History of Kazakh bags

A famous archaeological finding – the Golden Man, who was excavated in Kazakhstan in 1970s has enriched our knowledge about the nomad’s costume. In excavations of the Issyk Kurgan, a bag with ochre was found among many other artefacts. Today, it is the most ancient accessory found by domestic researchers. The artefact is dated back to the 5th-4th centuries BC – the Saka era.

The korzhyn was made of sheep wool and was embellished with the ornaments made of painted material. There are different types of korzhyns: for in-laws (kuda-korzhyn)(қудА-қоржЫн), for a bride (kyz-korzhyn), for circumcision ritual (sundet-korzhyn). Today, korzhyn has been replaced by suitcases, backpacks and handbags.