Kultobe Settlement. Archaeology and UNESCO Heritage
Academic supervision of a comprehensive project of research, conservation and museumification of archaeological heritage in the historic centre of Turkestan, within the setting of a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Project Overview
The Kultobe settlement lies in the historic centre of Turkestan, next to the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The comprehensive project combined archaeological research, conservation, restoration and preparation of the site for museumification. Andrey Khazbulatov was the academic supervisor of the project, coordinating the interdisciplinary work of researchers and heritage specialists.
Key facts
- Role
- academic supervisor of the project
- Location
- Turkestan, Kazakhstan
- Site
- Kultobe settlement
- UNESCO context
- historic setting of the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, a World Heritage site
- Areas
- archaeology / heritage management / conservation / restoration / museumification
- Format
- interdisciplinary research project in cultural heritage
Project Timeline
Phase 1
Archaeology of historic
Turkestan
Research at Kultobe revealed the multi-layered history of one of the oldest parts of Turkestan. The archaeological work went together with the study, recording and conservation of the architectural structures and artefacts uncovered.
Phase 2
From research
to conservation
Archaeology, conservation, restoration and museumification were treated as a single process. The aim was not only to study the site but to preserve what had been uncovered and integrate it into the cultural space of Turkestan.
Phase 3
UNESCO and international
expertise
Kultobe’s position within the historic setting of the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi called for the requirements protecting a World Heritage site and its surroundings to be taken into account. The project and its conservation approaches were discussed with international experts and presented internationally, including at UNESCO events in Paris.
