Archaeological research at the Aktobe-Laeti settlement completed
From August 16 to 30, archaeological excavations and reconnaissance surveys were carried out at the Aktobe-Laeti settlement in accordance with the annual research plan of the Atyrau Regional Museum of History and Local Lore. Located in the lower reaches of the Zhaiyk river, the settlement is an important historical and cultural monument dating to the Golden Horde period.
The research was conducted as part of a three-party scientific collaboration, in partnership with the A. Kh. Margulan Institute of Archaeology (Republic of Kazakhstan) and the A. Kh. Khalikov Institute of Archaeology (Republic of Tatarstan, Russian Federation).
Results of the field research:
▪️ Archaeological excavations were carried out in the northwestern part of the settlement, covering a total area of 160 square metres.
▪️ Domestic and utility pits, fragments of medieval ceramic vessels, bones of livestock and fish were discovered in the cultural layer. These finds provide important evidence for studying the economic activities and everyday life of the settlement’s inhabitants.
▪️ To determine the extent of the site and the distribution of its cultural layer, 12 exploratory test pits, each measuring 2 × 2 metres, were excavated. The test pits were investigated to a depth of up to 3 metres.
▪️ In addition, two later burial sites were recorded in the upper layer of the excavation area.
The archaeological materials and osteological remains collected during the research were sent to the A. Kh. Margulan Institute of Archaeology of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan for laboratory processing, typological classification, and scientific analysis.
The work carried out will help researchers examine the medieval domestic and economic structure of the Aktobe-Laeti settlement, refine the boundaries of this historical and cultural monument, and establish a scientific basis for measures aimed at its protection and preservation.
