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Firefighters Went on a Routine Patrol—and Stumbled Upon a Breathtaking Ancient Face

created: Jan. 16, 2026, 3:07 p.m. | updated: Jan. 19, 2026, 12:34 p.m.

Here’s what you’ll learn when you read this story:Modern Kazakhstan is built upon a foundation of different cultures, khanates, and empires across history. A routine fire patrol, operating some 200 miles northwest of the country's capital, Astana, discovered a nearly foot-long face carving in a granite boulder. Although experts have analyzed the carving, it's possible that its origins could rest in the ancient Bronze Age or even Turkish cultures dated to the medieval period. According to local news sources, the department immediately contacted the country’s Ministry for Emergency Situations as well as the local museum. All of these discoveries uncover the fascinating fabric of history that pervades the largest country within the Eurasian Steppe.

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