RESULTS OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH ON GOLDEN HORDE SITES IN 2025: NEW MATERIALS AND INTERPRETATIONS

Abstract

According to archaeological research, the territory of the West Kazakhstan region was one of the important centers for the development of sedentary culture during the Golden Horde period. Along the Ural River, as well as in the areas of the Bolshoy Uzen and Maly Uzen rivers, a number of settlements such as Zhayyk, Zhalpaktal, Mokrinsky, Saryozen, and Oryskopa were established during this period. The main objective of this research is to verify and confirm the presumed medieval trade routes in the area of known settlements using archaeological methods. The research methodology involved analyzing historical communication routes from the 19th to the 20th centuries and, considering the distribution areas of known settlements, conducting direct archaeological surveys along the presumed trade routes. As a result of the work, new archaeological sites from the Golden Horde period were discovered along the presumed trade routes. This confirms the hypothesis of the existence of historical trade connections and provides a foundation for studying the economic and cultural ties of the region during the medieval period.