The goal of the project is modernization of the historical consciousness, aimed at forming a complex of knowledge about Altai as the center of the Eurasian civilization, which became the basis for further technological development of nomads and formation of the Turkic world.
According to rector of D.Serikbayev EKSTU, professor Zhassulan Shaimardanov, this project is designed for 3 years, and the university’s primary task is to provide scientific and practical support, to process information from a scientific point of view, to analyze archaeological finds, and to prepare methodological materials for students in order to make knowledge about Altai and its significance solidify in youth’ minds since school-days.
As rector noted, under “Altai - the cradle of the Turkic world” project, international expeditions will be organized to study the sacral and historical sites of the East Kazakhstan region, as well as the XVII international summer school of students of the Altai region (Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia, China). When implementing the digitalization project for museum exhibits, we plan to digitize the artifacts found with the aim of preserving and replicating them for museum expositions in the tourist centers of the region. The university will provide technical support for the excavation. This is GPR shooting of mounds, and via unmanned aerial vehicles, and the subsequent 3D modeling. The knowledge gained will be transmitted through refresher courses for history teachers and the launch of the textbook "The handbook of local historians", a series of teaching materials for schools in the region. In addition, excursions for schoolchildren will be conducted on an ongoing basis.
The project was launched by the international scientific-practical conference "Altai - the cradle of the Turkic world", within which, workshops were held, as well as the presentation of the "Big Altai" EKSTU museum.
Leading scientists of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation in the field of philosophy, history, archeology, geology, metallurgy made presentations at the plenary session of the conference, highlighting the vision of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan N. A. Nazarbayev on key aspects of national history set forth in the article “Seven Facets of the Great Steppe ".
The honored guests of the conference were: Garifolla Esim, academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, doctor of philosophy, professor; Z. S. Samashev - head of the Scientific Archaeological Expeditions, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor; Zh. K Taymagambetov - academician of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Doctor of Historical Sciences; M. Kh. Abuseitova - Professor, Doctor of historical sciences, Director of the Republican Information Center for the study of historical materials at the R.B. Suleimenov Institute of oriental studies; V. F. Seibert, Doctor of historical sciences; Crym Altynbekov, academician of the Academy of Arts of the Republic of Kazakhstan; B. A. Diachkov – academician, Doctor of geological and mineralogical sciences; Ermolaeva A.S. -leading research fellow, O.Kh. Margulan Institute of Archeology; A.V. Ebel - candidate of historical sciences, head of the department of history and archeology of the Gorno-Altaisk State University; Smagulov T.N. – director of Margulan Center at Pavlodar State Pedagogical University.
Attention was paid to the main areas of historical and archaeological research of the Big Altai, covering the border areas of Kazakhstan, Russia, China and Mongolia, to features of the geological structure of the Big Altai, as a resource base for the origin and development of bronze metallurgy, and the development of mining and metallurgical industries in antiquity at this territory.