Astana (AsiaNews) – Archaeologists from Russia and Central Asia have explored archaeological sites in the Altai, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan: the expedition season organised by the Centre for Research and Training in Altaic and Turanian Studies at Altai State University has come to an end. Over the summer, the scientists carried out six international expeditions – five archaeological and one ethnographic – in the Altai region, in the Altai Republic in Russia, as well as in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
Over 120 scientists, researchers and students from Russia and Central Asian countries took part in the fieldwork. In the Altai Republic, archaeologists have been studying sites dating back to the era of the Turanian Khaganate for the third consecutive year. In the Bike area of Khemal Province, a commemorative enclosure was discovered with features typical of the early medieval Turanians: a semi-square layout, walls made of stone slabs, a central stone pillar and a stele on the eastern side. In the Ust-Koksinsky district, as part of the ‘Katanda-2026’ expedition, scientists discovered a group of previously unknown twin funerary structures. It is believed that these may have been built at a later date than the single enclosures of the early Turanian Khaganate, between the 6th and 7th centuries. The remains of a wooden post were found at the centre of one of the structures, whilst horse bones were discovered between the structures, and samples were taken for radiocarbon dating.
In the Charyshsky District of the Altai region, the ‘Great Altai – Turanian Heritage: Sentelek-2026’ expedition discovered a burial mound from the Afanasev culture, preserved in its original form. The burial contained human remains, arranged according to the rituals characteristic of this culture, as well as a pointed ceramic vessel bearing an ornament. In eastern Kazakhstan, Russian and Kazakh archaeologists, in collaboration with Toraigyrov University, continued their explorations of the Semijarsko-Krivinskij complex; in the Semijarka-IV necropolis, burials of the Andronovo (Fedorov) culture were discovered, featuring rectangular stone enclosures. Previously, only circular structures had been found at that site.
At the Balpyk site, burials dating from the 8th–9th centuries were examined. One of them is believed to have contained a warrior in armour. In another, two horses and a rich equestrian grave goods assemblage were discovered. The finds include an iron battle-axe and fragments of chain mail with iron and bronze rings. In Kyrgyzstan, researchers from Altai State University and the Kyrgyz National University J. Balasagyn have continued to compile a database and create 3D models for the virtual museum ‘Great Altai – The Homeland of the Turanics’. On the south-eastern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul and in various museums, researchers carried out a survey and photogrammetry of stone sculptures dating from the Turanic period. In the Džuuku River valley, a complex of nine enclosures and a previously unknown Turanic sculpture were discovered. At the Burana Tower complex, as part of the project, photogrammetry was carried out for the first time on a stele from a Buddhist temple, depicting two intertwined dragons.
Furthermore, an ethnographic expedition took place in August, bringing together scientists from Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. In ten settlements in the area and in the Altai Republic, the specialists studied the daily life and traditions of the Kumandin, Chelkan, Tubalar and Altai peoples. The researchers gathered material on hunting traditions, livestock rearing, crafts, housing, diet and beliefs. Altai State University emphasised that one of the objectives of the ‘Great Altai’ project is to establish an international research team to study the historical and cultural processes shared by the peoples of Russia and Central Asia.
