Archaeological Research Center named after A.Kh. Margulan was created in 2001 by agreement with the Institute of Archeology named after A.Kh Margulan MSHE NAS RK and is its regional division. The center was created on the basis of the Pavlodar archaeological expedition (headed by V.K. Merts), organized in 1988 under the department of monument protection of the Regional Museum of History and Local Lore. The main goal of the Center is research activities aimed at conducting conservative studies of damaged archaeological monuments on the territory of North-East Kazakhstan and their further comprehensive study, as well as research related to solving fundamental problems of the ancient history of Northern Eurasia.

Main areas of work:

During the existence of the Center, research was carried out on many emergency monuments of great cultural and historical significance, new materials were obtained on the most diverse stages of the ancient and medieval history of Pavlodar Irtysh region, Northern and Central Kazakhstan as a whole.

The main objects of research of Pavlodar archaeological expedition before the creation of the Center were Stone Age monuments from the Lower Paleolithic to the Eneolithic. In recent years, in connection with the creation of the Center and the addition of young specialists to its staff, the range of objects studied has expanded.

The most ancient and unique objects indicating the appearance of humans on the territory of the Irtysh region about 1 million years ago are the locations of pebble tools found in the Lebyazhinsky district, 100 km south of the city of Pavlodar. Their materials are represented by the pebble industry, originating from ancient deposits of the Irtysh terraces. A complex of similar stratified monuments has long been known on Lake Maraldy, 60 km east of Pavlodar, the study of which was limited to the collection of excavated material, since there are no other possibilities for conducting research on these monuments due to the depth of cover of the cultural layer.

For a number of years, studies have been carried out on a complex of Stone Age workshop sites and settlements numbering more than 20 objects in the area of Old Ekibastuz. This complex was severely damaged as a result of the development of the Ekibastuz coal deposit, and in the future it will be completely destroyed, therefore it needs constant study, as it is important for solving many problems of archeology and the ancient history of Kazakhstan and Western Siberia. In particular, to understand the problem of the initial development of the northern outskirts of the Kazakh hillocky area by ancient hominids, the subsequent development of stone industries, their influence on the culture of neighboring regions of Central Asia and the further transformation of industries at the end of the Stone Age.

Another group of monuments studied by the Center is represented by sites and multi-layered settlements of the Stone Age located in the middle reaches of the Shiderta River. They also suffered significantly from the economic activities of the local population. The most promising here are the multilayer sites of Shiderty 2,3,5. The Shiderty 3 site has been studied over the past 20 years; it is the only multi-layered monument in Northern and Central Kazakhstan, allowing us to trace the development of stone industries and the change of cultural traditions in the region throughout almost the entire Holocene. At the site, 6 cultural horizons were identified containing materials from the Mesolithic - Chalcolithic; in the upper layer of this monument, materials from a new archaeological culture of the Chalcolithic era and a human burial from this period were discovered - one of the oldest in the Republic. The site is also interesting from the point of view of stratigraphy, since several buried soils were identifie

d here, embedded in a member of Holocene deposits of the first above-floodplain terrace of the Shiderty River. From some soils, radiocarbon dates were obtained based on humus, as well as spore-pollen spectra from the entire section of the site. Currently, this monument is a reference object for constructing the periodization and chronology of Holocene complexes and identifying new archaeological cultures in the territory of Northern and Central Kazakhstan. The multi-layer site of Shiderty 3, as a unique object of its kind, the only archaeological monument of Pavlodar region, was included in the republican program “Cultural Heritage” and was studied for two years within the framework of this program.

Among the monuments of the Shiderya archaeological complex, a layer of objects of a new type was also identified, which had not previously been studied in the territory of Central Kazakhstan and belonged to the Early Bronze Age; which are represented by settlements and burial structures in the form of stone mounds.

During its existence, the Center's expedition discovered a number of monuments from different eras in other areas. These are Neolithic, Bronze and Early Iron Age settlements north of Pavlodar, in the Lebyazhinsky district, on Lake Sharbakty, Borly, Kyzyltuz, Bronze Age burial grounds near the village of Irtyshsk and the village. Michurino, Grigoryevka, Naberezhnoye, Kenzhekol, in the Bayanaul region, ancient sanctuaries with cave painting and many other objects that are being destroyed and require urgent study.

A significant array of archaeological sources was obtained as a result of the study of Bronze Age monuments. At the moment, in the Republic, only employees of the Archaeological Center of PSU are carrying out targeted identification and study of monuments of the Early Bronze Age. It must be said that the study of this period is in many ways of key importance for solving the issues of the formation of copper and bronze metallurgy and the spread of wheeled transport on the territory of Kazakhstan. For the first time on the territory of Central Kazakhstan, monuments of the Early Bronze Age were discovered, which opened a new page in the ancient history of Sary-Arka.

Burial grounds and settlements of this period are being explored near the city of Ekibastuz, on the Shiderty River and near the village Grigoryevka and Shauke (where entire archaeological complexes of this time have been identified), on the lake Borly, as well as in other places where materials of the Yeluninsky, Yamnaya and other cultural types were discovered. Based on the results of their research, a general work “The Early Bronze Age of Eastern Kazakhstan” is being prepared.

The monuments of the Andronovo cultural and historical community, settled cattle breeders, farmers and metallurgists, who left behind many archaeological monuments: settlements, mine workings, subsoil burial ground, stone fences and mounds are of great scientific interest.

As a result of excavations of subsoil burial grounds Karatumsuk, Kenzhekol 1, Chernoye, Naberezhnoe, Kyzylzhar, as well as settlements near the village Pavlodarskoys and in the Ak-Bidaik tract, on the lake Bozshakol and other monuments of the Andronovo tribes, numerous samples of ceramic vessels, bronze weapons, tools, jewelry, remains of dwellings and burial constructions, ancient workings were obtained, which indicate a high level of development of ceramic production, mining and metallurgy, construction, and woodworking.

Despite many years of archaeological research in Pavlodar region, which occupies the north-eastern part of Kazakhstan, there are still many unexplored stages of ancient history. This region, located at the junction of various geographical and cultural-historical zones formed in ancient times in the middle course of Irtysh - the largest waterway in Kazakhstan, is a contact zone and a key region in the intercultural relations of the ancient population of Kazakhstan and Western Siberia.

Based on the results of research by the Center’s staff, there are many publications in scientific publications in Kazakhstan, Russia, and Germany; new works are being prepared that highlight the results of field research and the publication of the materials obtained. During the existence of the Center, 2 collections of scientific articles devoted to the problems of archeology of the Pavlodar Irtysh region and neighboring regions were published, materials of the conference “Margulan Readings 2004” dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Academician A.Kh. Margulan, a photo album with rock paintings, a dictionary of archaeological terms, a textbook on ancient history, new publications are being prepared. They reflect the results of the work of the Pavlodar archaeological expedition for more than 20 years. During this time, the Center's staff published more than a hundred articles in scientific publications in Kazakhstan and Russia, more than 2 dozen articles were written in the Pavlodar Irtysh region encyclopedia and other popular publications. A series of educational documentary films “Very Ancient Asia” was produced about the study of archaeological sites.

The Center conducted expeditions to study the complex of medieval religious and memorial buildings “Kolbasunskaya Tower” near the village. Kyzylenbek in the Maysky district, burial mounds of the Kimaks and Kipchaks, the Hunno-Sarmatian period, the Saka era, settlements and burial grounds of the Bronze Age, as well as objects of ethnographic time.

As part of a special program, research was carried out on the ancient steles and sculptures of Bayanaul, which are the subject of separate documentaries.

It must be emphasized that the bulk of the materials accumulated during the work of the Center formed the basis of the fundamental work “Code of historical and cultural monuments of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Pavlodar region”, which included more than 700 archaeological monuments.

Thus, the main task of the research conducted by the Center is the preservation of archaeological monuments from destruction and the consistent study of the entire territory of Pavlodar region, the identification of new archaeological cultures, the development of problems of their relationship with each other and with cultural formations of other regions.

The Center’s staff also carries out scientific and pedagogical work, on the basis of the archaeological expedition of which educational and field practices are carried out. An archaeological club has been organized at the Center, in which students and schoolchildren interested in archeology study.

In 2002, on the basis of archaeological materials collected by Pavlodar archaeological expedition, an archaeological museum was created, the exhibition of which presents unique exhibits reflecting the history of Pavlodar Irtysh region from the Paleolithic era to ethnographic modernity .

Currently, the Center's staff are studying the problem of horse domestication east of Turgai. They are conducting comprehensive research on the multi-layer settlements of Borly and Borly 4 in the Lebyazhinsky district, excavations of settlements of the Early Bronze Age near the village. Shauke, Michurino and other places. Work is underway to create an ethnocultural history of the development of the region's population in the Neolithic - Early Bronze Age.

It is planned to implement a number of projects devoted to the problems of the ancient history of the region, protection, restoration and museumification of archaeological monuments, preparation for the publication of the third edition of a collection of scientific articles on the problems of archeology of Pavlodar Irtysh region, as well as the preparation of a monograph based on the results of studies of the Shiderty 3 site and other monuments.

Priority goals and objectives:

• Introduction of the results of the latest achievements of archaeological science and developments aimed at improving research activities into the educational process;
• Interdisciplinary approach with extensive use of natural science methods in archaeological research;
• Increasing the level of student learning so that they receive the necessary practical skills in archaeological research;
• Attracting students and pupils to scientific research work in the field of protection and study of archaeological monuments;
• Development of topics in various areas of regional archaeology, writing scientific papers and teaching aids;
• Collection and study of archaeological materials on the ancient and medieval history of the region;
• Introduction of the results of archaeological research into scientific circulation;
• Development of cooperation with regional, republican, and foreign scientific centers;
• Development of a comprehensive system for the protection and use of historical and cultural heritage;
• Creation of information support, popularization, propaganda of knowledge on archaeology and history among the population, involvement of the professional part of the teaching staff of the region in public activities for the protection of historical and cultural heritage.