Scientists Discover Prehistoric Treasure in Remote Siberia That Was Impossible for Humans to Reach

Much of Russia, especially Siberia, is covered by a layer of permafrost that covers two-thirds of the country. This layer has preserved many ancient fossils and artifacts from the civilizations that once flourished here. However, due to climate change and exploitation by treasure hunters, some of this frozen soil is gradually melting or being dug up, revealing secrets hidden deep underground.

Siberia was once home to advanced civilizations, although it was invaded many times by other empires, but most of the conquerors could not survive the harsh conditions here and were forced to leave. Priceless artifacts from that period, symbolizing the wealth and prosperity of these civilizations, were buried under the frozen soil, and are now being excavated in an extremely well-preserved state after centuries.

One of the most notable discoveries was the city of Yakutsk, deep in the icy region and the capital of the Saka Republic. It is a strategic location and a source of valuable natural resources such as diamonds, gold, and oil. In the 1970s, construction workers here stumbled upon chests filled with jewelry, silver coins, and other valuables, believed to date back to the 18th century, the Russian Empire. The treasures may have been hidden by wealthy merchants during times of unrest, such as invasions or the October Revolution of 1917.

In addition, in the Pazyryk Valley in Tuva, archaeologists discovered an ancient tomb in 2001 containing two skeletons and more than 1,000 pieces of gold and bronze jewelry from the 5th century BC. Remarkably, the tomb was completely untouched by grave robbers, unlike many others in the region.

The intricate animal ornaments show the sophisticated artistry and spiritual beliefs of this ancient culture. The artifacts were sent to the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg for study and then returned to Tuva for display.

The Ural Mountains, also famous for their majestic landscapes and rich mineral resources, have been the site of ancient treasures from the Perm culture. The artifacts, including bronze and silver figurines and small jewelry, are in the Perm Animal Style, with intricate animal details, and date from the 8th to 3rd centuries BC. These finds show that the Perm civilization was far from mundane and had close ties to spiritual beliefs.

In addition to the mountain relics, many rivers in Siberia, especially the more than 3,000-mile-long Lena River, have also been the site of great treasures. In the 1880s, gold miners discovered a treasure trove of 18th-century gold coins, cementing Siberia’s historical status as a center of trade and wealth during the Russian Empire. Similarly, archaeologists have discovered silver coins from the 13th-14th century Mongol period in Western Siberia, demonstrating the empire’s influence on the region.

Another recent discovery in the Altai Mountains has shed further light on Siberia’s ancient civilization. In 2018, a farmer in the Krasnoyarsk region stumbled upon a 2,000-year-old tomb filled with bronze weapons and artifacts from the Tagar culture, known for its metallurgy and nomadic warriors. The discovery of these items suggests that Central Siberia’s advanced trade and technological networks were linked to other civilizations in Central Asia.

These discoveries not only shed light on Siberia’s rich cultural history, but also testify to the development of advanced civilizations in the region, which had been buried and forgotten for centuries under layers of ice.