ASTANA — From Bronze Age settlements to medieval cities, archaeological research across Kazakhstan continues to reveal new details about the societies that once inhabited the Eurasian steppe. Photo credit: gov.kz Click to see the map in full size. The map is designed by The Astana Times.
Recent excavations have brought new findings from the ancient settlement of Zhankent in the Kyzylorda Region and a Bronze Age site near Imantau in northern Kazakhstan, while authorities are expanding efforts to protect historical and cultural monuments. Together, these discoveries highlight the diversity of Kazakhstan’s archaeological heritage and show how excavation, scientific cooperation and modern research methods are helping researchers reconstruct different periods of the country’s past.
Zhankent: 20 years of archaeological research One of the country’s longest-running archaeological projects is taking place at the ancient settlement of Zhankent in the Kyzylorda Region. Systematic research at the site began in 2005. Over the past two decades, archaeologists have excavated more than 4,000 square meters and uncovered more than 25,000 artefacts, according to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan.
The finds include ceramic, metal, stone, bone and glass objects. They provide researchers with information about the daily life, crafts, economy and cultural connections of the settlement’s inhabitants. Zhankent is particularly important for studying the history of the Oghuz.
Archaeologists have investigated citadel, shahristan, residential quarters and economic structures, gradually reconstructing the layout and development of the medieval city. The archaeological project has involved researchers from Kazakhstan and several other countries, contributing to a broader understanding of medieval settlements along the Syr Darya and the archaeological landscape of southern Kazakhstan.
Recent work at the site has focused on several areas of the ancient city, including the eastern gate complex and shahristan. Archaeologists have uncovered ceramic fragments, traditional asyks and animal remains, adding to the material evidence of everyday life at Zhankent.
The settlement is also part of the Silk Roads: Fergana–Syr Darya Corridor included in Kazakhstan’s UNESCO World Heritage efforts. Researchers are also using electrical tomography to examine underground layers and identify possible structures without excavating every part of the settlement.