Branch of the Margulan Institute of Archaeology in Astana
15 Feb 2023
The branch of the Margulan Institute of Archaeology of the CS of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Astana was established in 2010. The author and inspirer of the creation of the Branch in the capital is Doctor of Historical Sciences Z. Samashev. According to his plan, this event was to give a new impetus to the development of archaeology in the northern regions of the country during the transition to fundamentally new forms of organization and financing of scientific activities, as well as to promote the training of new specialists in archaeology. At various times, A. Onggar, D. Baitleu, and T. Mamirov headed the Branch. Currently, the director is Ph.D. Azat Aitkali.
Since its establishment, the Branch has actively participated in international integration processes, taking part in the preparation and holding of several international scientific conferences and various events in Russia, the USA and Germany. In 2012, together with the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World at New York University and the Smithsonian Institution of the USA, the international exhibition "Nomads and their Connections in the World" was organized and successfully held in the cities of New York and Washington. In 2013, a large-scale exhibition and conference was held in Bochum (Germany) "Unknown Kazakhstan. Archaeology in the Heart of Asia" together with the German Mining Museum and the German Archaeological Institute.
Since 2011, the Branch employees have been actively involved in the implementation of state-funded research under the grant funding program for scientific research conducted within the framework of competitions of the Ministry of Education and Science, as well as the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Over the years of the Branch existence, the following projects have been completed:
– "Cultural and historical processes in the Kazakh steppes in antiquity and the Middle Ages: traditions and innovations";
– "Materials and research on the archaeology of Kazakhstan";
– "Ore areas and archaeometallurgy of Mugalzhar: an interdisciplinary study of the development of copper ore resources of the region in the Paleometal era";
– "Settlements of the Paleometal epoch (Aitman, Manaysor I–III)";
– "Riders of the Great Steppe: traditions and innovations";
– "Monuments of the Saka aristocracy of Tarbagatai";
– "Antiquities of East Kazakhstan: cultural and historical processes in the Hun-Sarmatian era";
– "The Turkic heritage of the Kazakh Altai: religion and worldview";
– "Archaeological research of objects of historical and cultural heritage under the Strategic National Project "Cultural Heritage" of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan".
The branch published in three languages a serial publication "Materials and research on the archaeology of Kazakhstan", as well as "Proceedings of the branch of the Institute of Archaeology in Astana", where both old unpublished materials and the latest research on the archaeology of Kazakhstan were introduced. These publications allowed domestic and foreign scientists, studying the problems of the ancient history of the peoples of the Eurasian space, to obtain information that was previously unavailable. Now, the Institute plans to resume the production of these publications.
In its activities, the Branch strives to expand field research in various regions of the country and the formation of well-documented archaeological sources that will become the foundation for recreating the picture of the development of the ancient and medieval population of Kazakhstan, as well as solving topical problems of national archaeology and history. The Branch has twelve employees, including two Candidates of Historical Sciences and five PhD specialists.