RESEARCHERS FROM PAVLODAR PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY PRESENTED THEIR RESEARCH AT AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN CAMBRIDGE

09.10.2026

From 30 September to 2 October 2026, researchers from the Institute of Archaeological Research at Alkey Margulan Pavlodar Pedagogical University actively participated in the international scientific conference “New Directions: Understanding Ancient Interactions Across Eurasia”, held at the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.

As part of the conference programme, the Institute's researchers presented two posters and one oral paper, addressing current issues in archaeology, material culture studies, historical textiles, conservation of archaeological finds, and cultural interactions across Central Eurasia.

It is particularly gratifying that a poster presenting the results of recent archaeological research in the Pavlodar Region was accepted into the international conference programme:

“Osteological Assemblages from the Koktas Burial Ground (Pavlodar Region, Kazakhstan): Issues of Analysis and Preservation”

Authors: Y. K. Tusheva, N. S. Miller, T. Krupa, and V. V. Golodenko.

The study focuses on osteological materials from the Koktas archaeological site in the Pavlodar Region, addressing challenges related to their analysis, interpretation, and preservation. Particular attention is given to archaeozoological research, the use of bone raw materials by ancient populations, the impact of natural and anthropogenic factors on archaeological remains, and issues of documentation, conservation, and storage.

Presenting the results of research conducted in the Pavlodar Region at Cambridge provided an important opportunity to introduce the international academic community to the region's archaeological heritage and contemporary interdisciplinary approaches to its investigation.

The second poster was prepared in collaboration with our valued research partners from the Kyrgyz Republic, including the American University of Central Asia (AUCA):

“Silk Textiles from the Ortotokoy Burial Site (Kyrgyzstan): Between Preservation, Material Analysis and Cultural Interpretation”

Authors: Tetiana Krupa, Aida Abdykanova, and Kunbolot Akmatov.

The paper presents the results of an interdisciplinary investigation of archaeological textiles from the Ortotokoy burial complexes excavated in 2021 and 2024. The research focuses on the preservation of organic materials, structural and technological analysis of textiles, reconstruction of elements of female costume, and their historical and cultural interpretation.

Of particular scholarly significance are the preserved elements of female dress, including silk fabrics and headdress components. These finds provide valuable evidence not only for textile production technologies but also for investigating social status, cultural contacts, and the circulation of materials and traditions in medieval Central Asia.

This joint research represents an important example of productive international cooperation between scholars from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in the study and preservation of archaeological heritage.

On 2 October, Tetiana Krupa, Head of the International Laboratory for Conservation and Restoration “UMAI” at the Institute of Archaeological Research, delivered an oral presentation entitled:

“Between Palace and Steppe: Rethinking the Cultural Language of the Golden Horde through Material Evidence”

The presentation introduced the results of her latest research into Golden Horde costume, encompassing a broad range of sources and methodologies — from critical analysis of medieval Latin-language written accounts to technological examination of archaeological textile materials dating to the Golden Horde period.

Particular attention was devoted to problems of translation and interpretation of historical descriptions, the construction and technological characteristics of women's clothing and headdresses, and the results of archaeological investigations employing modern methods of materials analysis.

A separate focus of the presentation concerned cultural continuity, transformation, and the subsequent transmission of particular elements of Golden Horde costume, especially women's headdresses, into later Kazakh ethnographic traditions.

The integration of written sources, archaeological evidence, and technological research offers new perspectives on mechanisms of cultural interaction, continuity, and the development of regional traditions.

Participation in this international conference at the University of Cambridge was an important event for the Institute of Archaeological Research at Alkey Margulan Pavlodar Pedagogical University.

The inclusion of three research contributions in the conference programme demonstrated the relevance of the Institute's ongoing investigations and the importance of developing international academic cooperation.

We highly value the opportunity to present research on the archaeological heritage of Kazakhstan and Central Asia at one of the world's leading academic institutions, exchange expertise with international colleagues, and continue professional dialogue on the study, preservation, and interpretation of Eurasia's cultural heritage.