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When Midgets Become National Icons
#1
A Critical Assessment of Archaeological Gender-Bending

In early 1970, Kazakh archeaologists discovered a Saka "prince" in a kugan near Lake Issyk. The kugan was not central, not large (19 meters wide), and not near those considered as "royal" tombs. Due to 4,800 gold artifacts found within the burial, plus an akinakes and sword, the deceased was labeled a royal male despite many indicators the gender was incorrect: two sets of earrings, a kumis beater, plus bronze mirrors and a silver cup (the later two usually signifying a priestess).

The amazing find brought world-attention to Kazkhstan and to the deceased, a supposedly "young" individual, 16 to 18 years old, who stood shoulder-height to a modern man-- or roughly about 5 feet tall in his tip-toes-- the shortest Saka male ever found. Originally dated to the 5th century, a French archaeologist actually speculated this small person was none other than Tomyris. The leader of the Kazakh archaeological team-- Kemel Akishev-- declared the bones were that of a male. In years that followed, other Kazakh archaeologists (Gaini Kussainova, Zhanel Issayeva, Aray Iskakova, and Toremurat Zholaev) opined the deceased was a female. During the lengthy debate, the "prince's" bones disappeared and Kazakh authorities admitted they were "thrown out," the perfect insult to forensic archaeology.

   
A Second Attempt for Historical Accuracy.

The original reconstruction of the Saka individual was historically incorrect, due to overly-small stature and wrong placement of the akinakes. The flub required a second reconstruction of Golden Man. Notice "he" wears an extremely tall hat (only worn by important Saka priestesses), plus we see a woman's kumis beater in "his" left hand. So much for gender accuracy.

The Golden Man continued making news and received the honor of celebrity-status in so-called "archaeological" coffee-table books. Any criticism was overlooked or played-down within a state fueled by extreme nationalism. In late 1991, Kazakhstan became a republic; and in 1992, "when President Nursultan Nazarbayev was planning a trip to New York, and intended to take a copy of the 'Golden Man' as a present, the copy was displayed at a preparatory exhibition." (see Kostiantyn Rakhno, The Ukranian Week, Sept. 17, 2012) At this wonderful gathering, a certain Beken Nurmukhanbetov was officially proclaimed the "discoverer" of this unique find. We have no idea what happened to Kemel Akishev, the original team leader.

   
Beken Nurmukhanbetov, famed Kazakh archaeologist.

Four months after the Golden Man gala, Beken Nurmukhanbetov was appointed Director of the newly established Issyk Historical and Archaeological Museum. Explains Rakhno and implicating Nurmukhanbetov, "After Kazakhstan became independent, its official historical science has been persistently promoting the claim that the Saka were Mongoloid and they were the 'glorious ancestors of the Turkic people.' "

   
Golden Man Pumps Iron.

In the following months, our totally-dead hero arose to new heights, as an imposing statue of the Saka "prince" was raised upon a giant column in Almaty, now well-muscled, totally historically inaccurate, and Very Turkic. After a period of 2,400 years, Golden Man finally attained huge biceps and a broad chest. At the same time, President Nazarbayev created a personal flag with the Golden "Man's" image.  

In 1997, American archaeologist Jeanine Davis-Kimball published an article in the September issue of Archaeology Magazine. She presented a thorough list of cultural and gender anomalies associated with the so-called Saka prince. Other archaeologists either agreed, followed suit, or remained safely quiet. But you can't beat nationalism on its home ground. In today's issue of the Tengri News-- and 46 years after the fact-- reporter Dinara Urazova writes, "Sak[a]s are considered the be ancestors of the Kazakhs, so the finding [of Golden Man] is of both archaeological and historical significance." (actually published on 22.02.2016, which is tomorrow by Maine time in the eastern U.S.)

   
Grasping at Thin Air.

Now here's the juicy news. Recently in 2015, a new Almaty exhibition included our ripping-good chap, the Kazakh National Symbol. Today-- for whatever reason-- Golden Man no longer holds the female kumis beater. His left hand is now empty, it's fingers still bent as if clutching "something." His right hand still carries a whip... which, of course, cannot be related to steppe gender. Finally, the removal of the last vestige of contention.

At 5 feet tall, our small hero is now Totally Manly. To compliment his highness, a new personage has arisen in Kazakh archaeology. She's known as the Golden Shaman or Golden Priestess, who coincidentally (or not) wears a nearly identical and exceedingly tall hat, has plenty of gold geegaws, a silver cup, and two bronze mirrors. Identified as between 15 to 18 years of age, her height has been calculated as 179 cm or 5 feet 6 inches tall-- half a foot taller than Golden Man. Strappingly-big girl, almost manly.  Dodgy Big Grin
Alan J. Campbell

member of Legio III Cyrenaica and the Uncouth Barbarians

Author of:
The Demon's Door Bolt (2011)
Forging the Blade (2012)

"It's good to be king. Even when you're dead!"
             Old Yuezhi/Pazyrk proverb
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#2
(02-22-2016, 03:38 AM)Alanus Wrote: Strappingly-big girl, almost manly.  Dodgy Big Grin

Let's refer to her as Ekhida. Wink
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
Reply
#3
Good idea, Robert! Big Grin
You don't want to meet Ekhida (or one of her pets) in a dark alley.

Based on official Kazakh archaeology and "reconstruction" of Golden Man, I've reached the conclusion Tall-hat Saka suffered from "physical gender inversion"-- males much shorter than women. My theory places them as Homo gnomus, rather than Homo sapiens. This is borne out by Persian rock inscriptions:

   
Here we have a Tall-hat Saka male with ascribed shortness usually applied to Gnomes. I assume the Saka were Lawn Gnomes, considering they were associated with "grass," as opposed to Garden Gnomes who must have been agriculturalists. Recent studies-- in the French film, Amelie-- have shown Gnomish migration patterns, usually in an airplane while accompanied by a stewardess.

If this theory is correct, then Saka priestesses would have been anywhere from 1/2 a foot to 2 feet taller than most kings and princes. Here's a reconstruction of the Golden Priestess:
   

   
Like "physical gender inversion" in Homo gnomus , female hats are taller.

A photo of her silver cup and two bronze mirrors (silver-lined on one side).
   

I think an expert follow-up on "physical gender inversion" should be written, obviously by Jeanine Davis-Kimball, Adrienne Mayor, or Linda Malcor. Angel
Alan J. Campbell

member of Legio III Cyrenaica and the Uncouth Barbarians

Author of:
The Demon's Door Bolt (2011)
Forging the Blade (2012)

"It's good to be king. Even when you're dead!"
             Old Yuezhi/Pazyrk proverb
Reply
#4
(02-25-2016, 06:58 PM)Alanus Wrote: I think an expert follow-up on "physical gender inversion" should be written, obviously by Jeanine Davis-Kimball, Adrienne Mayor, or Linda Malcor. Angel

naughty. Wink
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
Reply


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