Vol. 106 No. 3 (2024): Мәдени мұра №3 (106) 2024

The article presents the results of the Chirik-Rabat Archaeological Expedition (CRAE) conducted in 2022. The exploration documented slag mounds along the ancient Inkardarya riverbed, followed by research in the direction of the dry Zhanadarya riverbed, where medieval cities and fortresses were studied. Settlements and fortresses were recorded via aerial surveys, and surface materials were collected. During the exploration, the Syrly Tam 2 and Inkar 2 settlements and the Kekireli site were discovered. Most surface materials from these sites consist of ceramics. A large portion of the ceramics from Or-Kala (Bestam) resembles those found in Asanas and Kyshkala, dated to the Golden Horde period. Numerous ornaments were also found, with beads being the most common.

Based on scientific data, the study analyzed the research history of early Iron Age and medieval monuments. The survey covered arid areas of the ancient Inkardarya and Zhanadarya riverbeds. New monuments were discovered to map the Zhanadarya region, determine their chronology, and establish cultural links. Computer programs (QGIS and Google Earth Pro) were used to create topographic projects and maps. These tools helped identify the location features of early Iron Age burial sites and medieval settlements.

This article examines the results of the first archaeological studies that were conducted at the medieval settlement of Kapal-Kyzylagash on the territory of Zhetysu. The excavations were supervised by archaeologists of the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. The main attention is paid to the study of the architectural and defensive structures of the settlement, among which the fortress walls, towers and the central citadel stand out. During the excavations, significant finds were made, among which there are fragments of ceramics, elements of structures made of unfired bricks, and bones of domestic animals. These findings indicate the existence of developed economic activity in this area. A significant part of the study was devoted to the analysis of the topographical and geographical features of the settlement, which made it possible to assess its role in the transit system of the Great Silk Road. The study presents preliminary conclusions about the importance of Kapal-Kyzyl-Gash 1 as a key strategic and economic point in the region. Prospects for further research include the expansion of archaeological excavations, the use of interdisciplinary methods of analysis and the use of modern technologies for a more detailed study of cultural and historical processes associated with the monument.

The paper is about new materials from the Aral Sea region at the sites of Kuiylys and Shizhaga, obtained as a result of exploration works in 2021-2022 by the Aral Sea expedition under the supervision of A. Onggar. The Shizhaga 1 site is located in the northern part of the Shizhaga village in the Aral region. The Kuyilys site is located in the vicinity of the Kuyilys village in the Irgiz region of the Aktobe region, on the left bank of the Turgay River. Classification and typology of lithic tools assemblages are based on the generally accepted concepts and developments proposed by G.F. Korobkova, A.V. Vinogradov, V.K. Mertz, L.Y. Krizhevskaya, G.N. Matyushin, V.F. Zaibert, S.S. Kalieva, V.N. Logvin and other researchers. The materials found at the Shizhaga and Kuiylys sites are multi-temporal and date back to the Neolithic and Bronze Age. To make stone products, flint of various colours was used - grey, yellow transparent veined flint with orange-brown inclusions, black silicified breccia rock with grey inclusions, grey-yellow banded flint. Mainly fragments of blades with and without retouching are marked. The materials were attributed to the Neolithic Age, some tools, namely arrowheads were reffered to the Early Bronze Age. The obtained data provide new information of the distribution of Neolithic cultures of southwestern Kazakhstan and find their analogies in the materials of Saksaulskaya 1 and a number of other sites in the northern Aral Sea region.

This scientific article provides a description and analysis of photodocuments from the collections of the West Kazakhstan regional museum of local lore. It includes the portrait of Major General Mukhamedzhan Baymukhamedov, images of the 4^th deputation of Kazakhs from the Orenburg region who visited Saint Petersburg in 1860, Kazakh teachers, students of the local elders' school and the two-grade girls' school, the public figure A. Baitursynov with the students of the “Galiya” madrasah, photographs of the first graduates of the paramedic school. Each photo document is annotated.The article offers a scholarly analysis of the photographic documents depicting Kazakh officials from the 2^nd half of the 19^th century to the 1^st quarter of the 20^th century, as well as Kazakhs who worked in the fields of education and enlightenment during that period.

Based on the works of Sh. Ualikhanov, L. Meyer, I.V. Erofeeva, B.M. Suzhikov, U. Kydyralin, Zh.U. Kydyralina, and A.V. Zataevich, information on M. Taukhin, E. Kasymov, M. Baymukhamedov, S. Mendeshev, A. Orazbaeva, and others is provided. The research was guided by the principles of objectivity, historicity, systematic and parallel analysis. The works related to the topic and affecting specific aspects were used as additional and comparative material.

The scientific article analyzes the works of Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor of Archaeology, Corresponding Member of the German Archaeological Institute Viktor Fedorovich Zaibert in studying the Botai settlement located in Northern Kazakhstan. At present, numerous scientific works of the researcher and several valuable articles have been published in foreign international journals about horse bones found in the Botai settlement. The scientist who discovered the Botai settlement has left an invaluable scientific legacy of the ancient history and archeology of Kazakhstan. In the North Kazakhstan region, having established his own historical school, having conducted complex research at the world and republican levels, he did a lot of work to the staffing of the Botai Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve with qualified specialists. During the comprehensive study of the ancient Eneolithic settlement of Kazakhstan, works were published in foreign and domestic scientific publications. Studying Viktor Zaibert’s creative and scientific contributions as an outstanding figure in Kazakhstan’s history involves a deep scientific analysis of regional history, drawing conclusions and evaluations, as well as understanding the continuity of generations in historical science. The article will address the fundamental scientific judgments of the scholar, who made a great contribution to the study of domestic archaeology.

The article discusses the historical and cultural complex "Shym kala," which was excavated over more than half a century and opened to the public in 2021. The complex is an archaeological site in the Republic of Kazakhstan, included in the State List of Monuments of History and Culture of local significance. The open-air museum, resembling a medieval city, consists of three parts: "Rabad," "Shakhristan," and "Citadel." The Citadel was the residence of rulers, the Shakhristan was the home of wealthy noblemen and scholars, and the Rabad was the area where ordinary people lived. However, by the 20^th century, only the first two layers, considered the primary construction layers of the city, had survived, while the Rabad was completely destroyed. This is directly related to wars in which Turkic peoples captured the fortress. Additionally, during the excavations, the fortress was dug down to a depth of fourteen meters, revealing several cultural layers. The discovery of numerous cultural layers during archaeological research indicates the rich heritage of various historical periods. In particular, the history of Shymkent during the Karakhanid, Timurid, Kokand, and Russian periods is explored in detail.

The area of the ancient Shymkent city site covers 4.5 hectares. Continuous archaeological excavations are ongoing to study the origin and development of the ancient city, which is located on an elevated area in the southern part of the modern metropolis.

The Baite complex is an ancient cult site on the western fringes of Usturt, overlooking the Mangystau lowland. Until now, only archaeological excavations have been conducted on this monument complex. In the 2024 field toponymic expedition, an introductory study of the Baite monuments was conducted, gathering data from local historians. This article analyzes the emergence of the Baite toponymic complex, the ethnic situation of that era, political conditions, and ethnic mixing.

The gathered toponymic and ethnographic materials prompt a reevaluation of the Baite complex. Firstly, the monument's “Sarmato-Alan” origin has been established among researchers; the author suggests returning to the Latin name Sarmatae. Secondly, the Aors, a key component of the Sarmatian tribes, is linked to the Kunanorys tribe, part of the Aday confederation in Mangystau. Thirdly, the eponym Suyndyk in the Kunanorys lineage refers to the Xiongnu/Syunbu of the Huns, while Zhundy relates to the Jun-di/Shan-rong tribe that joined later. Currently, they can be found within the Argin and Aday confederations.Finally, the tamgas found in Baite are particularly interesting; research indicates continuity with medieval Oghuz and Kazakh symbols.

In this article, the author tried to recreate the undeservedly forgotten image of Gajar Khan – a bright and extraordinary figure in the history of Turkmenistan. The 19^th century, full of complex and dramatic events, gave rise to a several outstanding personalities, whose actions determined the fate of the entire Turkmen people. Gajar Khan was one of them. The khan’s bold and resolute character led to daring and sometimes reckless actions. However, the situation itself at that time required the nomination of such a leader, whose uncompromising steps would instill confidence in society. Gajar Khan is often mentioned in historical documents, but this personality has not received its proper coverage in modern scientific and even popular literature. In his struggle against Russian expansion, Gajar Khan relied on the Afghan emissary Siyah-Push, but their joint resistance was unsuccessful. Both rebels were exiled, where they died. In addressing this issue, the author tried to draw as much source material as possible and to deeply analyze the entire historiographical base of this topic. A comparison of the works of 19^th-century authors, a through analysis of archival documents and new data, helped to soberly assess the course of historical events and objectively approach the solution of the task.

The article discusses the development of the Spasskoe village in Atbasar district, Akmola region. By presenting the historico-cultural heritage through objects of church wooden architecture, it provides an opportunity to reveal the national heritage of material and spiritual culture more extensively.

The main object of our study was the history of a wooden church construction, which existed in the village until the 80s of the 20^th century.

A unique monument of wooden architecture was once among the monuments of historico-cultural significance. The architecture of the building represented a certain aesthetic value, beauty and perfection of individual forms, general proportional structure in the characteristic traditions of Russian wooden architecture.

In the early 80s, under the influence of the media, the question of the historical monument preservation need arose. Local authorities decided to dismantle the building and move it to the regional center - Atbasar city for restoration and placement of exhibits of the local history museum in it. The church building was kept dismantled for several years but was never restored. Among the documentary local history materials of the local history expert N.V. Antonchev, an employee of the Regional Museum of History and Local History, a set of documents related to attempts of drawing attention to the church building restoration possibility was identified. The funds of the Historical Archive of the Omsk Region contain materials characterizing the interaction of local authorities with the Omsk Spiritual Consistory on issues of church and parish construction.

The article contains a brief report of the Kostanay ethnoarchaeological expedition conducted in the northern regions of Kostanay in late May and June 2024. This expedition is a scientific project of the Ualikhanov Institute of History and Ethnology "Methodology of field ethnoarchaeological (ethnoarchitectural) studies of monuments of the steppe zone of Kazakhstan and the territory of the Diaspora" (head, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Prof., S. E. Azhigali). The materials on the ancient graves of Kazakhs located in the north of Kostanay region in the areas of Kostanay, Mendykara and Fedorovsky, on the left bank of the Tobol River, near the mouth of the Uy River and the confluence of the Togyzak River into the Uy River, mid of the 19^th – 20-30s of the 20^th century, traditional tombstones and wintering grounds are briefly presented.