March 15, 2026 – The State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve “Botai” hosted an online round table on “International Archaeological Research of the Botai Culture at the Present Stage and Its Prospects.”

The event brought together leading experts in the field, including Sabina Karimovna Amirova, Director of the Botai Museum-Reserve, Professor Alan Outram from the University of Exeter (UK), and Natalia Nikolaevna Skakun, Senior Researcher at the Institute of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Participants discussed ongoing collaborative research projects and the future of international scientific cooperation.

The round table also brought together domestic scientists and archaeologists conducting research on the Botai culture, including Talgat Mamirov, Meruert Kiyasbek, Dosbol Baigunakov, Mambet Shagirbaev, as well as staff members of the Botai Museum-Reserve.

A highlight of the round table was Professor Alan Outram’s presentation on the Botai culture and the domestication of the horse, one of the most significant topics in global archaeology.

Discussions also focused on the outcomes of recent international research, current scientific challenges, and strategies for further study and preservation of the unique Botai archaeological site.

Events like this strengthen international collaboration, foster scientific dialogue, and raise awareness of Kazakhstan’s rich archaeological heritage.