© Kamla-Raj 2016 Anthropologist, 26(1,2): 5-11 (2016) Ancient Ritual Construction of Saryarka and its Interrelation with Kazakh Ideology Askar Aitbaev1, Danyiar Duisenbai2, Gulden Aikinbayeva3, Saule Tagayeva 4, Dina Yessenova5 and Ayzhan Tuyakova6 1, 3, 4, 5L. N. Gumilyov Eurasion National University, Astana, Kazakhstan, 010000 2Institute of Archeology after A. Kh. Margulan, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 050010 6Kazakh University of Economy, Finance and International Trade, Astana, Kazakhstan, 010000 E-mail: 1<[email protected]>, 2<[email protected]> KEYWORDS Epoch. Ethnographic Time. Ritual Ceremony. Worldview ABSTRACT This paper shows a close interrelation between the main ritual traditions of burying human beings with a horse in the Kazakh period. The main point of this paper are the burial mounds with “mustache” and its functions in the ritual traditions. There are real examples of researchers’ works which followed from the Bronze Age, Early Iron Age, monuments of Huns and Turkish periods, and other archeological excavations which became the results of analyses and facts. There were researches on the cults of sun, fire and burials. Gathering all the results and examples, the researchers were able to present the similarity in the system of faith, further in the history Kazakh period. For example, in the tradition of sacrifice, there are also some ritual traditions combined with the Kazakh period. According to the authors’ opinions, this goes back to about tens of centuries. The results of this fully developed and selected the one system of ideology. Saryarka is a historical and geographical area that is rich of monuments since the ancient times. This article is focused on the ritual function of the ritual monuments of different times. The research of complex burial mounds with “mustache” and its functions remain important. Ancient traditional constructions associated with the ritual ceremonies of the cults of horses in close cooperation with the era of post-Kazakh relations. Horse has been regarded as the main driving force of the procedures since ancient times. Ideological concepts of the people who lived in Saryarka in ancient times has changed only a little mature, the basic idea is to continue for many centuries. INTRODUCTION for processes of the medieval Turkic and ethno- graphic periods of Kazakh of the current era. The One of the modern directions in the areas of attempt to conduct research on linkages between Historical Sciences is the research which is link- ancient monuments and Kazakh ideology is based ing archeology and ethnography. In the science on providing evidences of one existing ideology of ethnography is important to use archeology between Kazakh and the other nomad tribes that in the historical point of view. Thus, these two lived on the area of Kazakh steppe during many sciences are adding each other and also disclos- times. As is well know, the main idea of tradition’s ing the idea and meaning of facts. In this context, function on the ancient monuments is learning the researchers in this article are focused on some the rituals of life, environment and religious de- of the ethnographic materials and monuments of nomination. There is a term “ancient ritual con- Saryarka’s ancient culture. The centuries old his- struction” or area for the rituals” when it comes to tory of the Kazakh people requires research and the language of archeology the ancient monu- study. Such periods in history, as stages in the ments of BC, but after AD there is a “worship development of traditional culture, the birth of area” (Aldazhumanov et al. 2004). During many civilization, the period of nomadic economy, shifts times in the system of religious denomination the in favor of sedentary culture, the culture and the holy animal was played by the horse and today outlook of nomadic tribes settled culture in the need it’s one of the cult animals. of fundamental scientific research (Omarbekov et The purpose of the research is to provide al. 2016). evidence that maintains the ancient ritual tradi- Focus of research was the Saryarka region, tion that was used many times, despite of the the main centers of Atbassar, Botai, Tersek, Be- modified changes. All necessary materials were gazy-Dandybay and Tasmola cultures (Akatai gathered during three years. The research was 2001). This, in turn, is a center of development made in frameworks for indicating the theme of 6 ASKAR AITBAEV, DANYIAR DUISENBAI, GULDEN AIKINBAYEVA ET AL. this article. Objects for the research are methods Necessary materials for writing this paper of analysis and expertise. Analysis method was have been collected during the last three years. made for indicating the main function of ancient Studies on this theme have been conducted over areas of rituals. Expertise method was made in this period of time. The objects of the research order to determine the links between monuments served as methods of analysis and clarification. of different periods and Kazakh ideology. The purpose was to find the main functions of One of the focus of the present research is to ritual places. The clarification methods were used study the two branches of the historical scienc- to determine the interrelation of different time’s es: archeology and ethnography, as one. But, monuments with Kazakh ideology. from a historical point of view, there are differ- ences between ethnography as the science and OBSERVATIONS AND DISCUSSION archeology as the meaning. It is worthy of note that these sciences are closely related. There- Archaeological monuments indicate that the fore, this paper will dwell on the analysis of some Saryarka region is a special place. The peculiari- ethnographical materials and ancient monuments ty of this region lies in the fact that there are of Saryarka. many monuments and a huge number of these The steppe region, Saryarka consists of Shy- are researched monuments and objects. It should ngystau, Bayanauyl, Karkaraly, Kokshetau, Ul- be noted that the Kazakhstan great plain is full ytau and Kyzylarai mountains, the Turan plain of ritual places. Also, the first academic archeo- and the Betbakdala clay desert. Ever since the logical expedition of Central Kazakhstan took historical place developed; different types of place there. cultures have been formed, such as: Makhan- According to modern scientists, expedition zhar, Atbasar, Botai, Tersek, Nurtai, Atasu and practically played a role of the science school Nura. Along with that, the Begazy-Dandybai and producing subject-oriented Kazakhstan arche- the Tasmola cultures were the main centers of ologists and ethnographers. For example, scien- tists- archeologists KA Akyshev and AM Saryarka, which developed separately (Beisen- Orazbaev participate in every year’s expeditions ov 2015). In its turn, Saryarka was the center of along with famous persons of ethnography sphere, development during the Turkic medieval period such as KhA Argynbaev, E Massanov, MS Mu- and the next Kazakh ethnographical period. kanov, S Akataev who also contributed to the The interrelation between Kazakh ideology research works (Aldazhumanov et al. 2004). and ancient ritual traditions of monuments which However, because of the works of some eth- are analyzed in this paper are based on having nographer-specialists in archeology, research- strong evidences of ideology continuity between es have played a significant role. For example, Kazakh and the ancient nomadic people who lived from the investigations of ethnographer, scien- for many centuries in Kazakh steppe. It is known tist N Alimbai (1998), the researchers gathered a that the main functions of the ancient ritual tra- lot of information about the ancient life of the ditions of monuments depended on Kazakh tra- Kazakhs using methodical devices, about the dition of living and the meaning of the terms “en- cycles of Kazakh’s coexistence and semantic re- vironment”, and “religious confession”. In ar- lation, in application to the researches of the ar- cheology, the monuments of BC used the terms cheological monuments. “ritual constructions” or “ritual tradition plac- But, it is worth mentioning that because of es”, but in Kazakh period, these were renamed ethnographical information and consideration the as a cult place (Beisenov 2015). facts that can be derived about one monument. The horse played the main role in the mean- It is known that the significant power in the con- ing of religious faith during many centuries. And, sideration of the genesis of monuments provides nowadays, it is also in the center of common life practice in the wide usage of migration traditions, and one of the cults. resident uses, etc. (Azhigali 2011). This research studied the existence of social All rituals, traditions in any social formations civilizations and cultures which have not lost its are aligned with the cycle of coexistence, and importance in nomadism because of the strong the ideology, which is formed in this sphere, is interrelationships, which also maintain the main one of the concept’s types (Alimbai 1995). With ideal values in times of change. time, such fully-formed traditions and rituals get ANCIENT RITUAL CONSTRUCTION OF SARYARKA 7 developed by days, improving in consequence agreed with this, among them was the archeolo- while going through time. Purchases that exist in gist of the Iron Age of the Central Kazakhstan the historical commemoration, nowadays occur (Beisenov 2011). in the real world by means of some elements. All Consequently, scientists collected materials these are cultured through many centuries by on the terrritory of Kazakhstan from 500 burial the influence of religion and cults. The religious mounds with “mustache”. Many monuments as worldview is based on cults of fire, sun and moon, mentioned are situated in the Central Kazakh- stars and totem of animals. All the above-men- stan and its Northern parts. Along with that, the tioned information is found in special ritual con- burial mounds with “mustache” are also found in structions and on the places of ritual grave.