Historical and archaeological museums of Kazakhstan.

“in many places there were signs of large gardens planted with trees (Nogerbek-Darasy, Dombagul, Karaton). All this proves that this country was convenient for more than just a nomadic shepherd’s life.”

Gens G." Notes on antiquities in the Kyrgyz-Kaisak steppe." "Siberian Bulletin", 1822.

Visit to museums of Zhezkazgan.

The Zhezkazgan Historical and Archaeological Museum is located at an altitude of 378 meters above sea level, located on the northern side of Alashakhana Avenue, 22, between Zhenis and Anarkulova streets, in the city of Zhezkazgan, Ulytau region. 
Zhezkazgan Historical and Archaeological Museum was opened in 1978. It was created on the basis of the historical and production museum of the Zhezkazgan Mining and Metallurgical Combine. In 1983, the current building at 22 Alashakhana Avenue was transferred to the museum.
Famous local historians participated in the organization and work of the museum: Bukurov S.T., Lobas A.D., Sadvakasov K.I., Isaeva K.I., Bereznikova L.D., Usmanov and others. In 2006, the museum merged with the city exhibition hall and it was renamed the Zhezkazgan Historical and Archaeological Museum with an exhibition hall.
The total area of the museum is 940.3 square meters, the storage area is 129.2 square meters. The fund consists of more than 25,000 storage units, some of which are rare and unique, of particular historical value, and also belonging to famous persons of the Ulytau-Zhezkazgan region. 
Exhibitions are housed in four halls of Zhezkazgan Historical and Archaeological Museum: 
- paleontology,
- nature, 
- archeology and 
- ethnography "Pearl of Saryarka". 
The museum also has an exhibition hall where works of famous artists, masters of applied art from Kazakhstan and the Zhezkazgan region are presented, and a conference hall where scientific and practical conferences and meetings with interesting people are held.
In the paleontology hall, visitors are interested in valuable paleontological finds: 
bones of the giant rhinoceros Paraceratherium (Oligocene, 40 - 35 million years ago), 
herring shark teeth (Eocene, 50-32 million years ago), 
imprints of plants and fish (395 - 340 million years ago). 
The archeology section presents such interesting exhibits as a stone statue donated by academician A. Margulan, a copper coin from the Zhoshyordasy settlement, gold pendants from the Shotkara settlement in the Ulytau region, and a collection of gold jewelry from the Karaagash burial ground in the Zhanaarka region.
Museum employees as part of the Central Kazakhstan archaeological expedition of the Institute of Archeology named after. A. Margulan ANRK conducts research work in the settlement of ancient metallurgists of the Bronze Age Taldysay and the Aibas-Darasy burial ground in the Ulytau region, and also takes part in the study of the Saki mound Shirik-Rabat in the Kyzylorda region. 
“History - the treasury of our deeds” hall of Zhezkazgan Historical and Archaeological Museum includes sections: 
"Education of the Kazakh Khanate of the XV - XIX centuries," 
"Development of deposits in the region of the XIXth - XXth centuries," 
"Blank Spots of History" 
"The Formation of Independent Kazakhstan." 
Manuscripts and rare books of a religious nature are exhibited in this room: Korans, as well as books from the XVIIIth - XIXth centuries. on Russian history, books on the history of Kazakhstan 1930 - 1950 XX century.
Of particular interest are wall clocks from the Pavel Bure company, household items from the 1950s - 1970s of the 20th century, and a typewriter for the blind by composer Zh. Seilov. Several halls of the museum house voiced dioramas.
The dioramas “Foothills of Ulytau” and “Bay of the Sarysu River” tell about the nature and wildlife of the region in the voices of actors from the Kozhamkulov Theater. In the hall of history the voices of Abylaykhan, Kenesary Kasymov, S. Seifullin, Yu. Levitan, representatives of repressed peoples are heard.
In the halls of the museum there are quite accurate models of historical and architectural monuments of the region: the Ayakkamyr mausoleum (XII century), Alashakhan (XII - XIV centuries), Zhoshykhan (XIII century), Beskumbez (XIX century), a monument - a symbol of the state integrity and unity of the peoples of Kazakhstan (2005).
In 2010, the funds were replenished with new exhibits. Many of them came during exhibitions and as a result of collecting exhibits around the city. Among them are a numismatic collection of 557 coins and paper money, a wrist watch from 1937, donated by a representative of the Korean diaspora, a leather bag from the 50s, personal complexes of internationalist soldiers G. Kuttybaev and S. Margarenko, materials on the topic “Chernobyl accident”.
As part of cultural and educational activities, museum employees organize excursions to historical, memorable and sacred places in the Ulytau-Zhezkazgan region, conduct theatrical excursions-performances, excursions-concerts, excursions-games, with the participation of writers, poets, and local artists.
Within walls of the Zhezkazgan Historical and Archaeological Museum: thematic stationary exhibitions are regularly held, such as: 
"Their names are on the streets of our town, 
"Honorary citizens of the city of Zhezkazgan" 
"Zhezkazgan is the locomotive of the Kazakh economy", 
"Women - leaders: formula for success",
"The image of my mother is in my heart." 
In 2010, a special hall of the history of the Zhezkazgan Music and Drama Theater named after S. Kozhamkulov was opened in the museum. It contains photographs of actors, posters, materials and documents telling the chronology of the history of the theater.
In total, the historical and archaeological museum houses 52,789 items, over 5,000 exhibits are rare and unique. 
Address of Zhezkazgan Museum: Zhezkazgan city, Alashakhana Avenue, 22. Telephone: 8 (7102) 737 753 
Geographic coordinates of Zhezkazgan Historical and Archaeological Museum: N47°48'17 E67°42'13

Authority:
https://culturemap.kz/ru/object/jezkazganskiiy-istoriko-arheologicheskiiy-muzeiy 

Photos by: 
Alexander Petrov.