Secrets of ancient civilizations under the roof of the Scientific Center -
Journey through the millennia of the country's history -
The Museum of Archeology of Almaty is one of those places where time seems to lose its boundaries. It is located in the Gylym Ordasy Scientific Museum complex, the heart of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and preserves traces of great civilizations, peoples and cultures that have existed in the country for thousands of years. The legends of the steppes come to life here, ancient artifacts become witnesses of the past, and each exhibit seems to invite the visitor to follow the path that humanity followed from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages.
This is a space not only for museum display, but also for scientific thought. Its atmosphere captures the spirit of exploration, discovery and the desire to understand the origins of the Kazakh land. When you go inside, you feel that you are standing at the crossroads of time, among manuscripts, pottery fragments, burial mounds and reconstructions, allowing you to look into the culture of those who lived here long before the appearance of cities and roads.
Opposite the museum is the famous Chokan Valikhanov Park, which houses a monument to Chokan Valikhanov. This makes this location interesting and attractive, here you can immediately see many interesting sights of Almaty in one place.
History
The history of the museum is the history of the archaeological science of Kazakhstan. Back in the 1920s, scientists began a systematic study of ancient monuments, gradually collecting unique materials from all over the country. They worked in the harsh conditions of the steppe and mountains, explored mounds, ancient settlements and ancient settlements, leaving behind an invaluable legacy, which became one of the foundations of the future museum.
In 1973, the Museum of Archeology was officially opened on the initiative of Dinmukhamed Kunayev. It was originally located on Dostyk Avenue, in the building of the old Academy of Sciences, and from the very first days it became a scientific center where not only exhibits were stored, but also serious research was conducted.
The founders of the museum are the legends of Kazakh archeology – Alkey Margulan, Kemal Akishev, Akish Nusupbekov, Hakim Alpysbayev, Mardan Kadyrbayev, Anfisa Maksimova. It was they who created the scientific school, revealing to the world such monuments as Begazy-Dandybayev culture and Issyk Kurgan, the site of the famous "Golden Man".
The reconstruction of its appearance, created by Kemal Akishev and Vyacheslav Sadomskov, has become a real symbol of the archeology of Kazakhstan, proof of the existence of developed cultures and complex social structures among the ancient Saka tribes.
In 2010, the museum was transferred to the system of the Gylym Ordasy center, and in 2012 it opened in an updated form – in the building of the Academy of Sciences on Al-Farabi Avenue. It is here that he works today as part of a single scientific complex.
Exhibitions and collections
The modern exposition of the museum reveals the history of Kazakhstan from ancient times to the Middle Ages. Here you can see the authentic finds of the Central Kazakhstan archaeological expedition of Margulan, materials from the burial mounds of the Saka aristocracy, handicrafts, jewelry, weapons, ceramics, bronze items and much more.
Two main gems of the collection make a special impression – the reconstruction of the "Golden Man" and the exposition of the Berel Necropolis, including the "Berel Horse" and the burial model of burial mound No. 11. These finds are part of the world heritage of archaeological science and are considered one of the most significant discoveries in Eurasia.
Each hall of the museum is built as an independent journey through stone tools, bronze cauldrons, glass vessels, funeral masks, medieval coins and objects of urban culture. All this creates a complete picture of the region's multi-thousand-year history, which was part of the Great Steppe and its cultural intersections.
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How to get there and visit -
The Museum of Archeology is located in Almaty, in the Gylym Ordasy complex in the building of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, at 28 Shevchenko Street, corner of Zhambyl Street, Medeu district, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 43°14'45"N 76°57'11"E
The location is well connected to the city, including the Almaty metro station "Abaya" is only 800 meters from the property. Ground transportation is also well developed: the key stop on Shevchenko Street is accessible by trolleybuses No. 11, 19, 25. Buses following Dostyk Avenue (No. 5, 5A, 5B, 29, 29P) can also be reached here., 48, 65, 66, 120, 121, 141), and also on the routes No. 12 (the final stop is the Kazakhstan Hotel) and No. 112 (follows Kunaev Street). It's not difficult to get there by car or taxi.
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Architecture and atmosphere
The museum is located in one of the buildings of the Gylym Ordasy complex, a majestic ensemble of academic architecture in Almaty. High ceilings, wide halls, velvety silence and soft lighting create the feeling of being in a temple of science. The place has absorbed the atmosphere of decades of research and scientific discoveries, and this energy is felt literally in every room of it.
Legend and legend
There is a quiet legend associated with the museum, which is told by the staff. It is said that in the late evening, when the lights in the corridors are already turned off and the halls are empty, you can hear a slight metallic clink – as if artifacts of Saka warriors are coming to life or bronze mirrors, jugs and ornaments are echoing. These are considered "voices of the past", a reminder that history never sleeps here.
According to legend, if a person comes to a museum with a sincere interest in the past, he leaves with a small "gift" – a clear thought, new inspiration or a sense of the depth of time.
Interesting sights nearby:
• Monument to Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin;
• Oriental Calendar Fountain;
• Palace of the Republic;
• Abai Kunanbayev Square;
• Monument to Abai Kunanbayev;
• Kok-Tobe Cable Car;
• Tulebayeva Street;
• Hotel Kazakhstan.
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