*

On 26-27 October, 2021, The Margulan Readings 2021 - an International Research Conference & Workshop with a special focus on "The Great Steppe in the Context of the Ethnic Cultural Research" was held in Almaty, Kazakhstan. In the course of the busy and engaging plenary and breakout sessions, 82 have speakers presented their reports and presentations followed by related Q&A sessions.

Director of IICAS Dmitry Voyakin delivered his talk on "New directions in the management of the archaeological heritage of Central Asia: geocultural branding, restitution, archaeological parks", reflecting on the need to develop and adopt logical, systematic and, most importantly, relevant principles for the study and management of archaeological heritage. These principles should be aimed at qualitative development of public governance by increasing the efficiency of the existing system for the protection and use of historical and cultural sites, implementation of the world’s best practices, development and unhampered use of effective legal mechanisms ensuring conservation of archaeological heritage.

An important part of the conference was the round table on "Archeology of Kazakhstan: current problems and development prospects", where the participants were offered four topics for discussion: 

1. The current status of the archaeological science in Kazakhstan: current challenges, interfacing problems and development prospects;  

2. Topical issues of legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of archeology;  

3. Questions of methodology of archaeological research, development of uniform working standards and supervision system;  

4. Issues of molding and training of human resources for archeological work by the local national universities.  

In the course of interesting and heated discussions, scholars unanimously asserted the need to develop uniform scientific standards and system of documentation and record keeping; the need to make changes to and, thus, to strengthen the related legislative frameworks;  to strengthen and intensify curricula, to increase the student headcount quotas for the "archeology" speciality. The results of the discussions will be documented in the form of a practical Conference Resolution.

Share:

Print