Comments on: Burial Mounds Preserve Culture of Ancient Nomads in Kazakhstan http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/aroundthemall/2012/08/burial-mounds-preserve-culture-of-ancient-nomads-in-kazakhstan/ A new Smithsonian blog covering scenes and sightings from the Smithsonian museums and beyond. Tue, 21 May 2013 21:50:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4 By: Kevin McElroy http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/aroundthemall/2012/08/burial-mounds-preserve-culture-of-ancient-nomads-in-kazakhstan/comment-page-1/#comment-9512 Kevin McElroy Thu, 11 Oct 2012 04:39:37 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/aroundthemall/?p=29574#comment-9512 Irish mythology is one of the oldest extant mythologies in Europe - 3000 years. This literature claims that Ireland was populated, or invaded, by a wave of migrations of various tribes of a "priestly and magical people", and expressly states that their origin was from Scythia, now known as Kazakhstan. I think this has never been investigated because it just sounds so outlandish, but why would they claim such a bizarre and specific thing? There were many celtic tribes in Kazakhstan, and red-haired traders have been found buried in Western China. While there is no direct archaeological evidence to prove an opposite migration westward, it seems to me that there is one compelling link: the incredibly fanciful gold ornamentation of the otherwise very primitive Irish. It's complexity, form, and imagery seem amazingly similar to Kazakh goldwork. And how did such a primitive people develop such a high art? I think a comparative study is justified of ancient Irish and Kazakh goldwork, as a way of possibly lending credence to this historically claimed migration. There are many other literary mentions from ancient historians of visitations to Ireland or Hibernia, which at the time was believed to be a magical and spiritual place at the "edge of the world", a celtic Valhalla of sorts, the merging point of heaven and earth. A people as ever-wandering and determinedly unrooted as the Kazakhs would eventually develop a belief that they were not earth-bound, that their true home could only be in a spiritual realm. Maybe a group of these landlocked people heard of this magical place in the ocean at the edge of the world and decided that that was where they truly belonged? Irish mythology is one of the oldest extant mythologies in Europe – 3000 years. This literature claims that Ireland was populated, or invaded, by a wave of migrations of various tribes of a “priestly and magical people”, and expressly states that their origin was from Scythia, now known as Kazakhstan. I think this has never been investigated because it just sounds so outlandish, but why would they claim such a bizarre and specific thing? There were many celtic tribes in Kazakhstan, and red-haired traders have been found buried in Western China. While there is no direct archaeological evidence to prove an opposite migration westward, it seems to me that there is one compelling link: the incredibly fanciful gold ornamentation of the otherwise very primitive Irish. It’s complexity, form, and imagery seem amazingly similar to Kazakh goldwork. And how did such a primitive people develop such a high art? I think a comparative study is justified of ancient Irish and Kazakh goldwork, as a way of possibly lending credence to this historically claimed migration. There are many other literary mentions from ancient historians of visitations to Ireland or Hibernia, which at the time was believed to be a magical and spiritual place at the “edge of the world”, a celtic Valhalla of sorts, the merging point of heaven and earth. A people as ever-wandering and determinedly unrooted as the Kazakhs would eventually develop a belief that they were not earth-bound, that their true home could only be in a spiritual realm. Maybe a group of these landlocked people heard of this magical place in the ocean at the edge of the world and decided that that was where they truly belonged?

]]> By: anne murray http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/aroundthemall/2012/08/burial-mounds-preserve-culture-of-ancient-nomads-in-kazakhstan/comment-page-1/#comment-9430 anne murray Wed, 12 Sep 2012 13:42:41 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/aroundthemall/?p=29574#comment-9430 I still believe in the supernatural, even in this day and age. The horse you have shown to us is stunning. I still believe in the supernatural, even in this day and age. The horse you have shown to us is stunning.

]]> By: turquoise palace http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/aroundthemall/2012/08/burial-mounds-preserve-culture-of-ancient-nomads-in-kazakhstan/comment-page-1/#comment-9381 turquoise palace Mon, 27 Aug 2012 05:48:44 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/aroundthemall/?p=29574#comment-9381 This is really amazing and beautiful.The region’s semi-arid climate has provided the perfect temperature and humidity in the ground’s permafrost for the preservation of rare organic artifacts. This will be really amazing to visit these places. This is really amazing and beautiful.The region’s semi-arid climate has provided the perfect temperature and humidity in the ground’s permafrost for the preservation of rare organic artifacts. This will be really amazing to visit these places.

]]> By: Judith Wood http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/aroundthemall/2012/08/burial-mounds-preserve-culture-of-ancient-nomads-in-kazakhstan/comment-page-1/#comment-9375 Judith Wood Fri, 24 Aug 2012 07:04:47 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/aroundthemall/?p=29574#comment-9375 I would love to see horses that were extravagantly decorated. It is amazing how the ancient people believes in supernatural things. I don't know if up to now there are still people who believe in supernatural powers. But I still couldn't get over with how beautiful they decorate these horses. I would love to see horses that were extravagantly decorated.

It is amazing how the ancient people believes in supernatural things. I don’t know if up to now there are still people who believe in supernatural powers.

But I still couldn’t get over with how beautiful they decorate these horses.

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