Turkic World Symposium on Excavations, Research, and Archaeometry Begins at KTMU
The opening ceremony of the symposium, organized in cooperation with KTMU, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye, the Ministry of Culture, Information and Youth Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic, and the Turkish Institute of Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, was held at the Kasım Tynystanov Conference Hall of the Faculty of Humanities on the Chinghiz Aitmatov Campus.
Bringing together 83 researchers from eight countries at KTMU, the symposium provides a platform for sharing recent findings and research experiences related to the archaeological heritage of the Turkic world. In addition to findings from excavations and surface surveys, the program will address cultural heritage preservation, restoration, museology, and archaeometry. By enabling the joint assessment of research conducted across different regions, particularly Anatolia, Central Asia, and the Caucasus, the symposium aims to strengthen knowledge sharing and academic cooperation among researchers.
Askaraly Madaminov: Scientific Data Guides the Preservation of Cultural Heritage
Askaraly Madaminov, Deputy Minister of Culture, Information and Youth Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic, emphasized that scientific research plays a guiding role in protecting archaeological sites and historical artifacts. He highlighted the importance of evaluating data obtained through excavations, documentation, and investigations alongside practical measures aimed at preserving cultural heritage.
Noting that cooperation among universities, museums, and relevant public institutions facilitates the practical application of research findings, Madaminov stated that the symposium provides an opportunity to share experiences from different countries. He also emphasized that scientific research and public awareness must complement each other to ensure that cultural heritage is passed on to future generations.
Rector Ceylan: Our Common History Must Be Illuminated Through Scientific Evidence
KTMU Rector Prof. Dr. Alpaslan Ceylan emphasized the importance of studying the common history and cultural heritage of the Turkic world through scientific methods, sharing the knowledge obtained, and passing it on to future generations. Expressing his pleasure at welcoming scholars from across the region stretching from Mongolia to Anatolia to Manas University, Ceylan thanked the institutions contributing to the symposium, the organizing and scientific committees, and the participating researchers.
Stating that history is a fundamental resource for understanding the collective memory of societies and the formation of their identities, Ceylan noted that archaeology makes it possible to examine this memory through tangible findings. He explained that settlements, kurgans, rock paintings, inscriptions, and architectural remains across the regions extending from Turkestan to Anatolia and from the Caucasus to the Balkans provide scientific evidence of economic relations, beliefs, modes of production, and cultural interactions.
Emphasizing the need to document archaeological findings meticulously, interpret them critically, and adhere to international scientific methods, Ceylan stated, “Scientific reliability is one of the most important indicators of our respect for our cultural heritage.”
The Legacy of Field Research Is Being Passed on to New Generations
Referring to his own fieldwork, Rector Ceylan explained that, beginning in the 1990s, he and a large research team had conducted excavations and surface surveys across the vast geographical area stretching from Mongolia to Anatolia. He noted that these studies had led to the development of the thesis “Early Turkic Traces in Anatolia” and emphasized that the continuation and further development of this research by young academics was valuable for the archaeology of the Turkic world.
Prof. Dr. Ceylan also stated that knowledge produced by researchers working in different Turkic republics about the histories of their respective regions should be brought together through joint scientific studies. He described the symposium as an important realization of an academic gathering they had been aiming to organize for many years.
Scientific Gatherings Aim to Lead to Joint Projects and Publications
Prof. Dr. Alpaslan Ceylan stated that one of the symposium’s main objectives was to bring excavation work, archaeological assessments, and archaeometric analyses together within a shared scientific framework. He noted the importance of establishing lasting collaborations among researchers from different countries and disciplines.
Highlighting the need not only to produce knowledge but also to share it, compare research methods, and develop common research questions, Ceylan explained that the academic relationships established through the symposium could contribute to joint projects, the exchange of experience in laboratory and fieldwork, and greater international visibility for scientific publications.
Protecting Cultural Heritage Also Means Preserving Future Generations’ Right to Research
Rector Ceylan stated that protecting cultural heritage also requires preserving the knowledge embodied in artifacts and their historical context. He emphasized that scientists and relevant institutions have a responsibility to safeguard future generations’ right to research this heritage.
Addressing the importance of educating young researchers to become scholars capable of asking new questions, testing established assumptions through scientific methods, and establishing connections across different disciplines, Ceylan said that bringing postgraduate students and young academics together with experienced researchers would contribute to this process.
Expressing his hope that the scientific discussions at the symposium would continue through new research projects, joint publications, and international academic networks, Ceylan recalled the saying from the Manas Epic, “The wolf devours those who are divided, and the bird devours those who separate.” He added:
“The unity of the Turkic world is not a memory of our shared past, but a responsibility for our shared future. Today, we are experiencing the joy and pride of this unification, of being one nation, and of moving toward common scientific goals.”
Scientific Gatherings Should Lead to Lasting Research Collaborations
KTMU Rector Prof. Dr. Alpaslan Ceylan expressed his pleasure at welcoming scholars researching the archaeological heritage of the Turkic world to Manas University. He noted that excavations, surface surveys, interdisciplinary investigations, and comparative studies are essential for understanding the historical legacy spread across a vast geographical area.
Stating that evaluating archaeological findings alongside the methods offered by history, art history, and the natural sciences deepens our understanding of the past, Ceylan emphasized that universities should establish connections among research, education, and cultural heritage preservation.
He noted that the university attaches great importance to transforming the academic relationships established at the symposium into collaborations that support joint fieldwork, scientific publications, and the training of young researchers. He also thanked the institutions supporting the event and the scholars sharing their work.
Prof. Dr. Şaban Doğan: Knowledge Sharing Must Be Strengthened in Research and Preservation
Prof. Dr. Şaban Doğan, Director of the Turkish Institute of Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, highlighted the importance of inter-institutional cooperation in researching and preserving archaeological heritage. He explained that documenting excavation findings, evaluating them through scientific methods, and sharing research results are interconnected processes that complement one another.
Noting that the exchange of methods and experiences among researchers from different countries would contribute to cultural heritage studies, Doğan stated that the symposium provides a valuable platform for such exchanges. He emphasized the role of connecting knowledge generated in the field with scientific publications and preservation practices in passing the shared heritage on to future generations.
Stating that the Institute is open to cooperation with researchers from all regions of the Turkic world, Doğan said, “Our goal is to work shoulder to shoulder and heart to heart with our kinsmen in every region where Turks have breathed, walked, and left their mark, and to travel the same path together.”
Prof. Dr. Abılabek Asankanov: Joint Research Sheds Light on the History of the Turkic World
Prof. Dr. Abılabek Asankanov, Director of the B. Jamgerchinov Institute of History, Archaeology and Ethnology of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic, stated that the symposium contributes to illuminating the history of the Turkic world through scientific evidence by bringing together archaeological findings from different regions.
He noted that the excavations and surface surveys conducted over many years by KTMU Rector Prof. Dr. Alpaslan Ceylan are valuable for documenting the historical and cultural traces of Turkic communities. He added that the continuation of these studies by young researchers would help expand the existing body of scientific knowledge.
Asankanov expressed his appreciation for Manas University’s efforts to bring researchers together within a shared scientific environment and emphasized that turning the relationships established at the symposium into joint fieldwork and publications would deepen knowledge of the region’s history.
Stating that archaeological research in Kyrgyzstan has gained momentum in recent years, Asankanov highlighted the importance of studies conducted in regions such as Uzgen, Kochkor, and Toktogul in uncovering the country’s historical heritage. He stressed the need to train qualified specialists and strengthen research capacity to sustain progress in archaeology.
Pointing to a significant imbalance between the abundance of archaeological sites in Kyrgyzstan and the number of specialists working in the field, Asankanov noted that the resources available at Manas University could contribute to archaeological research. He explained that establishing an archaeology center at the university would support both specialist training and the scientific investigation of cultural heritage from different historical periods.
Serkan Gedük: Sharing Archaeological Expertise Strengthens Cultural Cooperation
Serkan Gedük, Deputy Head of the Museums Department of the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye, stated that research into the cultural heritage of the Turkic world contributes to the development of scientific and cultural cooperation among countries. He emphasized that sharing experience gained through excavation and preservation work is important for developing solutions to common challenges.
Noting that researching, preserving, and introducing archaeological heritage to the public are interconnected responsibilities, Gedük stated that cooperation between universities and cultural institutions strengthens these processes.
Nazgül Omurzakova: Museums Play a Key Role in Bringing Archaeological Findings to the Public
Nazgül Omurzakova, Director of the Kyrgyz National History Museum, highlighted the role museums play in sharing the results of archaeological research with the public. She explained that evaluating artifacts within their historical context helps visitors understand past ways of life and cultural relationships.
Omurzakova noted that the exchange of knowledge among universities, museums, and research teams contributes to the documentation, preservation, and exhibition of artifacts. She added that the studies presented at the symposium would also be valuable for museology and emphasized the importance of communicating scientific knowledge about cultural heritage to younger generations in an accessible way.
Prof. Dr. Alpaslan Aşık: Current Research Comes Together on a Shared Scientific Platform
Prof. Dr. Alpaslan Aşık, Chair of the Symposium Organizing Committee and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, stated that bringing together the findings of excavations and research conducted in different regions would contribute to the comparative study of the archaeological heritage of the Turkic world.
He emphasized that evaluating findings from individual research projects with experts from different disciplines is important for developing new research questions.
Noting that the program had been designed to establish connections among excavations and surface surveys, cultural heritage preservation, and scientific analytical methods, Aşık stated that the symposium aims to provide a platform for sharing research experience and sustaining scientific communication among institutions. He thanked the institutions and researchers who contributed to the organization.
A Total of 83 Presentations to Be Delivered Over Two Days
The symposium’s scientific program consists of a special opening session chaired by Prof. Dr. Alpaslan Ceylan, 12 in-person sessions, and three online sessions. Five presentations will be delivered during the special opening session, 62 during the other in-person sessions, and 16 during the online sessions.
The program will address settlement and urban history, kurgans and burial culture, rock paintings, historical battlefields, architectural heritage, and preservation studies. Archaeogeophysics, archaeogenetics, ancient DNA research, applications of artificial intelligence, and the representation of archaeological heritage in the media are also among the topics contributing to the symposium’s interdisciplinary scope.
The scientific sessions will continue on October 16. The closing program is expected to include general assessments by session chairs and discussions on academic cooperation opportunities for the future.
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