Principal Results of the Project Implemented by the Research and Educational Center for Altaic and Turkic Studies “Greater Altai”

Abstract

We outline the result of collaboration by a team of more than sixty researchers from 22 Russian and 13 foreign institutions under the project implemented by the Research and Educational Center for Altaic and Turkic Studies “Greater Altai” in 2022–2023. Six archaeological and four ethnographic expeditions were carried out in the Russian Federation, the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the Kyrgyz Republic. Findings concern the origin of the Turkic ethno-cultural complex and its spread across Central Asia. Archaeological surveys revealed new sites, many of which were excavated, and some were included in the museum projects. Extensive photographic and volumetric documentation was conducted. In the course of ethnographic expeditions, Turkic epic texts were collected, many elements of traditional culture were revealed, showing parallels between Altaic and Kyrgyzian traditions. Also ethnographic parallels were documented between Slavic and Turkic cultures of the Greater Altai. These were used to elaborate the concept of Slavo-Turkic unity, which has both theoretical and practical implications.