Information about archeological excavation of medieval settlement Aktobe Laeti conducted by Atyrau local history museum

According to the plan of the Atyrau Local historyMuseum from July 17 to August 5, 2017, archaeological excavations are carried out on the site of the medieval settlement of Aktobe-Laeti, located in the north-east, in 6 km. from the city of Atyrau, in 2 km from the suburban village of Tomarly, in several hundred meters from the micro district "Zhuldyz - 3".

In 1965 local historian V.K.Afanasyev acquainted an archeologist of Ch.Ch.Valikhanov Institute of History, Archeology and Ethnography M.S.Mershchyev,arrived in Guryev (Atyrau), with this monument of archeology.

The systematic excavations were conducted in 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977 by the Middle Volga Archaeological Expedition, in 1981, 1983 bythe Volga-Ural Archaeological Expedition of the USSR Academy of Sciences under the direction of L. Galkin.

In 1989-1991, the Guriev detachment under the leadership of V.K.Afanasyev continued as part of West Kazakhstan archeological expedition of Z.Samashev.

The Gold Horde fortress Aktobe-Laeti is located on the transcontinental caravan route, between the Volga region and Central Asia. It dates back to the 12th-14th centuries.

The area of the fortressis about 200 × 80 m, it has a unique cultural layer. A characteristic feature of it is the relatively good preservation of the layout of the estates, the walls of which are clearly visible on the surface.        

Water supply is well developed, gardens were irrigated. Evidence of this are found remains of water wheel. The cultural layer consists of a forest with abundant inclusion of animal bones, fish, fragments of ceramics. It says that the inhabitants of the city were engaged in cattle breeding and fishing.

There found molds, ceramic vessels, beads, rings, bracelets made ofpasta glass, jewelry production waste. There are copper and silver coins from different cities of the Golden Horde.

This year archaeological excavations are conducted on a plot of 300 square meters.

The contours of buildings, wallstrackwere traced on the investigated site. On the surface you can see the quarterly layout of the craft areas of the settlement. There are different furnaces, canals, sufa. There foundbones of animals and fish, fragments of red clay ceramics, the remains of metal slags.

On August 2, 2017, on the basis of the archaeological excavations, a press conference was held at the site of the excavation of the medieval fortress  Aktobe-Laeti.         

The deputy akim of the Atyrau region, NautiyevAlibek Ibatullayevich, the head of the regional internal policy Bissembiyev Zhaslan Orakovich, the deputy head of the regional culture and archives and documentation Zolayev Azamat Nurzhauovic and schoolchildren of the children's camp, representatives of the mass mediaattended the event.

In the course of the event, the director of the museum Kharipova Rashida Yerimovna acquainted with the work of the archaeological expedition.

Local history museum of Atyrau region


Atyrau city, street B.Momyshuly 3.

Tel. 8 (7122) 32-36-64, 8 (7122) 32-29-12

Email: atyrau-museum@mail.ru