Archaeologists have discovered a complete set of armour in archaeological excavations in Kank, Uzbekistan. The discovery reveals secrets of Central Asian warriors and rituals. The archaeological discovery in Uzbekistan revolutionises the study of ancient cultures. During excavations at the archaeological monument of Kank, in the Tashkent region, researchers discovered a complete set of armour, dating from the 5th-7th centuries AD, next to the remains of a monumental temple. This discovery provides new clues about the interaction between nomadic peoples and urban societies on the border of the ancient kingdom of Chach.
Unique armour in Central Asia
The artefact, made of articulated metal plates and the remains of a decorated belt, was found in an underground chamber in the eastern part of the temple. You may be interested in Historic discovery: thousands of tonnes of gold found at over 1900 metres above sea level opens in a new page You may be interested in Discovery of the century: dozens of tonnes of gold found 2000 metres below the sea, all belonging to a single province opens in a new page
Experts believe that it belonged to a high-ranking warrior and, after use, became a ritual object. Its location suggests that it could have been an offering to a protective deity or part of a military ceremony. What makes this discovery exceptional is its state of preservation: it is one of the few complete suits of armour found in Central Asia from this period. According to archaeologists, the armour’s manufacture reflects the advanced metallurgical tradition in the Syr Darya basin, with Persian and Sogdian influences adapted to the nomadic lifestyle. Unprecedented discovery | Armour of a warrior who lived 1,500 years ago found in archaeological excavations
Kanka: city between cultures
The archaeological site of Kanka is one of the oldest urban centres in the Tashkent oasis. Inhabited from the 4th century BC to the 12th century AD, it has been identified by classical sources as Antioch of Yaksartes, a Seleucid colony. Its strategic location made it a meeting point between the Hellenistic, Iranian and Turkish worlds. The city had walls, temples, workshops and warehouses, which attests to intense cultural exchange. Excavations have revealed that the large temple where the armour was found was initially a Zoroastrian sanctuary and, a few centuries later, after the Islamic expansion in the Chach valley, it became a mosque. This overlap shows how beliefs changed without erasing the sacredness of the place.
More than a military find
In addition to the armour, fragments of pottery, bones and red pigments were found. The team used 3D photogrammetry to document every detail and recreate the context of the burial. This data will help us understand whether the armour was part of a ritual or represented the symbolic tomb of a warrior. The discovery coincides with an important period: the transition from the rule of the Hephthalites to the expansion of the first Turkic khanates. At that time, Kanka served as a defensive stronghold and commercial centre on the border with Sassanid Iran. You may be interested in The world’s smallest dinosaur footprints found, revolutionising history opens in a new tab You may be interested in Unprecedented discovery: underwater pyramid older than the Egyptian pyramids found opens in a new tab The armour found in Kanké not only reveals details of late antique military technology, but also the spiritual side of the societies that inhabited Central Asia. This discovery confirms that Kanké was a crossroads where warriors, traders and beliefs coexisted for over a thousand years.
