The sacred symbolic meaning of ceramics glazed with a yellow background: possibilities of reconstruction (archaeological artifacts from the Kultobe settlement)

Abstract

Turkistan’s ceramic style development occurred over several centuries and was formed by the Middle Ages. In Kazakh culture the ceramic art was raised up to an original artistic phenomenon. Studies of the production of South Kazakhstan pottery from the archeologic point of view has involved many Kazakh scientists such as: Karl Baipakov, Alexander Podushkin, Yerbolat Smagulov and many others. Their works are the foundation for further cultural and art historical interpretations of Kazakhstani pottery art, and they have contributed to Kazakhstan’s national art history. This article, based on the analysis of specific works representative of South Kazakhstan ceramics and on samples of ceramic production found during the archaeological research on Kultobe settlement (Turkistan, Turkistan region), presents the attempt to reconstruct the sacred and symbolic meaning of ceramics that are glazed with a yellow base. In the article, the authors study two main aspects: the relationship between the artistic language and the sign system (ornament and color), which can be called one of the visual reflections of a large number of languages in traditional culture. In particular, the article discusses folk ideas related to color, shape, and ornamentation of ceramic products and their relationship with ceremonial and ritual life. The materials in this work expand scientific knowledge of the genesis and specificity of traditional Kazakh crafts of South Kazakhstan, where pottery has been partially preserved to this day. The article was prepared within the project of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan AR09259862 “Research of traditional crafts of modern Kazakhstan: state and search for ways to preserve”.