Archaeological scientific-practical center named after A.Kh. Margulan was founded in 2001 by convention with Institute of Archaeology named after A.Kh. Margulan of National Academy of Sciences of the RK, and is its regional branch. The center was founded on the basis of Pavlodar archaeological expedition (head - V.K. Merts), organized in 1988 at protection of monuments department of Pavlodar oblast local history museum. Its aim is scientific-research directed at the protection research of conducive to accident archaeological monuments and on the territory of the north-east of Kazakhstan and their further comprehensive study.

Main directions of the work:

During the time of the center’s functioning, the research of many conducive to accident monuments of great cultural-historical significance was conducted. New materials on various stages of ancient and medieval history of Pavlodar Pre-Irtyshye, North and Central Kazakhstan in the whole have been obtained.

The major objects of research of Pavlodar archaeological expedition before the center foundation were the relics and monuments of the Stone Age, from the Lower Paleolithic Age to the Aeneolithic Age. Recently, in connection with the center foundation and addition of the staff by new specialists, the circle of the studied objects has been enlarged.

The most ancient and unique objects that testify to the appearance of man on the territory of Pavlodar Pre-Irtyshye about 1 million years ago are the location of pebble implements, found in Lebyazhye region 100 km to the south of Pavlodar. Their materials are represented by pebble industry originating from ancient deposits of the Irtysh river terraces. A Complex of analogous stratified monuments has long been known on the bank of the Maraldy river, which is 60 km to the east of Pavlodar. Their study has been yet confined to the collection of the elevated material, as there are no other possibilities of conducting research on these monuments because of deep deposits of the cultural layer.

During a number of years, the research of the complex of shop sites and settlements of the Stone Age has been conducted, which is as large as 20 objects in the vicinity of Old Ekibastuz. This complex suffered damages resulting from Ekibastuz coal deposit development, and in perspective can be fully destroyed. It must be constantly studied as it is of great value for the solution of numerous problems of archaeology and ancient history of Kazakhstan and West Siberia. Particularly, for understanding the problem of the initial settlement by ancient hominids in the northern outskirt of Kazakh low-hill, the subsequent development of stone implements, their influence on the culture of the neighboring regions of Central Asia and later transformation of industries at the end of the Stone Age.

Another group of monuments studied by the Center are represented by sites and multi-layer settlements of the Stone Age located in the middle course of the Shiderty river. They have also been substantially damaged in the result of the economic activity of the native population. The most promising are the multilayer sites Shiderty 2, 3, 5. The site Shiderty 3 as a single multilayer monument in North and Central Kazakhstan that gives the idea of the evolution of stone industries and the change of cultural traditions in this region in the Holocene has been the object of research for the past 20 years. At the site, there are 6 cultural horizons containing the materials of the Mezolith – Aeneolith. In the upper layer of this monument materials of the new archaeological culture of the Aeneolith epoch have been found, as well as the tomb of a man of this period, which is the most ancient in this region. The site is also interesting from the point of view of stratification, as here several burying grounds have been revealed, which had been put in the package of the Holocene deposits of the first above the flood plain terrace of the Shiderty river. From some soils, on the basis of humus, radiocarbon dates and sporo-pollen spectrum from the whole of the site section have been obtained. Today, this monument is an etalon object fro periodization and chronology of the Holocene complexes and separation of new archaeological cultures on the territory of North and Central Kazakhstan. That is why the multi-layer site Shiderty 3, as a unique object, was the only archaeological monument of Pavlodar oblast listed in the Republic’s program “Cultural Heritage” and was researched in the framework of this program.

A whole set of other monuments was also revealed, which refer to various epochs. These are: the Neolith settlements, those of the Bronze Age, and also of the Early Iron Age to the north of Pavlodar and near Sharbakty lake, burial grounds of the Bronze Age near Irtyshsk town and Michurino, Grigorievka, Naberezhnoye villages, ancient sanctuaries with stone pictures, and they need an urgent research.

A significant file of archeological sources was received as a result of the research of the Bronze Age monuments. Burial grounds and settlements of the period of the Early Bronze Age are investigated near Ekibastuz, on the river Shiderty and near Grigorievka village, where the materials of Yeluninskiy and Yamnyi types were discovered. The monuments of the Andronovo cultural-historical generality pose a significant scientific interest, as well as those of the settled cattlemen, farmers and metallurgists who left a set of archeological monuments: settlements, mine openings, soil burial grounds, stone hedges and barrows.

In the result of excavation of soil burial grounds near Karatumsuk, Kenzhekol 1, Chyornoye, Naberezhnoye, Kyzylzhar, and also settlements near Pavlodarskoye village and Ak-Bidaik tract, at lake Bozshakol and other monuments of the Andronovo tribes, numerous samples of ceramic vessels, bronze weapon, instruments of labor, adornments, rests of dwellings and funeral constructions, ancient mines, which testify to a high level of development of their ceramic manufacture, ore mining and metallurgy, construction and woodworking, have been obtained.

Despite the long-term archeological researches in Pavlodar oblast, it is still an insufficiently explored region of the north-eastern part of Kazakhstan, located at the joint of different geographical and cultural-historical zones which were formed in ancient times in the middle course of the Irtysh – a largest waterway of Kazakhstan.

The results of the researches of the Center’s staff were published in scientific editions of Kazakhstan and Russia; new works highlighting the results of field researches and publication of received materials are underway. During the existence of the Center, 2 collections of the scientific articles were issued, which are devoted to the problems of archeology of Pavlodar Pre-Irtyshye and the neighboring regions; materials of the conference «Margulan readings 2004» devoted to the 100th anniversary of Academician A.Kh. Margulan, a picture album with rock paintings, a dictionary of archeological terms, a manual on ancient history were published, and new editions are underway. They reflect the results of 20-years’ work of Pavlodar archeological expedition. For the time being the staff of the Center published more than sixty articles in scientific editions of Kazakhstan and Russia, more than 20 articles were written for the encyclopedia “Pavlodar Pre-Irtyshye” and other popular editions. A serial of educational documentary films about archeological monuments research has been shot named «A very ancient Asia».

The center has conducted expeditions on the exploration of the complex of medieval cult memorial constructions «Kolbasun tower» near the village Kyzylyenbek in Maisk region, the barrow burial grounds of the Kimaks and Kypchaks, of the Hunn-Sarmatian time, the Saks epoch, settlements and burial grounds of the Bronze Age. It is for the first time that on the territory of Central Kazakhstan, monuments of the Early Bronze Age were discovered, which opened a new page of ancient history of Sary-Arka; ancient steles and sculptures of Bayanaul were investigated, and several documentary films about them were shot.

Thus, the primary goal of the researches conducted by the Center is preservation of monuments of archeology from destruction and the consistent study of the whole territory of Pavlodar oblast, revelation of new archeological cultures, definition of their origin, interrelations among themselves and the cultures of other regions.

Scientific and pedagogical work is also in full swing. On the basis of the archeological expedition of the Center the field study is carried out, there is a students’ archeological society at the Center. Archeology fascinated students and schoolchildren are engaged there.

In 2002, on the basis of the archeological materials collected by Pavlodar archeological expedition, an archeological museum was created. Its exposition shows unique exhibits that reflect the history of Pavlodar Pre-Irtyshye from the Paleolithic Epoch till the new time.

Now the staff of the Center is engaged in creating "Collection of monuments of Pavlodar oblast”. They study and process the materials obtained during the prospecting works. Realization of some projects devoted to the problems of ancient history of the oblast, protection, restoration and museological listing of the archeological monuments, and preparation of the third issue of scientific articles collection on the problems of Pavlodar Pre-Irtyshye are planned.

Priority goals and objectives:

- introduction in the teaching process of the results of the recent achievements of archeological science and developments aimed at the improvement of the research activity;

- raising of the level of teaching students, their obtaining of the necessary practical skills of archeological research;

- involvement of students and schoolchildren in research in the field of archeological monuments protection and study;

- development of themes in various directions of the native country archeology, writing scientific works and teaching aids;

- gathering and study of archeological materials in ancient and medieval history of the region;

- introduction in the scientific circulation of the obtained results of archeological researches;

- development of cooperation with regional, RK and foreign research centers;

- creation of information support, popularization and promotion of knowledge in archeology and history among the population, involvement of the professional part of the pedagogical activists of the oblast to the activity on the historical and cultural heritage conservation.

637000 Pavlodar

64 Lomov street, PSU after S. Toraigyrov

Room.20, ОАНЦ, phone (8-718-2) 46-50-80

Fax 673702 , e-mail v_merz@mail.ru

Center director – Victor Merts