AltSU archaeologists participate in a major project to preserve a unique archaeological and ethnographic complex in the Altai Republic

Workers of the Department of Archeology, Ethnography and Museology of the Institute of International Relations of Altai State University participate in the project “Ancient Cradle of Altai. Preservation of a unique archaeological and ethnographic complex”, which was supported by the Presidential Grants Fund in 2022.

There is the Lower Sooru Tract in the Central Altai, in the Karakol valley (Ongudaysky district), which is sacred to the indigenous population. It has a unique complex of numerous archaeological and ethnographic objects. It includes a Paleolithic site of the Mousterian period (more than 40 thousand years ago), burials, ritual structures and a settlement of the Afanasevan community (end of the 4th - beginning of the 3rd millennium BC), large stone mounds of the Pazyryk culture (2nd half of the 6th - II centuries BC), Turkic burials and fences with balbals (2nd half of the 5th - 11th centuries), as well as monuments from other periods of history.

Ancient objects always attract tourists. Many of them visit such places on their own, which causes dissatisfaction among the indigenous population, as the Karakol Valley has a sacred meaning for these people. At the same time, archaeological sites have a high scientific value, as they are the only bearers of deep historical memory. They must not only be explored, but protected from negative anthropological and natural impacts.

However, not all local residents approve of excavations in Altai. These and other circumstances require large-scale educational work.

As part of the project, it is planned to create an open-air museum in the Lower Sooru Tract, as well as design an educational site on local history for three schools in the nearest villages and for the amateur association School of Young Guides.

Employees of the Department of Archeology, Ethnography and Museology of AlSU are responsible for the scientific component of the project. Head of the department, Professor Alexei Tishkin, spoke about the work being done and its prospects.

“In the Lower Sooru Tract, last year we began archaeological research during excavations of the emergency part of the settlement of the Afanasevan period, which is being destroyed by a ravine. We have, firstly, to form an extensive objective information about the historical and cultural identification of numerous objects that are located in the mountain valley, to determine their significance and current state. Particular attention will be paid to the results of the study of the Nizhnyaya Sooru settlement. This is a very important archaeological monument, which demonstrates the development of Altai at the end of the 4th - beginning of the 3rd millennium BC. By the first pastoralists. Secondly, we need to give specific recommendations on how to preserve the cultural layer of this settlement from systemic destruction, as well as on its partial museumification. And the third, no less important task is the modern fixation of archaeological sites located near this settlement. It is necessary to carry out an accurate tacheometric survey based on the analysis of previous works that were implemented there by other methods. Geophysical surveys are planned. We will try to establish the boundaries of the distribution of the cultural layer using electrical tomography. We will describe everything in detail. This information will form the basis for further activities.”

Meetings with the owners of the land, as well as with other local residents, are planned and have already taken place. Recently Sergei Grushin, Professor of the department, one of the project's executors, gave a lecture on the results of the excavations of the previous year. The development of productive cattle breeding, in which sheep breeding, which first appeared in Inner Asia, was of great importance. These materials aroused interest among the invited villagers and tourists.

In addition to the Department of Archeology, Ethnography and Museology of Altai State University, the Department of Design and Architecture of the Altai State Institute of Culture and the AruSvati Ethnocultural Center are participating in the project. The entire program is implemented through "Association of Cultural and Creative Schools of Altai" (headed by Irina Zhernosenko). The team has a lot of work to do, including the arrangement of access roads to the Lower Sooru Tract, the design of an educational and recreational site next to the monument, the development of excursions and their conduct in the summer, etc.

It is assumed that in the future the excavation site will be covered by a glass-metal "sarcophagus", and a reconstruction of the studied cultural layer of the Afanasevan settlement will be created. The partial museumification of the monument, according to the plan, will become the site of the National Museum of the Republic of Altai of A.V. Anokhin, where all the archaeological finds obtained during excavations last year were deposited. It is planned to implement an educational campaign via the Internet.
At the end of the project, a unique and sought-after modern product will be created in order to attract public attention to the unique historical and cultural heritage of Altai, to its preservation and study.