Kazakh research institute of culture

Trailer Comprehending the history Mysteries of ancient Kultobe (2020) Now, Turkestan city is rapidly growing, developing and a huge work is underway to regenerate its historical center – the settlement of Yasi-Kultobe. Special ...

A whole production complex for processing ore and iron was discovered by KazRIC scientists during archaeological surveys conducted within the framework of the project "Restoration of historical objects of the Kultobe settlement". The unique complex allows you to track the entire cycle of work of ore-smelting and blacksmithing workshops that operated in the ancient city for several centuries, EC reports. The project, which has been engaged in by scientists of the Kazakh Research Institute of Culture for the third year, is being implemented with the financial support of the Eurasian Group (ERG).

— The industrial complex was discovered in the western part of the medieval city, about 550 meters from the mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi. Apparently, in this part of ancient Turkestan in the Middle Ages there were production and craft workshops of various types — said Anatoly Shayakhmetov, a researcher at KazRIC.

On an area of 1.5 thousand hectares, archaeologists found two dozen rooms and production sites that differ in size, where iron was not only produced by melting it from ore, but also made from the resulting metal necessary household and agricultural items for citizens.

Of particular interest to archaeologists are the medieval ore-melting furnaces discovered on the territory of the industrial complex. The fact that they were used specifically for smelting ore is confirmed by the large amount of iron ore slag found near the furnaces. The antiquities seekers found five furnaces measuring 1.5 by 1.5 meters. Built by ancient craftsmen mainly of adobe bricks, they survived to a height of no more than half a meter, but archaeologists consider this preservation very good.

— Based on the findings, it can be concluded that the existence of the production complex we discovered was due not only to the needs of citizens in household items and tools, but also to political processes. Iron was constantly needed for military purposes. Not only ketmen, hoes, hammers and axes could be produced here, but also cannonballs, and possibly cold weapons, — the archaeologist explains.

The complex ceased to exist at the end of the XIX century. This happened due to natural reasons — the local production, which has not changed for centuries, could not withstand competition with factory-made products imported from the Russian Empire, which the Turkestan Region became part of in 1864. The products imported from the metropolis were more massive, and most importantly-more affordable in price. The Turkestan masters were unable to compete with it.

HOW DID TURKESTAN BEGIN? SCIENTISTS SOLVE THE MYSTERIES OF THE ANCIENT CITY

The oldest cross–shaped temple of the I-II centuries in Kazakhstan and the citadel erected around it are one of the most valuable historical objects of the open-air archaeological park "Kultobe Settlement" being created in Turkestan. The research of the unique architectural and fortification complex is carried out by scientists of the Kazakh Research Institute of Culture (KazRIC) within the framework of the scientific project "Restoration of historical objects of the Kultobe settlement", carried out with the financial support of the Eurasian Group (ERG).

According to experts, the discovered cruciform building with slit-like loopholes in the walls of the lower floor was the core of the city's development. This temple is the oldest evidence of urban culture in Kazakhstan. When studying the lowest layers of the citadel, historians came to the conclusion that the city could have arisen as a small cross-shaped mudbrick-pakhsa fortress. It had at least two floors, of which only the lower basement survived. Its layout was a long, up to 19 meters, narrow room, to the middle of which two small square rooms were attached on both sides. Between them, in the thickness of the walls, there are arched passages that were blocked by arches. The outer sides of the four rays formed were pierced by eight slit-like loopholes.

After some time, the fortress was significantly expanded. On the south-eastern side, a dozen rooms of various purposes were attached to it, which were arranged around an internal open courtyard. So a fortified castle was formed, over time it was surrounded by a pakhsa fortress wall, the thickness of which reached three meters, with angles of 120 degrees.

The castle and the fortress wall formed a powerful fortress-citadel, around which an ancient city appeared in the I—II centuries, which eventually became the most important point on the Great Silk Road, which was called Shavgar, then Yasy and finally Turkestan.

— We are not saying that it was a residential complex, since no stoves, tandoor and very little household ceramics were found on the site, — says the archeologist Aisulu Yerzhigitova. — Probably, the rites and rituals of a certain tribal association were performed here. The fact that this place was a cult place is also confirmed by the fact that, leaving it, the townspeople completely walled up all the internal rooms with mud bricks, thanks to which the complex is well preserved. It is clear that if the people who lived here many centuries ago had not made efforts, this unique complex would have been completely destroyed. This suggests that the place was sacred for the townspeople and they wanted to preserve it.

The exhibition "Secrets of Kultobe" has opened in Turkestan.

Ancient finds discovered during archaeological surveys within the framework of the project "Restoration of historical objects of the Kultobe settlement" implemented by scientists of the KazRIC are being exhibited in the world-famous mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, EK reports.

At the exhibition, the opening of which was timed to coincide with the World Museum Day, KazRIC specialists presented several dozens of the most valuable artifacts: a variety of jewelry and numismatic finds, pages from ancient books and unique samples of different-time glazed and non-glazed ceramics. Making up the exhibition, the organizers tried to present the most interesting finds related to different time periods: from the II to the XIX centuries.
Among the most ancient finds presented in the exhibition is a coin of the Kushan king Khuvishka, dated to the middle of the II century. Archaeologists found it in front of the entrance to the temple complex — one of the key objects of the archaeological park. Some part of the numismatic collection of Kultobe consists of banknotes of the Turgesh period. Historians consider the discovery of a copper fels from the period of the Turgesh Khaganate, dating back to the VIII century, to be a real archaeological success. During the excavations, silver dirhams of the Bukharkhudat type with Arab-Sogdian script, silver and bronze Chagataid coins of the last quarter of the XIII — first quarter of the XIV century, as well as coins minted at the mint of ancient Yassy-Turkestan were also found.

— Among the most valuable finds is a treasure of jewelry belonging to the era of the Kangyu state, — informs Aisulu Yerzhigitova, a researcher at KazRIC. — A treasure trove of jewelry made of gold, bronze and semiprecious stones was discovered in 2019 to the west of the citadel. The main set of Kangyu jewelry, which, as the finds show, perfectly mastered the art of jewelry, is represented by gold earrings, bronze rings, gold plaques with grains and inserts of colored stone, as well as various beads made of natural stones. In addition to earrings, details of jewelry of different shapes are made of gold, as well as products of unknown purpose in the form of narrow thin plates bent into a ring. Despite the "elderly" age of the finds — the second half of the II-IV centuries, all of them were well preserved. The treasure was found in the wall of one of the rooms, in a special hole. Probably, someone hid it there and for some reason could not take it away.

All the artifacts found at the excavations of Kultobe will be transferred to the country's museums. The first thousand Kultobe finds have recently received a registration in the funds of the Turkestan State Historical and Cultural Museum-reserve "Azret Sultan". In the near future, about 400 more various finds will be transferred. In addition, some of the artifacts found on the land of ancient Turkestan will join the collections of other museums in the country.

The rapid transformation of the capital of the Turkic world was appreciated by the First President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, during his visit to Turkestan. The Elbasy also got acquainted with the project to create an open-air archaeological park "Kultobe Settlement", implemented with the financial support of the Eurasian Group (ERG).

Studies conducted by Kazakh scientists prove that Turkestan, which has become the spiritual capital of the entire Turkic world, is one of the oldest cities in Central Asia.

— At the moment, there is direct evidence of the fact that the city of Turkestan began with the Kultobe hill, and the first monumental cross-shaped structure dates back to the I-II centuries — informing the Elbasy, said the General Director of the Kazakh Research Institute of Culture LLP, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Andrey Khazbulatov. — Gradually, the citadel, shahristan and rabad of the city were built up around this structure, which later became one of the most important political, economic and cultural centers on the Great Silk Road, and the capital of the Kazakh Khanate from the end of the XVI century to the 30s of the XVII.

During two years of scientific research carried out on the territory of 30 hectares, truly unique structures were found: a complex of altars of the X-XII centuries, a monastery of followers of the order of Yasawi — dhikr-khana of the XVII-XIX centuries and a number of other religious buildings of Sufis. In addition, archaeologists have discovered residential and craft quarters that were used from the early Middle Ages until the beginning of the twentieth century, a Friday mosque, a quarter mosque of the XVIII-XIX centuries and other historical objects. At the moment, nine anchor objects have been restored, and it is planned to complete the restoration of another 16 by the end of the year.

— The analogs of such a park with the most ancient mudbrick architecture are the monuments of old Termez in Uzbekistan, Ani in Turkey, Pompeii in Italy, San Agustina in the USA and others. The construction of archaeological parks in the buffer zones of UNESCO World Heritage Sites is currently the most advanced practice for preserving cultural heritage, — adds Andrey Khazbulatov.

The three-year scientific project "Restoration of historical objects of the settlement of Kultobe" is coming to an end this year, and then everyone will be able to walk the streets of the ancient city, imagine how people lived here centuries ago, get acquainted with artifacts that show how talented and skilled local artisans were.

The potters' quarter, discovered during the excavations of the ancient settlement of Kultobe, is included in the number of anchor objects of the open-air archaeological park being created in Turkestan. The research carried out by KazRIC scientists within the framework of the scientific project "Restoration of historical objects of the Kultobe settlement" allows us to trace the entire cycle of work of the pottery workshops that existed in the ancient city two centuries ago. It was discovered by the team of archaeologist Erlan Kazizov on the lands of ancient Shahristan.

In one of the workshops, consisting of three rooms, archaeologists found the remains of floor hearths and even identified the place where the potter's wheel stood. The brickwork on the floor of one of the rooms indicated that this was the place where the ancient craftsmen had kneaded the clay. From the configuration of the base of the kilns, dishes and fragments of ceramics found at the site the archaeologists realized that in this workshop kitchen utensils were made.

According to historians, the potters ' quarter existed on this site from the XVIII to the XIX centuries. This is evidenced by the type of ceramic material similar to that found during the study of Bukhara, Samarkand, Tashkent, Otrar, as well as numismatic finds from the period of the Kokand Khanate and the reign of Alexander II.

Archaeologists also found fragments of a rectangular kiln used for firing bricks. In general, all the furnaces, and eight of them were found in the working quarter, had the same device and differed only in the shape of the furnace chamber, which could be not only rectangular and round, but also domed or elongated.
In addition to the fragments of the furnaces, the antiquities seekers also found a powerful, well-preserved ground chimney with a length of more than 40 meters, with special compartments from which the slag was raked out. The working infrastructure was supplemented by special platforms laid out with river pellets, on which the craftsmen stored clay. The technology of production of ceramic products, mainly dishes, required that the clay before use, as they say, rested. After lying on such platforms for six months, or even a whole year, the raw materials got rid of salt and other unnecessary impurities.

Historians believe that after the closure of the production workshops and furnaces could be dismantled by the owners themselves. And soon people left the old city altogether, moving to a new part of Turkestan, where the infrastructure was more developed, and living conditions were more comfortable. Gradually, this part of the city began to fall into disrepair, and by the time the archaeologists arrived here, Kultobe was a hill completely overgrown with weeds and covered with garbage.

In the near future, a team of restorers will start working on the conservation and partial scientific restoration of the archaeological site.

link to the full article https://exk.kz/news/69108/arkhieologh-rasskazal-o-ghoncharnom-klastierie-v-drievniem-turkiestanie

https://taplink.cc/kultobe_

The restoration laboratory “Island of Krym” managed to bring back to life about 200 pages of one of the three books found during excavations of the ancient settlement of Kultobe.

Specialists of the Kazakh Research Institute of Culture (KazRIC) with the financial support of the Eurasian Group (ERG), who are restoring the archaeological monument within the framework of the scientific project “Restoration of historical objects of the Kultobe settlement”, reported about the discovery of valuable artifacts in the summer of 2019. The first book, hidden in a dilapidated furnace, was discovered by antiquities seekers in the ruins of a residential building of the XVIII-XIX centuries. On the same day, the archaeologists contacted the famous Kazakh artist-restorer, founder of the scientific restoration laboratory “Island of Krym”, Honored Worker of Kazakhstan Krym Altynbekov. He immediately asked archaeologists to cover it back with soil to prevent its destruction. All artefacts buried underground adapt to the temperature and humidity regime. When they are taken back to the surface the moisture evaporates that leads to disintegration.

Altynbekov and his team went to Turkestan, removed the book and transported it to Almaty. Specialists covered it with soil on all sides, wrapped it in plastic wrap to preserve moisture, and added a soft shock-absorbing material. Unfortunately, it wasn’t possible to separate the pages from each other – the damage was too big. However, while they were working on this book archaeologist found two more. New finds survived in a better condition because they were stored in a wooden box. This time the laboratory was successful in separating pages. Time after time, they separated sheet after sheet, each of which was then treated with a strengthening and antiseptic composition. So not only the text of the ancient edition became available, but also the notes in the margins made by people who lived 100 years ago.

The books were written in Arabic script and date back to the 19th century. They were published either in Tashkent or in Kazan. They contain annotations to the Quran, which usually were printed for madrassas, where priests trained. Over time, it became one of the most important genres of Arabic-speaking Muslim culture – tafsir. The term “tafsir” is of Arabic origin and means “to explain, interpret, comment”. The purpose of the tafsir is to explain the meaning of the verses in a simple and accessible way.

In a year and a half of restoration work, scientists managed to achieve very good results. However, there is still a lot of work that’s left to be done.

Here is the page of the laboratory https://www.facebook.com/ostrovkrym.lab/

Friends, a documentary made by the famous Kazakh documentary director Alexey Kamensky “Comprehending the history. Mysteries of ancient Kultobe” (2020) is presented on the International website of the world filmmakers - FilmFreeway! On this first of its kind international platform only the most trending film and television festivals as well as the works of masters are registered!
The film tells in a fascinating way about the results of scientific research of the Kazakh Research Institute of Culture’s project “Restoration of historical objects of the settlement of Kultobe”, implemented with the financial support of ERG!

Comprehending the history. Mysteries of ancient Kultobe Now, Turkestan city is rapidly growing, developing and a huge work is underway to regenerate its historical center – the settlement of Yasi-Kultobe. Special ...

At the initiative of the Ministry of Culture and Sports of Kazakhstan, the Kazakh Research Institute of Culture is conducting archaeological excavations at the Kultobe settlement. The unique artifacts found up today are now presented to the general public in the “Azret Sultan” historical-cultural museum reserve's collection. It includes only about 600 items. Among them are 193 ceramic products dated to the 17-19 centuries, 77 copper products, 298 coins of the 18-19 centuries, 17 fragments of porcelain dishes, 6 gold jewelry belonging to the second half of the 2 century - 4 century and 2 gold earrings of the 13-14 centuries, 7 fragments of gold products, as well as 9 silver coins and 2 pieces of silver jewelry.

Among the finds are gold items found in the oldest building layer: earrings and clothing ornaments. They date back to the 2-4 centuries AD.

Gold earrings are made out of thin gold foil; the jewelry is decorated in the shape of a garnet and is curved. The oldest and most interesting object, a pair of earrings in a shape of a "roll" is made in polychrome style. Similar earrings in the southern region were found in the catacombs of the Kultobe barrow in Ordabasy district in a grave structure. Such ornaments were not found anywhere else in our region.

At the same time, reasearches also found earrings in the form of a question mark, decorated with pearls and belonging to the 12-13 centuries.

As a result of continuous archaeological research, the sites of dwellings of the Kokand rule era and the Kazakh Khanate, ceramic products-jars of the 17-19 centuries, and other valuable artifacts were discovered.

As part of the restoration and archaeological works planned for 2019-2021, work was carried out on the construction of walls with the preservation of the original appearance, the construction of gallery roads so that tourists can get acquainted with the object.

Under the project, implemented at the initiative of the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, at Kultobe ancient settlement, which is under the jurisdiction of the State Historical and Cultural museum-reserve “Azret Sultan”, archaeological excavations, comprehensive restoration work, and partial restoration were conducted.

It is planned to investigate the mysteries of the Kultobe settlement, prepare a scientific proposal for the protection and restoration of main historical sites on the Kultobe settlement, an archaeological park on the recommendation of UNESCO and the international expert association ICOMOS, development of 3D models of craftsmen's workshops, houses, prayer rooms and other objects, preparation, and publication of monographs, scientific collections devoted to the study of the Kultobe settlement in such aspects as archaeology, ethnography, culture and art history, illustration albums and several scientific articles.

Ancient coins, some of the most valuable artifacts, help researchers and historians to pinpoint an era and understand how people lived centuries ago, in particular the countries with which they had trade and economic relations.
Archaeologists consider it lucky if even one or two coins come across during excavations, and if there is a whole treasure, then this is just fantastic luck. Such finds allow researchers of antiquity to accurately determine the date of appearance of an ancient monument of archeology.
Moreover, certain statistics of randomness allow scientists to calculate the number of coins, the metal from which they made, the number of inhabitants of a single ancient settlement, and even make assumptions about the level of their well-being.
The archaeological expedition of the Kazakh Research Institute of Culture (KazRIC), which has been investigating the ancient settlement in Turkestan for the third year as part of the scientific project "Restoration of archaeological sites of the Kultobe settlement", has been lucky. As a result, there is a whole collection of numismatic material. The earliest coins belong to the 2-3 centuries AD. There are two of them, these are the so-called Kushan coins. They allow the historians to speak about the two-thousand-year history of Turkestan. At the same time, they supplement and clarify the age of the walls of the ancient citadel and the cross-shaped structure.
All numismatic finds are carefully cleaned and then studied by specialists. The KazRIC consultant on the Kultobe settlement project is a well-known Russian numismatist, candidate of historical sciences Pavel Petrov.
Most of the coins from the 16th-17th centuries have found in the Kultobe settlement. This is because at that time the town was already densely populated, and there was an active trade, the means of payment for which was mainly copper coins.
The numismatist-orientalist Pavel Petrov believes that it is somewhat more difficult to read the coins of Kultobe, like many others that were in use in the East, than European or Russian ones. Because, in the East, the paleography changed almost every century, and even more often. In addition, monetary circulation and coinage in the East, in comparison with the West, had their characteristics.
In any case, numismatic finds of Kultobe are the most valuable source to study the system of money circulation, political, social, and cultural life of Turkestan in different historical periods. They allow us to take a new look at the genesis of the city's development, the dynamics of trade and economic relations, the history of domestic coinage.

Mayor of Turkestan region Umirzak Shukeyev together with leading foreign scientists and archaeologists visited the library "Farab". Created as a multifunctional educational complex, the new educational institution has no analogues in the country. The youth center is equipped with modern technologies. The center will become a favorite place for all book lovers as a complex that combines creativity and inspiration and brings to life unique projects. All conditions are created for this.
Deputy chairman of the National committee of the World Heritage of the Republic of Kazakhstan Dmitry Voyakin, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, General Director of the Institute of Archeology named after A. Margulan Baurzhan Baitanayev, Academician, Deputy Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies named after Z. Bunyatova Shahin Mustafayev got acquainted with the work of the new library, professor of Anthropology at Washington University St. Louis Michael Frachetti, Corresponding Member of the Academy of Sciences of Tatarstan, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Director of the Institute of Archaeology named after A.H. Khalikova Ayrat Sitdikov, Professor of Archaeology, corresponding member of the German Archaeological Institute Viktor Zaibert.
The library has opened the only workshop in Central Asia for the restoration of old documents and books. There is a projection room for creating a 3D model, a calligraphy and art studio, and a pottery workshop. A large hall is equipped for the presentation of new works. The library houses a Research center - the main book depository. Very rare books and manuscripts are kept here. Foreign scientists were surprised by the book collection, they were presented with archives of ancient books, manuscripts and documents.
Press service of the akim of Turkestan region

A press tour for media representatives to promote historical and cultural sites was organized in the Turkestan region, The PRESS.KZ Agency reports with reference to the Press Service of the Akim of the Turkestan region.
The event was organized by the Republican public association "QazaqGeography".
To date, 1,663 archaeological and architectural monuments in the region are of particular importance for history and culture. Among them, there is one monument of international significance (the mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yassawi), 31 - of national interest, 421 - of local interest. The list of provisional entries includes 1,210 objects of historical and cultural heritage.
According to the deputy akim of the region, Meirzhan MYRZALIYEV, the development of the city of Turkestan as the centre of the cultural and spiritual capital of the Turkic world, international tourism and pilgrimage in Central Asia, is one of the strategic priorities of the state policy in the field of tourism.
«The Turkestan region has unique architectural, historical and archaeological monuments, wonderful nature and preserved original culture. The region has enormous potential for tourism development both at the national and international level», - M. Myrzaliev noted.
Among the archaeological sites, it is possible to designate the settlement of Kultobe, where conservation and restoration work is being carried out on a total area of 27 hectares. Its entire area divided into 3 plots of 9 hectares each. Work has already has been carried out on 18 hectares. A well-maintained archaeological park with pedestrian streets and a covered dome will be created here in the future.
During the visit to the city of Turkestan on September 28, 2020, the First President — Elbasy Nursultan Nazarbayev, was presented with a project to create an archaeological park - "The Settlement of Kultobe". This project is implemented based on a Memorandum of Mutual Cooperation between the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the corporate fund Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), which acts as the main sponsor of the project, and the Kazakh Research Institute of Culture (KazRIC).
Experts note that the finds discovered on the territory of the settlement of Kultobe have historical and cultural significance. These artefacts are the evidence of the material and economic life of inhabitants of the city in different historical periods. They date back from the first centuries to the XIX century. Moreover, all the unique monuments presented in Kultobe demonstrate its continuous history, starting from the Kangyu era and up to the beginning of the XX century. At present, it is probably the only well-preserved monument in Kazakhstan - a witness to the ancient urban culture.
The participants of the press tour also visited the ancient settlement of Karnak. It located on the western outskirts of the village of Karnak. The settlement dates back to the VII-VIII – XIV centuries. Media representatives visited the site of an old Mazar and examined the millennial mulberry tree Maracot. At the same time, the journalists visited the museum "Shammat-Ishan Mosque-Madrasah" in the Karnak village. Also, they acquainted themselves with the planned archaeological works.
23.10.2020