On May 22, 2024, as part of the celebration of the 120th anniversary of the great Kazakh scientist, Doctor of Philology, Academician Alkey Khakanovich Margulan, the Valikhanov Institute of History and Ethnology held an international scientific and theoretical conference on the topic “The legacy of Academician A.H. Margulan and domestic historical science: new approaches and trends”. The event was held on the basis of the Archive of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Among the main achievements of academician A.H. Margulan is the discovery of Begaza-Dandybaev culture of Central Kazakhstan. Its main distinctive features were reflected in the reports of the Central Kazakhstan Archaeological expedition, which he led in 1946-1947. In addition, the scope of the academician’s attention included the study of written sources, the study of spiritual culture and folklore of the Kazakhs. A.H. Margulan also devoted his life to studying the architecture of ancient cities of Kazakhstan. Among the modern works of the classics are his works such as “Ancient Kazakh tribes and the formation of the Kazakh Khanate”, “Kazakh folk Applied Art” in three volumes, “The World of the Kazakh” and others. A special place is occupied by his participation in writing the academic publication “The History of the Kazakh SSR from ancient times to the present day” in five volumes (1979). At the same time, Alkey Margulan was the editor and compiler of the collected works of Ch.Ch. Valikhanov, and the author of numerous monographs about him. In 1982, he was awarded the State Prize of the Kazakh SSR.
Scientists from Kazakhstan, Russia, and Kyrgyzstan gathered to honor the memory of the famous scientist, ethnoarchaeologist Alkey Khakanovich Margulan. The General Director of the Valikhanov Institute of History and Ethnology, Corresponding member, Professor Z.E. Kabuldinov made a welcoming speech. The event was organized by the Department of the History of Kazakhstan of modern Times of the Institute of History and Ethnology. The moderator of the event is the Deputy Director for Science, Candidate of Historical Sciences Sh.B. Tleubaev.
The long-term work of the founder of the Kazakh school of archaeology and ethnography, Alkey Khakanovich Margulan, is highly appreciated in science. In his speech, the head of the scientific research center for the Problems of Kazakh Monuments of the Institute of History and Ethnology, Honorary Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, chief researcher of the Institute of History and Ethnology named after Ch.Ch. Valikhanov, Professor S.E. Azhigali, spoke in detail about the scientific contribution of the scientist.
Chief Researcher of the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan J.K. Taymagambetov; Chief Researcher of the Institute of Russian History of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Historical Sciences D.A. Amanzholova, Professor of the Department of Archaeology, Ethnology, Source Studies and Historiography of the Kyrgyz National University named after J. Balasagyn, Doctor of Historical Sciences of Sciences Sh.D. Batyrbayeva.
Famous national scientists A.U. Toktabai, J.A. Ermekbay, M.J. Abdirov, Z.T. Sadvokasova, A.A. Almasbek, U.T. Akhmetova, M.A. Alpysbes and others made reports on the life and activities of A.H. Margulan. A.S. Margulan (great-granddaughter of the jubilee) reported on the origin and scientific heritage of the academician.
At the same time, the conference was attended by employees of the Valikhanov Institute of History and Ethnology, university professors and representatives of the Border Academy of the National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan – Colonels N.M. Nakataev and D.N. Baltenko, Associate Professor S.A. Sattarova and cadets.
The event was accompanied by the presentation of the book by Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor M.J. Abidirov “From the history of military Cossack colonization of Kazakhstan (XVI-early XX centuries). Selected works. Volume I. – Almaty, 2023”, as well as the ceremony of donating books to the library of the Institute of History and Ethnology named after Ch.Ch. Valikhanov. The library of the Institute has been replenished with a multi-volume edition of selected works by A.H. Margulan.
