic culture and integrated into traditional beliefs associated with the afterlife.