THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS FOR THE STUDY OF THE HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE OF TURKIC PEOPLES IN THE MUSEUMS OF KAZAKHSTAN

Abstract

This article explores the theoretical and methodological foundations as well as the applied aspects of studying the historical and cultural heritage of Turkic peoples within the museum space of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Understanding the ethnocultural characteristics of Turkic peoples through the museum lens is one of the current trends in contemporary humanities. The article provides a detailed analysis of the processes of accumulation, systematization, and scholarly incorporation of Turkic heritage preserved in ethnographic museum collections. Additionally, research materials included the Central State Archive of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the A. Kasteyev State Museum of Arts. The study employs cultural-historical, comparative, typological, and visual-anthropological methods. Through museum artifacts – including jewelry, traditional clothing, household items, and religious relics – the ethnocultural code and historical continuity of the Turkic peoples are revealed. The article substantiates the necessity of introducing the term “museum Turkology” into academic discourse.

Key words. museums of Kazakhstan, Turkic peoples, historical and cultural heritage, museum ethnography, scientific research, methodology, exhibit, museum object.