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BR22082476 Historical and cultural heritage of the Kazakh Altai Ancient and Middle Ages: archaeological research, preservation, 3D digitalization and museumification projects

Head of work:

Kariyev Eldos Maksatovich (PhD)

Author ID в Scopus 57196192516

ORCID ID 0000-0003-0781-7497

The project involves interdisciplinary studies of different cultures, as well as effective measures for the preservation and museumification of monuments, 4 districts and the territory of the Ridder city. As part of the above-mentioned research, the project, firstly, aims at the academic study of monuments. Secondly, it is planned to implement several important measures and actions of a protective, preventive and cultural-educational nature for the preservation and popularization of historical-cultural heritage. Thirdly, a detailed archaeological reconnaissance will be carried out in these areas to search for settlements, funeral-memorial monuments and to compile, if possible, a complete register of archaeological monuments. As part of the protection, popularization and partly commercialization of the HCH, it is planned to create projects for digitalization and museumification of the most remarkable monuments. The planned research is both intersectoral and interdisciplinary in nature with the collaboration of such branches of humanities and natural sciences as history, physics, biology, genetics, anthropology, geodesy and many others, led by archaeology.

Purpose.
Interdisciplinary research of the Kazakh Altai archaeological monuments in the context of studying a wide range of ancient and medieval communities cultural genesis issues, conducting a complex of protective measures to save and preserve the historical-cultural heritage, development of projects for monuments digitalization and museumification.

To achieve these goals, the following tasks are set:

- carrying out a complex of scientific works in archival and library collections;

- carrying out a detailed reconnaissance within 4 districts and the territory of the Ridder city;

- studies of settlement and funerary monuments;

- conducting an annual complex of laboratory and cameral studies;

- detailed comparative-historical analysis and interpretation of the data obtained based on studies;

- implementation a complex of protective and preventive measures set aimed at protecting historical and cultural heritage;

- annual introduction of the obtained results complex into scientific circulation by publishing articles and reports:
    - at least 1 (one) article or review in a peer-reviewed scientific publication having a CiteScore percentile in the Scopus database of at least 35 (thirty-five);
    - at least 2 (two) articles and (or) reviews in peer-reviewed foreign and (or) domestic publications recommended by CQAFSHE;

- it is also planned to make presentations on the results of scientific research on the project at international and republican conferences;

- coverage of the progress and results of the work in the republican and local media and in world social networks;

- preparation and submission of interim and final scientific and other reports on the annual research results;

- publication of the collective monograph;

- publication of a Guidebook;

- preparation of 3D models based on the results of digitalization of the most presentable archaeological monuments;

- development of projects for museumification of archaeological monuments selected based on the results of field work;

- organization and holding of an international scientific and practical conference based on the results of three years of research in online format.

The program implementation will allow to achieve several important results and will cause a positive response in the domestic and foreign scientific community:

- based on the results of the work, extensive material on the epochs of antiquity and the Middle Ages of Altai and Eurasia will be collected in the archival funds of the country and abroad, an electronic database will be created;

- according to the results of scientific work, 58 archaeological monuments of different sizes and categories will be investigated;

- within the four major administrative units of the East Kazakhstan Region will be identified new monuments of settled culture and funerary and memorial monuments, taken into account and under state protection;

- a complex of protective prophylactic and preventive measures will be implemented, as a result of which hundreds of unique archaeological monuments will be preserved, the threat of destruction will be eliminated;

- unique samples of material culture will be obtained, preserved and restored, characterizing the economy, way of life, religious and cult beliefs, worldview and culture of the ancient and medieval population of the Kazakh Altai;

- based on the results of the project for 2023–2025, at least 1 (one) article or review will be published in a peer–reviewed scientific publication indexed in the Social Science Citation Index or Arts and Humanities Citation Index of the Web of Science database and (or) having a CiteScore percentile in the Scopus database of at least 35 (thirty-five);

- at least 2 (two) articles and (or) reviews in peer-reviewed foreign and (or) domestic publications recommended by CQAFSHE;

- a reference book will be published;

- 3D models will be created and projects of museumification of the most remarkable monuments of the Kazakh Altai will be developed;

- a fundamental collective monograph will be published;

- an international conference on the research results will be held with the involvement of a wide range of domestic and world scientists, in an online format;

- the scientific results obtained during the program implementation will make a significant contribution to solving the key problems of the ancient and medieval history of the Kazakh Altai existing in domestic science;

- defense of the results of the implementation of the program at the international level (publication of monographs, articles and reports), wide coverage in the media and in social networks will contribute to the dissemination of the results of the work among potential users: the community of scientists, the general public and will have a positive impact on the scientific image of the country;

- the results of research under the program can be used in the preparation of scientific papers, university special courses and school textbooks on history, archeology, ethnology and cultural studies;

- the results of the program will be used as an auxiliary tool for patriotic education of schoolchildren, students, cadets of military educational institutions (continuity of generations in military courage) and many others;

- the archaeological collections obtained during the research will replenish the funds and expositions of the Republic of Kazakhstan museums, which will promote the popularization of the past heritage among fellow citizens and familiarize foreign guests with the rich history of the country;

- the project implementation will make a tangible contribution to the promotion and dissemination of key ideas of national programs and program articles;

- the project implementation will contribute to the close integration of natural sciences and humanities;

- the studied monuments will be included in paid sightseeing and tourist routes and this will be one of the examples of research results commercialization;

- the program implementation has a highly positive socio-economic, scientific and technical, multiplicative effect;

- the implementation of the program will have a significant impact on the growth of the country's authority in the international arena.

The scientific staff of the "Berel" State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve visited Istanbul, Turkey, from April 22 to 27, 2025, as part of the grant project of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, titled "AP23486716 – The Sign System and Symbols of the Altai Kazakhs." The purpose of the visit was to identify the preserved symbols among Kazakhs who migrated from Altai to Turkey.

During the trip, the team visited the Kazakh Turks Foundation (Kazak Türkleri Vakfı) in the Zeytinburnu district of Istanbul, where they interviewed local elders and Saadet Pınar Yıldırım, the General Director of the Turkish World Research Foundation (Türk Dünyası Araştırmaları Vakfı), and a member of the Kazakh Kerei clan.

The museum staff also collected data from institutions such as the Hizmet Foundation (Hizmet Vakfı), the Institute of Turkish Studies (İstanbul Üniversitesi Türkiyat Araştırmaları Enstitüsü), and the Rıdvan Çelikel Archaeology Museum (İstanbul Üniversitesi Rıdvan Çelikel Arkeoloji Müzesi). Additionally, they visited the cemeteries in Istanbul where Kazakhs are buried, including Eski Kozlu (Eski Kozlu Mezarlığı), Silivrikapı (Silivrikapı Mezarlığı), and Güneşli (Güneşli Mezarlığı), to gather more information.

The results of the trip will be published in a scientific publication presented by the Committee for Quality Assurance in Science and Higher Education of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan later this year.

AP23486716 Sign system and tamgas of the Kazakhs of Altai

Head of work:

Samashev Samat Kairollaevich (PhD)

ResearcherID JCO-7937-2023 

ORCID 0000-0003-3450-3629

Scopus Author ID 58089837200

The project is aimed at a comprehensive interdisciplinary study of tamga-like signs and symbols of the Altai Kazakhs. When implementing the project, the research team relies on the results of archaeological and ethnographic expeditions of the East Kazakhstan region, as well as modern achievements of historical science. The project includes the search for archaeological sites with symbols and signs that date back to the beginning of the 18th century and are located on the territory of the Kazakh, Russian, Mongolian and Chinese Altai. Also within the framework of the project, the identification and documentation of tamgas that have been preserved in the ethnographic environment of the Kazakhs inhabiting this region is carried out. The identified tamgas will be analyzed and introduced into scientific circulation. Along with field research, it is planned to systematize data, initiate the preservation, popularization and dissemination of tamgas and symbols, which are considered an integral part of the cultural heritage of our people. Conducting research within the walls of the Berel State Historical and Cultural Reserve-Museum, situated in the Katonkaragai district of East Kazakhstan, is crucial and effective. This institution is strategically positioned near the habitats of Kazakhs in the Russian, Mongolian, and Chinese Altai, making it an ideal base for organizing field expeditions. It provides a gateway to integrate collected information into academic circles by comparing it with data held by local Kazakhs. Moreover, as the majority of staff are local residents, they have direct engagement in researching and promoting their history. The Altai has always been a historic dwelling place for Kazakhs, often regarded as the "Golden Cradle of the Turkic World" in scientific circles. Presently, the "Altai Territory" encompasses vast geographic regions, including the East Kazakhstan Region, Xinjiang-Altai region of China, the bordering Altai region of Russia, and the Kobdinsky and Bayan-Olgiy districts of Mongolia. Information from open sources on the internet indicates significant populations of Altai Kazakhs in these areas: approximately 90% in Mongolia, around 50.5% in China, and roughly 50% in East Kazakhstan. This underscores that the primary data regarding symbols pertaining to Altai Kazakhs lie outside Kazakhstan's borders. Given the geopolitical tensions affecting Altai Kazakhs today, the comprehensive interdisciplinary study of their symbols remains highly relevant.