Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan Committee of Culture RSPE “State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve ‘Saraishyq’” Results of Activities for 2025

1. Within the framework of the program-targeted financing of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2024–2025, the program “Golden Horde Monuments of Saraishyq, Ushkan, Ashysai, Karagaily in the Context of Historical and Cultural Heritage (13th–15th centuries)” (Scientific Supervisor — Doctor of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor Ulzhan Akhmetova) was fully implemented and approved at the meeting of the National Scientific Council No. 17 dated December 18, 2025.

2. Within the framework of grant financing for 2023–2025 by the Committee of Science of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the scientific project “The Capital City of Saraishyq in the Context of the Historical and Cultural Heritage of the Ulus of Jochi (13th–16th centuries)” (Scientific Supervisor — Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor Abilseit Muktar) was fully implemented and approved at the meeting of the National Scientific Council No. 17 dated December 18, 2025.

3. Within the framework of the program-targeted financing of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2024–2025 the program “Golden Horde Monuments of Saraishyq, Ushkan, Ashysai, Karagaily in the Context of Historical and Cultural Heritage (13th–15th centuries)”, a 12-print-sheet monograph titled “Golden Horde Cities of Karagaily, Ushkan, Ashysai: History and Archaeology” was published.

4. As part of the scientific program and project, 2 articles were published in a SCOPUS-indexed journal — “Volga River Region Archaeology” (Q1), as well as 3 articles in scientific journals recommended by the Committee for Quality Assurance in Science and Higher Education of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

5. On November 17–18, 2025, in the city of Atyrau and on the territory of Saraishyq, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Atyrau Regional Akimat, an international scientific symposium titled “Saraishyq at the Crossroads of East and West: History and Culture of the Great Steppe” was held. Leading scholars from Kazakhstan, the USA, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Russia, as well as representatives of international organizations UNESCO, ISESCO, TURKSOY, and the TURKSOY Academy, took part in the symposium.

6. On November 17, 2025, the Saraishyq Museum-Reserve was admitted as a member of the TURKSOY Museums Union.

7. In 2025, two national conferences were held:April 11 — “Saraishyq Readings – 2025”, November 14 — jointly with the Makhambet District Department of Education, a conference dedicated to the 580th anniversary of the birth of Qasym Khan titled “The Kazakh Khanate during the Reign of Qasym Khan: The Convergence of History and Archaeological Research.”

8. Scholars of the Saraishyq Museum-Reserve conducted archaeological excavations at the Saraishyq, Ashysai, Karagaily, and Ushkan sites. During the excavations, geodetic technologies were applied; for the first time, archaeozoological analyses of medieval animal bones were conducted; medieval coins were attributed and introduced into scholarly circulation.

9. Approximately 80 unemployed residents of the Atyrau Region, as well as relevant field specialists, were involved in scientific research within the framework of the program and project.

10. In 2025, as a result of an agreement with Ankara University of the Republic of Turkey, archaeologist PhD Muharrem Çeken took part in the excavations, and six bachelor’s and master’s degree students in history completed internships.

11. In 2025, cooperation agreements were concluded with the museum-reserves of the Republic of Azerbaijan: “Ancient Shamkir,” “Avey,” “Keshikchidag,” and “Chiraggala-Sharban.”

12. In July–August 2025, scholars of Saraishyq organized a special expedition to the cities of the Ulus of Jochi — Hajji Tarkhan, Sarai-Batu, Gulistan, Beldzhamen, Ukek, Mokhsha, Azak, and Madzhar — where meetings were held with museum professionals and archaeologists. Materials from these cities were compared with those from Saraishyq.

13. From August 2 to 12, 2025, Saraishyq archaeologists A. Turaruly, Zh. Baygaliyev, and A. Zhumabayev participated in archaeological excavations at the site of the capital of the Ulus of Jochi — Sarai-Batu (Russian Federation), gaining professional experience. The scientific supervisor of the excavation was the renowned archaeologist, Doctor of Historical Sciences E. Pigarev.

14. The Ethnographic Museum of the Saraishyq Museum-Reserve was enriched with new exhibits.

15. In 2025, the museum collection was replenished with 613 archaeological finds and materials; the total number of museum items reached 6,343 units, including: main collection — 2,623 items, auxiliary collection — 3,267 items, temporary collection — 453 items.

16. In 2025, a total of 34 exhibitions were organized, including 2 international exhibitions (in the village of Altynzhar, Russian Federation, and in an online format for international partners) and 2 national exhibitions (at the State Central Museum in Almaty and at the “Shamalgan” Cultural Center in the Almaty Region).

17. In 2025, the Saraishyq Museum-Reserve was visited by 27,511 tourists.

18. The institution “Qazqaitazhanartu” modified the external design of the medieval gate.

19. The institution “Qazqaitazhanartu” restored the “Medieval Fish Production Site,” which was subsequently museified by the museum-reserve specialists.

20. The institution “Qazqaitazhanartu” restored a “Medieval Residential House,” which was museified by the museum-reserve specialists.

21. The institution “Qazqaitazhanartu” constructed convenient tourist pathways between the medieval sites.

22. The institution “Qazqaitazhanartu” is installing a special protective canopy over the “Khan’s Grave” site.

23. In 2025, scholars of the Saraishyq Museum-Reserve worked in archives and libraries in Astana, Almaty, as well as Moscow and Saint Petersburg (Russian Federation).

24. Throughout 2025, news of the museum-reserve was regularly published on social media platforms Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Telegram, and VKontakte. The official website of the museum-reserve saraishyq.kz operated in open access for the general public.

25. In 2025, employees of the museum-reserve participated in various professional development courses and seminars, enhancing their qualifications. In particular, O. Sagynbayeva, A. Sherkeshbayeva, G. Bekesova, and other specialists completed training in museum studies, guided tour services, and the international WFTGA methodology, receiving certificates and letters of appreciation. Additionally, several employees completed courses within the Skills Enbek electronic labor exchange system and obtained relevant certificates.