Virtual excursions to the past and modern Atyrau
1.The first records about this city are found in works of the Arab travelling merchant Ibn- Battut who got to visit these places during the period of ruling of the Khan Uzbek in 1333.
2.It is mentioned in works of Catholic missionaries Plano Carpini and William de Rubruquis.
Saraichik is marked on the Catalan map of the 14th century.
3. The manuscripts of the Khivin Khan Abulgazy Bakhadur contain data on Saraichik being a trading and political centre of the Golden Horde.
4.The second half of the ХVІІІ century the city was researched by Mr Rychkov N.P. and Pallas Peter Simon who was leading the 1st academic expedition and later on a professor of the Derptskiy university Mr.Gebel F. who left valuable data about the ruins.
5.In 1861 Mr.Alekseev A.E. made a small size archaeological digging.
6.In 1906 the city was researched by Mr. Loskut.
7.In 1937 archaeological digging was done by Mr. Arzutov Nikolai (1899 -1942). In 1926 he graduated form the Saratov State University, pedagogical faculty, from 1928 he was a Deputy of Archaeological Department of the museum. His specialisation was archaeology of the Lower Volga Region, middle age nomadic Turkic tribes and the Golden Horde in particular. He published 15 scientific works and “The Report on Diggings Conducted in 1937 at the location of ruins of the Golden Horde city Saraichik” is among them.
8.In 1950 the city was researched by Mr.Tolstov and Mr.Patsievich and digging was done by the Western Kazakhstan archaeological expedition of the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Kazakhstan.
9.The patriarch of Kazakhstan archaeology Alkei Margulan who did diggings on 1950s has identified the time of establishment of the city – XII century. There was a question raised on the necessity to do a complex study of the ruins of Saraichik city due to its constant washing out by the river Zhaiyk.
10. In 1980s a team of Mr.Galkin worked in this location, as well as a joint expedition of Russian and Kazakhstan archaeologists Mr.Plakhov V.V. and Mr.Afanasev A.A.
11. In 1996 professor Zeinolla Samashev, a leader of expedition of the Archaeological Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Kazakhstan conducted diggings at the territory of the city.
2.It is mentioned in works of Catholic missionaries Plano Carpini and William de Rubruquis.
Saraichik is marked on the Catalan map of the 14th century.
3. The manuscripts of the Khivin Khan Abulgazy Bakhadur contain data on Saraichik being a trading and political centre of the Golden Horde.
4.The second half of the ХVІІІ century the city was researched by Mr Rychkov N.P. and Pallas Peter Simon who was leading the 1st academic expedition and later on a professor of the Derptskiy university Mr.Gebel F. who left valuable data about the ruins.
5.In 1861 Mr.Alekseev A.E. made a small size archaeological digging.
6.In 1906 the city was researched by Mr. Loskut.
7.In 1937 archaeological digging was done by Mr. Arzutov Nikolai (1899 -1942). In 1926 he graduated form the Saratov State University, pedagogical faculty, from 1928 he was a Deputy of Archaeological Department of the museum. His specialisation was archaeology of the Lower Volga Region, middle age nomadic Turkic tribes and the Golden Horde in particular. He published 15 scientific works and “The Report on Diggings Conducted in 1937 at the location of ruins of the Golden Horde city Saraichik” is among them.
8.In 1950 the city was researched by Mr.Tolstov and Mr.Patsievich and digging was done by the Western Kazakhstan archaeological expedition of the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Kazakhstan.
9.The patriarch of Kazakhstan archaeology Alkei Margulan who did diggings on 1950s has identified the time of establishment of the city – XII century. There was a question raised on the necessity to do a complex study of the ruins of Saraichik city due to its constant washing out by the river Zhaiyk.
10. In 1980s a team of Mr.Galkin worked in this location, as well as a joint expedition of Russian and Kazakhstan archaeologists Mr.Plakhov V.V. and Mr.Afanasev A.A.
11. In 1996 professor Zeinolla Samashev, a leader of expedition of the Archaeological Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Kazakhstan conducted diggings at the territory of the city.
A Numismatic complex of Saraishyk which is a result of the research done by Mr. Samashev S. is exhibited at the state central museum of the RoK. Golden dinars, silver dirhams, copper coins are dated back to XIII- XIV centuries. The oldest coin was made during the era of grandson of Batu-khan – Mengu Temir. The coins had an image of a two headed golden eagle, loins, tigers, horses, bow, axe and other traditional animals and objects”. These relics are a very valuable historic evidence as they help to realize the political and economic and historic and cultural ties of our Motherland during ancient times.
These collections are kept at archaeological museums of the Institute of History, Archaeology and Ethnography of the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Kazakhstan, in Central museum of Kazakhstan, in oblast museum of Atyrau and the Saratov oblast museum.
The favourable location of Saraichik between Europe, Asia, India and China has influenced a rapid development of the city infrastructure. Historians write the following: During one week there were from 700 to 1,200 caravans arriving to Saraichik” i.e. from 35 to 40 thousand of people. This was the time when Kasym Khan announced the city to be the first capital of the newly found Kazakhstan state.
Findings
The findings of the Saraichik ruins were Iranian ceramic ware and the Khorezm crockery made of grey clay, Chinese porcelain ware, reed pipes made of bones, mattocks, knives, fishing rods, nails – are all a proof of the citizens being engaged in trading, handcrafting, melon- growing and gardening.
There was jewellery only typical for this region found here, jars made of burnt clay with painted ornament, wax candles, ceramic kitchen ware, water pipes and other objects of household.
During archaeological diggings archaeologists found a celadonite cup at the bottom of the well 7 meters deep. There are only two cups of this kind in the world- one is in Egypt and the other one is in Saraichik. The secret of this vessel is that if a poisoned food touches it, it will change its colour. There is lots of ceramic kitchen ware and household equipment kept in the museum, these findings has a well preserved brightness of colours and their secret has not been found out until present days.
These collections are kept at archaeological museums of the Institute of History, Archaeology and Ethnography of the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Kazakhstan, in Central museum of Kazakhstan, in oblast museum of Atyrau and the Saratov oblast museum.
The favourable location of Saraichik between Europe, Asia, India and China has influenced a rapid development of the city infrastructure. Historians write the following: During one week there were from 700 to 1,200 caravans arriving to Saraichik” i.e. from 35 to 40 thousand of people. This was the time when Kasym Khan announced the city to be the first capital of the newly found Kazakhstan state.
Findings
The findings of the Saraichik ruins were Iranian ceramic ware and the Khorezm crockery made of grey clay, Chinese porcelain ware, reed pipes made of bones, mattocks, knives, fishing rods, nails – are all a proof of the citizens being engaged in trading, handcrafting, melon- growing and gardening.
There was jewellery only typical for this region found here, jars made of burnt clay with painted ornament, wax candles, ceramic kitchen ware, water pipes and other objects of household.
During archaeological diggings archaeologists found a celadonite cup at the bottom of the well 7 meters deep. There are only two cups of this kind in the world- one is in Egypt and the other one is in Saraichik. The secret of this vessel is that if a poisoned food touches it, it will change its colour. There is lots of ceramic kitchen ware and household equipment kept in the museum, these findings has a well preserved brightness of colours and their secret has not been found out until present days.
Kashin is a type of clay. A special silicate mix of quite a complicated composition called “kashin” was used for ceramic production in the middle centuries. Fine porous porcelain- like mass (a middle Asian name “kashin”) which was obviously invented in Iran in X-XI or XI-XII centuries, has become very popular in Muslim countries from XII century.
Metal and ceramic findings
In 1334 the Arab traveller Ibn Batutta said the following in his recollections: “Saraichik is the second biggest city in the whole world after Baghdad. There is a Khan palace in the centre which has 4 mosques and many caravanserais. There is a fortress wall 11 meters high built all around the city, it is 4 meters wide. But what is most amazing is that every house in this city has a water supply”. In XII century Saraichik had a very powerful water distributing system, its pipelines made of ceramics were found during archaeological digging.
Metal and ceramic findings
In 1334 the Arab traveller Ibn Batutta said the following in his recollections: “Saraichik is the second biggest city in the whole world after Baghdad. There is a Khan palace in the centre which has 4 mosques and many caravanserais. There is a fortress wall 11 meters high built all around the city, it is 4 meters wide. But what is most amazing is that every house in this city has a water supply”. In XII century Saraichik had a very powerful water distributing system, its pipelines made of ceramics were found during archaeological digging.
Legends
In XV century a wise Khan Zhanibek was ruling in Saraichik. He had many sons and many daughters. But his favourite daughter was the smallest one. They made an artificial lake for her by the order of the Khan and they were changing water in the lake once every two weeks.
From time to time a young princess was having a boat trip on the Swan Lake and she was feeding swans with sugar and therefore the lake was sometimes called a Sugar lake. It was not only her influential father but citizens also liked her for her beauty and a modest character. The Princess died when she was fifteen years old. The mourning Khan Zhanibek announced that funeral would be only in one month time but the same night seven of his devoted servants secretly buried the Khan's daughter in a golden coffin by his order. A golden boat was put in her coffin together with all the golden jewellery belonging to her. Five hundred years has past but no one could ever find that rich burial place. In 1929 the place was visited by treasure hunters coming from London and they did find a boat by following a map but they could only find golden nails in it – the boat belonged to the Khan Zhanibek himself.
In XV century a wise Khan Zhanibek was ruling in Saraichik. He had many sons and many daughters. But his favourite daughter was the smallest one. They made an artificial lake for her by the order of the Khan and they were changing water in the lake once every two weeks.
From time to time a young princess was having a boat trip on the Swan Lake and she was feeding swans with sugar and therefore the lake was sometimes called a Sugar lake. It was not only her influential father but citizens also liked her for her beauty and a modest character. The Princess died when she was fifteen years old. The mourning Khan Zhanibek announced that funeral would be only in one month time but the same night seven of his devoted servants secretly buried the Khan's daughter in a golden coffin by his order. A golden boat was put in her coffin together with all the golden jewellery belonging to her. Five hundred years has past but no one could ever find that rich burial place. In 1929 the place was visited by treasure hunters coming from London and they did find a boat by following a map but they could only find golden nails in it – the boat belonged to the Khan Zhanibek himself.
Conclusion
As a result of washing out by the river Ural the historic layer is being destroyed irretrievably. It is planned to do reinforcement at the river bank and then build a modern style museum in the open air. Nowadays the land is densely dotted with bones, skulls, remains of pots and pans made of clay – these are all the signs of ancient civilisation that are waiting for its time to be found. The excursion to Saraichik gives one a touch with history and secrets of centuries. The guestbook has comments of tourists coming from Russia, CIS countries, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Germany and many other guests. The admiration of guests is an example of a careful attitude towards the fractions of historic past for us.
Task
Please take a close look at the museum exhibits. What did you remember and liked most of all? What construction materials did you come across with? Where were the raw materials coming from? What was required for production of ceramics, faience, porcelain, bricks, glass, tiling, slabs? What did the citizens of the city need to have for this operation to be working? Tell us about the economic activity of Saraichik.
Independent reading
Arzutov N.K. “Report On Archaeological Digging In 1937 At The Location Of the Ruins Of The Golden Horde City Saraichik”, “Issued by the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Kazakhstan, The Archaeological Series”, 1949, No67. Grekov B.D., Yakubovskiy A.U., “The Golden Horde And Its Fall”, Moscow. – Leningrad., 1950
As a result of washing out by the river Ural the historic layer is being destroyed irretrievably. It is planned to do reinforcement at the river bank and then build a modern style museum in the open air. Nowadays the land is densely dotted with bones, skulls, remains of pots and pans made of clay – these are all the signs of ancient civilisation that are waiting for its time to be found. The excursion to Saraichik gives one a touch with history and secrets of centuries. The guestbook has comments of tourists coming from Russia, CIS countries, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Germany and many other guests. The admiration of guests is an example of a careful attitude towards the fractions of historic past for us.
Task
Please take a close look at the museum exhibits. What did you remember and liked most of all? What construction materials did you come across with? Where were the raw materials coming from? What was required for production of ceramics, faience, porcelain, bricks, glass, tiling, slabs? What did the citizens of the city need to have for this operation to be working? Tell us about the economic activity of Saraichik.
Independent reading
Arzutov N.K. “Report On Archaeological Digging In 1937 At The Location Of the Ruins Of The Golden Horde City Saraichik”, “Issued by the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Kazakhstan, The Archaeological Series”, 1949, No67. Grekov B.D., Yakubovskiy A.U., “The Golden Horde And Its Fall”, Moscow. – Leningrad., 1950