Archaeologists have uncovered a Bronze Age settlement called Semiyarka in Kazakhstan, dating to around 1600 BC, which may have served as a center for trade, governance, and tin bronze production.

The site spans 140 hectares and includes at least 15 structures, a central monumental building, and evidence of early metallurgy, a rare find for the Eurasian Steppe.

While some experts caution that the low density of surface artifacts makes it difficult to confirm it as a “city,” researchers argue that its specialized functions distinguish it from typical mobile pastoralist sites.

The team employed satellite imagery, historical spy photos, and magnetometry to map the settlement before excavation, revealing pottery fragments and metallurgical remains, CNN has reported.

Ongoing digs aim to clarify the population size, duration, and regional connections of Semiyarka, offering new insight into urban life and technology in prehistoric Central Asia.