On the Mangyshlak Peninsula, near Aktau, archaeologists have discovered the burial of a noblewoman in the Karakabak necropolis, with metal shoe parts coated in thin gold. The find is estimated to be about 1,500 years old, reports infohub.kz.

Only the metal elements covered with gold have survived from the footwear, but they give the impression that the shoes were entirely made of the precious metal. Along with the shoes, belt and headdress ornaments were found in the grave.

Archaeologists determined that the burial contained a young woman dressed in a ceremonial costume, which apparently was meant to emphasize her high social status. On her head was a headdress decorated with round gold plaques and a diadem of red fabric. The central plaque on the forehead replicated the shape of a gorgoneion—an image of Medusa's head from ancient tradition. Some other gold-covered ornaments are thought to trace back to earlier Scythian traditions.

Notably, the outfit was likely not intended for everyday use: the buckles on the shoes and belt lacked necessary fastenings, suggesting they were made specifically for burial. Such a costume was meant to create the image of a noble person and emphasize the woman's status after death.

The burial dates to the second half of the 5th to the first half of the 6th century. The artifacts are attributed to the so-called Shipovsky horizon, associated with the late Hunnic and post-Hunnic periods. Similar items have previously been found in neighboring Altynkazgan.

Researchers suggest that the gold details might have been produced directly in Karakabak. Traces of metallurgy, jewelry making, glassworking, and pottery have been found in the ancient settlement. This may indicate the existence of local workshops specializing in luxury items for nomadic elites.

Karakabak itself, according to archaeologists, was an important craft and trade center on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea. Trade routes passed through this region, connecting Central Asia, the North Caucasus, the Volga region, the Southern Urals, and other territories.