An international scientific symposium titled “Sarayshyk – a Crossroads of East and West: History and Culture of the Great Steppe” was held in Atyrau, Kazakhstan. The event brought together representatives of the international institutions of Turkic cooperation - the Turkic Academy and TURKSOY, as well as archaeologists, historians, museum specialists, and local historians from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, Russia, and Ukraine. As is well known, the ancient city of Sarayshyk served at various times in its long and rich history as the capital of the Ulus of Jochi, the Nogai Horde, and the Kazakh Khanate. A number of rulers of these three states are buried there. Thus, Sarayshyk stands as a vivid symbol of the cultural unity and shared historical destiny of the brotherly Turkic peoples, and as a heritage site of global significance.
Today, work is underway to include Sarayshyk in the UNESCO List of Tangible Cultural Heritage. Efforts to revive Sarayshyk and promote its historical legacy are being carried out under the direct instruction of the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
The symposium featured speeches by Vice Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan Aybek Syzdykov, Deputy Akim of Atyrau Region Zhasulan Bisembiev, Director of “KazRestoration” under the Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan Olzhas Shariyazdanov, Head of TURKSOY’s Department for Relations with Turkic-Speaking Communities Barış Javid Mövsümlü, as well as heads of specialized research institutes, Members of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, and distinguished experts from the aforementioned countries.
The representative of the Turkic Academy, Timur Kozyrev, delivered the welcome address on behalf of the President of the Turkic Academy, Shahin Mustafayev, and also presented a scientific report.
Symposium participants visited the State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve “Sarayshyk,” where large-scale archaeological excavations are currently underway. They also became acquainted with the work of the Sarayshyk Visitor Center, which houses valuable artifacts unearthed at the site. The rich and impressive collection continues to grow.
The Turkic Academy traditionally pays special attention to the history and culture of the Golden Horde as a significant chapter of the shared heritage of the Turkic world and firmly supports the initiative of Kazakhstan’s leadership and the efforts of the country’s academic community aimed at reviving ancient Sarayshyk.