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With the support of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), a new cultural preservation initiative titled “In the Footsteps of the Oghuz Cultural Heritage in Great Turkistan” is underway in Kazakhstan.
The project aims to shed light on the rich legacy of the Oghuz Turks—a cornerstone population in Turkic history.
Implemented by Yesenov University, located in the city of Aktau, the administrative center of Kazakhstan’s Mangystau region along the Caspian Sea, the project seeks to document and safeguard the shared historical and cultural legacy of the Turkic world.
Fuat Erdogmus, TIKA’s Coordinator in Astana, highlighted the initiative’s significance in an interview with Anadolu Agency (AA). He emphasized that the research focuses on the tombstones located in historic Oghuz cemeteries across the Mangyshlak Peninsula in western Kazakhstan.
“This project aims to illuminate the cultural heritage of the Oghuz Turks,” Erdogmus stated.
“Extensive field studies have been conducted on the tombstones, which were examined in detail by both Turkish and Kazakh scholars.”
The project not only brings attention to these historical artifacts but also seeks to prevent the loss of this vital part of Turkic cultural memory.
According to Erdogmus, the tombstones had never been systematically documented before, which made them vulnerable to decay and oblivion.
Erdogmus described the research as a pioneering academic effort to better understand the Oghuz presence in Kazakhstan and contribute to broader studies of Turkic history.
“These gravestones are tangible elements of shared Turkic history. The fact that they had never been archived before increased the risk of their being lost forever. This project represents a major step in protecting that heritage.”
The initiative has successfully completed its first phase, which focused on comprehensive fieldwork. The second phase will include the production of a documentary film and a photographic book based on the findings.
These materials are intended to serve as a valuable resource for both academic researchers and the general public.
By documenting previously unrecorded Oghuz-era tombstones, the project hopes to strengthen the cultural bridge between the past and future generations across the Turkic world.
Tweet: With Türkiye’s support, a new project in western Kazakhstan maps the Oghuz Turks' cultural legacy—tombstones are being recorded for the first time
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