Archaeologists have found an extraordinary 'iPhone' like belt buckle from the grave of a 2137-year old woman named Natasha (by archaeologists) from Ala-Tey necropolis under the Sayan Sea.
As per a report by the Siberian Times, this place is a major man-made water reservoir close to the Sayani Shushenskaya Dam in Russia, which also happens to be its biggest power plant. Usually, it is submerged with up to 56ft of water, but water drains out temporarily during the summer, that's when archaeologists got their hands on the site.?
IHMC RAS/Pavel Leus
The belt buckle dates all the way back to the Xiongnu empire which comprised of a huge population of nomads that ruled the area from 3rd century BC to 1st century AD.?
It was made with a black gemstone jet rock, with precious stones studded to it. The shape and form factor of this black slab is very similar to a smartphone, hence the archaeologists called it an iPhone. One could have easily mistaken it for premium smartphone case too.?
The detailed inlays are created using turquoise, carnelian, mother of pearl. It also included a form of an ancient Chinese coin, which helped the archaeologists denote what era was it from.
According to archaeologist Dr Pavel Leus, "Natasha's' burial with a Hunnu-era (Xiongnu) 'iPhone' remains one of the most interesting at this site. Hers was the only belt decorated with Chinese wuzhu coins which helped us to date it."
Recently, two more partly-mummified prehistoric bodies were found buried with the tools that they might have used on a daily basis. One of them is named 'Sleeping Beauty' (seriously though, what is up with these names?) was found completely dressed in silk.?
IHMC RAS/Pavel Leus
The archaeologists thought she was a priestess, only to figure out later that she actually could have been a leather designer.? Another body that they found was with a spindle and sewing bag, which indicated she could have been a weaver.
Dr Marina Kilunovskaya from the St Petersburg Institute of Material History Culture, who leads the Tuva Archeological Expedition, said This site is a scientific sensation. We are incredibly lucky to have found these burials of rich Hun nomads that were not disturbed by (ancient) grave robbers."