This article analyses the religious beliefs of the nomadic peoples of the Southern Aral Sea region – Saka–Massagetae, Sarmatians, Kangly, Huns, and early Turkic ethnic groups – who inhabited the area from the 7th century BCE to the 8th century CE, from a religious studies perspective. Totemism, animism, shamanism and cosmological world–views are examined through the Animal Style art, archaeological finds and ancient written sources. The study demonstrates that the religious outlook of these peoples developed in interaction with neighbouring civilisations and formed the spiritual foundation of subsequent Central Asian cultures.

totemism, animism, shamanism, nomadic religion, Saka-Massagetae, Animal Style, Aral Sea region, cosmological beliefs, primitive religion, Central Asian religious studies.

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