Massive Warrior Statue Discovered By A Potato Farmer In Kyrgyzstan
Ancient OriginsFarmer Erkin Turbaev found the statue while plowing his field and initially mistook it for a large rock.
A potato farmer in Kyrgyzstan broke one of the most exciting history news stories of 2022 when he stumbled upon a large statue while plowing his field near the Northern Tian Shan mountains.
Though the farmer, Erkin Turbaev, initially believed that he’d merely hit a rock, he’d actually struck an ancient — and unusually large — balbal statue. The nearly 10-foot statue depicts a warrior wearing a helmet and armor, with one hand folded across its chest, and another holding a sword.
Turbaev raved that the statue, which was likely used by ancient people to memorialize their dead, was “a great historical find for this village.” A number of similar statues have also been found in the same region, which suggests that this practice was once widespread in the area.
Indeed, statues were often erected by nomadic Turks around the 6th and 7th centuries in present-day Kyrgyzstan. Historians suspect that these monuments were either meant to honor dead warriors or to depict a warrior’s dead enemies, who would then “serve” them in the afterlife.
This statue, with details like a pendant and inscriptions on its head, was probably erected for someone of significance. But historians aren’t sure when exactly it was made, or who it was meant for.
