Volume 02 Issue 11-2022
88
American Journal Of Social Sciences And Humanity Research
(ISSN
–
2771-2141)
VOLUME
02
I
SSUE
11
Pages:
88
-95
SJIF
I
MPACT
FACTOR
(2021:
5.
993
)
(2022:
6.
015
)
OCLC
–
1121105677
METADATA
IF
–
5.968
Publisher:
Oscar Publishing Services
Servi
ABSTRACT
The documents informing about the results of scientific research carried out in the country by the circle of archeology
amateurs of Turkestan, which researched Central Asia and its neighboring regions, are stored in the National Archives
of Uzbekistan. Documents from archive funds were purposefully used to reveal the content of the article. In this
article, the archaeological, ethnological, linguistic, epigraphic scientific researches of the Turkestan region in the
second half of the 19th century - the beginning of the 20th century are studied. The article reveals the essence of the
scientific research conducted on the basis of the Togarak charter.
KEYWORDS
Governor General of Turkestan, Russian Empire, Archaeological Commission, charter, Central Asia, Bibikhanim,
archeology, obida, madrasa, EOL pillars, T.A.C., jeton, jamghara, numismatics, ethnography.
Research Article
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCHES OF THE TURKESTAN ARCHEOLOGY
AMATEURS’ CIRCLE
Submission Date:
November 05, 2022,
Accepted Date:
November 15, 2022,
Published Date:
November 30, 2022
Crossref doi:
https://doi.org/10.37547/ajsshr/Volume02Issue11-14
Muhammadjon S. Azimbaev
Researcher Of The National University Of Uzbekistan
Umida S. Usmanova
Lecturer Of Tashkent State Agrarian University, Uzbekistan
Azizbek Y. Nazarov
Doctor Of Philosophy (Phd) In Historical Sciences, Senior Lecturer Of The National University Of Uzbekistan
Journal
Website:
https://theusajournals.
com/index.php/ajsshr
Copyright:
Original
content from this work
may be used under the
terms of the creative
commons
attributes
4.0 licence.
Volume 02 Issue 11-2022
89
American Journal Of Social Sciences And Humanity Research
(ISSN
–
2771-2141)
VOLUME
02
I
SSUE
11
Pages:
88
-95
SJIF
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FACTOR
(2021:
5.
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)
(2022:
6.
015
)
OCLC
–
1121105677
METADATA
IF
–
5.968
Publisher:
Oscar Publishing Services
Servi
INTRODUCTION
In the country, a scientific society related to archeology
-
Turkestan Archeological Amateurs’ Circle was
established according to the decree of Emperor
Nicholas II. Togarak studied the history of the country
not only from an archaeological point of view, but also
from ethnological, linguistic, epigraphic and other
aspects. The members of the circle also carried out
medieval, genealogical, numismatic and other
researches.
The charter of the club consists of 21 clauses, and
according to it, its activities consist of the following:
a) Study of ancient monuments located in the territory
of Turkestan;
b) Carry out their description and recording on the
archaeological map of the country;
c) Protection of archaeological monuments;
d) Carrying out archaeological excavations;
e) Processing of local archaeological materials for
publication [1].
According to the above charter, the honorary chairman
was the governor-general of the country. It is made up
of the honorary chairman of the club and the actual
members and staff of the club. In 1895, when the club
was founded, its honorary chairman was Baron A. B.
Vrevsky, the governor-general of the country. As
founding members of the circle, K.V. Aristov, V.V.
Barthold, S.M. Gramenitskyi, N.L. Zeland, F.M.
Kerensky, N.S. Likoshin, V.P. Nalivkin, D.V. Nazarov, V.F.
Oshanin, N.P. Ostroumov, V.O. Preobrazhensky and
others are noted [2].
Among the founders of the circle and its members
were scientists and representatives of the field of
education, major officials and soldiers, as well as not
only researchers in the country, but also researchers
working in the central provinces of the Russian Empire.
During its activity, the circle established contacts with
major historical scientists working in St. Petersburg
and Moscow. Even the idea of the organization of this
circle came from the famous St. Petersburg scientist
V.V. Barthold’s initiative and effort [3].
THE MAIN FINDINGS AND RESULTS
A management div consisting of a vice-chairman,
secretary and treasurer was elected from among the
members of the circle to implement its activities for a
period of one year. The vice-chairman was responsible
for convening the board members and the general
assembly of the club, and the treasurer was
responsible for the economic and financial issues of the
club. The secretary kept minutes of the club's
management and general assembly meetings.
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Servi
Organization of the work of the circle was carried out
by the vice-chairman N.P. Ostroumov from 1895 until
its termination (1917). During the period of Togarak’s
assignment and his personal management, many
archaeological monuments in Turkestan and adjacent
regions are explored, several new findings are put into
scientific circulation. Although the activity of the club
was not conducted academically by its amateur
members, the results of the club’s activities later laid
the foundation for the development of Central Asian
archeology and the history of history.
The minutes of the January 22, 1896 circle meeting
show that E.T. Smirnov presented the scientific
information “Ancient monuments around the city of
Tashkent” in the fo
rm of a lecture. Also, the materials
of this lecture were published in the “Central Asia”
collection. At this meeting, the member of the circle
H.B. Gemlon donated the ancient Bukhara coins to the
Turkestan Archeological Enthusiasts Club. In the
minutes of the meeting, it was determined that the
ancient finds found during the construction of the
Samarkand-Andijan railway would be handed over to
the circle. One of the founding members of the circle,
D.V. Nazarov presented a special token project for
members of the club. In the decision of the meeting,
the size of this token is smaller and T.A.C. (Turkestan
Archaeological Circle) was asked to design a
monogram of letters [4]. A token was then prepared
and held by each member of the circle [5].
According to the minutes of the meeting kept in the
archives, Baron A.B. Vrevsky set the circle fund for 1896
at 250 rubles. The rest of the expenses are covered by
the funds collected from the membership fee. Also, at
this meeting, the Turkestan Military Topography
Department requested a map of Tashkent, which will
be needed for excavation work in O’tror and Shymkent
districts.
In the document describing the meeting of the circle
on February 26, 1896, the instructions of the Consul
General of the Russian Empire in Kashgar,
N.F.Petrovsky, on the research of Tashkent
monuments were discussed. During the meeting, an
ancient Mongolian yak belonging to the Ktai black
Kyrgyz (Kyrgyz - A.N.) clan, sent by V.A. Kalaur, a real
member of the circle, was discussed. It was later sent
to Baron Rosen for research. It is in this meeting that
the military engineer N.T. Poslovskiy has information
that he studied the ruins of the ancient city of Termiz
on the right bank of the Amudarya. Also, a member of
the circle M.A. Terentev taught the gathering how to
copy epigraphic inscriptions on stones using wet
paper, and donated a collection of local language
chrestomathy to the group. According to the task of
the circle, the circle M.S. Andreev in cooperation with
N.G. Mallitsky gave information about the trip to
inspect the Kon-i-Gut cave, Varukh gorge, Kokand
uezd[6]. It was at this meeting that the “Instructions
for correspondent members of the Turkestan
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Archeological
Amateurs
Circle”
compiled
by
S.M.Gramenitsky was prepared.
It should be noted that the members of the group
conducted
archaeological
excavations
in
the
monuments of Afrosiyob in Samarkand, Poykent in
Bukhara, Khojabakirgansoy basin in Khojand, places
near Oratepa, and ancient structures around Tashkent.
In addition, the members of the circle were engaged in
recording and accounting of ancient artifacts, oriental
manuscripts,
numismatics
and
ethnographic
materials[7].
In addition to conducting archeological research, this
fund can also monitor the issue of preservation of
architectural monuments in the territory of the
country. In particular, the information about the
damage of the famous Bibikhanim Mosque in
Samarkand as a result of the earthquake and the
measures taken in this regard are noteworthy. The
information showing the efforts of Turkestan
Archeological Amateurs’ Circle in this regard and the
attitude of the country’s administration to this issue
are reflected in the documents of the fund.
According to archival documents, as a result of the
earthquake of September 5, 1897, a number of
historical monuments in Samarkand region, in
particular, the Bibikhanim mosque mentioned above,
were damaged[8]. Soon, Turkestan Archeology
Amateurs Circle will contact the administration of
Samarkand regarding the preservation and restoration
of the damaged architectural monuments.
In response to this, on September 9, 1897, the
translator of the military governor of the Samarkand
region wrote in a reply letter addressed to the vice-
chairman of the circle, N.P. Ostroumov: “The broken
roof of the Bibikhanim madrasa (mosque - A.N.) has
not been put in order in the form of a heap of stones.
These stones are protected by the local government
and will soon be sorted”[9].
As a result, according to the order of the military
governor of Samarkand region, Count N. Ya.
Rostovtsev (1891-1897), the works of repairing the
buildings destroyed by the earthquake began.
However, the renovation works were carried out
without the permission and participation of the official
authorities and the official processes stipulated by the
legislation of that time. About this, the Archaeological
Commission of the Russian Empire rightfully claimed to
the Governor-General of Turkestan that the local
administration is not aware of the legislation on
ancient monuments. Because according to the charter
of the Imperial Archaeological Commission, it is
forbidden to destroy ancient monuments without the
permission of the commission. However, in the spring
of 1897, according to the order of Governor N. Ya.
Rostovtsev, during the repair process, the upper part
of the last surviving minaret of the Bibikhanim Mosque
was demolished due to the negligence of the
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Oscar Publishing Services
Servi
repairmen. The Archaeological Commission was not
informed about this and no drawings of the
demolished parts were taken. This incident happened
at the time when the Imperial Archaeological
Commission was carrying out the description of the
mosques in Samarkand. Furthermore, any major
restoration work on the 11th March 1898 historical sites
was carried out with prior approval from the Imperial
Archaeological
Commission.
The
Imperial
Archaeological Commission issued a circular stating
that it is mandatory for local authorities to refer to the
Imperial Archaeological Commission in any matter
related to ancient monuments[10].
In the 13th collection of the I-71 fund, information
about distances between regions is given. Also, in a
letter written by the head of the Temur station of the
southern section of the Orenburg-Tashkent railway on
February 3, 1904, it was said that the excavation of the
ruins of O’tror could be started only at the end of
February and the beginning of March because the
ground was frozen and the snow was thick. It was
advised to start the excavation of the city arch from its
highest and steepest part in the southeast.
In a letter sent by the Russian Committee for the Study
of Central and East Asia on February 5, 1904 to the
Turkestan Archeological Amateurs Club, it was
reported that 300 rubles were transferred to the club
from the funds of the committee to carry out
archaeological excavations in the village of Porku and
the ruins of the city of O’tror in the Kokan district of the
Fergana region. Also, in case of insufficient funds, the
committee was asked to send information about the
activities carried out and planned by the club. The
letter also requested information about the receipt of
an open letter from the Imperial Archaeological
Commission, that is, a permit granting the right to
excavate archaeological monuments in Russia and the
USSR[11].
The Imperial Archeological Commission sent an open
letter to the Turkestan Archeological Enthusiasts Club,
giving them the right to carry out archeological
excavations at the site of the arch of the city of O'tror.
Excavations are scheduled to be carried out by
A.A.Cherkasov and A.K.Klare, members of the circle.
A.K., a member of the Turkestan Archeological
Amateurs Circle. In a letter sent to N.P. Ostroumov on
April 9, 1904, Klare stated that he was starting to
excavate the ruins of O’tror, and that he was 10 versts
away from O’t
ror, and asked him to give an open sheet
from the Imperial Archaeological Commission for
personal observation. The Committee for the Study of
Central and East Asia, in its appeal sent to the
Turkestan Archeological Amateurs Circle on October 1,
1904, informed that it was necessary to give the
objects found during the excavation of the city of Otrar
to the Tashkent Museum on the following grounds: 1.
All finds must remain the property of the committee
and must be listed. 2. The list of all found objects should
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be at the disposal of the committee. Therefore, the
committee kept the list sent by the club [12].
Fund I-71, collection 8 contains inscriptions on
gravestones and monuments, and there are pictures of
stones found in the village of Rishton district, Fergana
region. There are also non-descript photos of various
archaeological finds, copies of epigraphic inscriptions
on tombstones belonging to some religious scholars,
and their translations into Russian[13].
Collection 26 of the I-71 fund contains pictures of
ancient monuments, copies of inscriptions on them.
There are also copies of inscriptions on gravestones
from the early Middle Ages. The collection contains the
interior view of Tughluq Temur Khan’s mausol
eum and
tombstone paintings[14], a plan of Tughluq Temur’s
mausoleum built in Gulja, a top view drawing, and
photocopies of silver coins found in Gulja.
The 25th collection of the I-71 fund contains
archaeological reconnaissance works in the deserts of
Fergana region, archaeological data and letters.
According to the information in the documents, the
shifting sands from Ferghana came to the attention of
Turkestan
researchers.
A.P.
Fedchenko,
A.F.
Middendorf, I.V. Mushketov, A.P. Khoroskhin and
others touched on this topic in their works. In this
regard, the works of V.P. Nalivkin are especially
valuable. V.P. Nalivkin studied the sands of Fergana
from May 1881 to the end of autumn 1882.
Archival documents do not address the question of the
formation of sands in the area, but there is information
about the creation of sketches. The area occupied by
sand was 1500 square meters. The sands of Fergana
stretch continuously in the form of a strip from the
village of Qatagon near the city of Khojand along the
lower reaches of the Karadarya to the southeast of the
village of Mingbulok. In some places, this strip is very
narrow. The southern border of this sand area is
marked by the village of Qataghon. The sandy area on
the right bank of the Syrdarya was from Jamgara to
Khoja Yagona in the south. This area is shown on 10
verst maps. Qayrakqum is located on the southeast
wind path. As a result of the wind, the sand moved and
in some places formed 2 arshin (2 meter) pits. In some
places, a number of hills covered with saxowuli or
other vegetation appear in the middle of flat areas.
These peaks were called EOL columns [15].
At the foot of Sultantog, a little to the west of Khodja
Yagona’s tomb, glass, pieces of broken pottery,
pointed vessels, coins, and other household items
were found in the sands. Remains of a brick building
were also found.
The diversity of ornamentation and coloring is
noticeable in the remains of the collected pottery. In
front of the black pieces are dark red gray, in front of
the colored pieces there are chocolate color, pink,
yellow and other colors. It can be seen in the reports of
archeological expeditions that these ceramics have a
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local character in terms of making and decoration. This,
in turn, indicates that local potters worked at a much
higher level. Valuable vases excavated by local
residents were brought to Tashkent and sold at a great
price to A.A. Semyonov was invited [16]. At that time,
according to the information of local residents, the
discovery of finds from under the dunes allows us to
assume that there was a large city or settlement.
On the basis of such documents, information on the
emergence and development of the science of
archeology in the country, preliminary historical
research, the history of historical monuments existing
in the territory of the Turkestan General Governorate
in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, their
preservation and restoration can be included in
scientific circulation[17].
CONCLUSION
It should be noted that the scientists who greatly
contributed to the development of the research school
of Central Asian historians and archaeologists turned
the administrative and political center of the country -
Tashkent into the center of archeological scientists.
Many world-famous historians and archaeologists
graduated from this school [18].
The analysis of the I-71 fund, which is currently kept in
the National Archives of Uzbekistan, from the point of
view of archival source studies, allows to study the
development of history in the country in the late 19th-
early 20th centuries. In addition, the ethnological,
linguistic, genealogical, paleographic, epigraphic,
geographical and topographical data included in the
fund can serve as a valuable resource for researchers in
specific fields of science and history of science.
REFERENCES
1.
National Archive of Uzbekistan Fund I-71, list 1,
volume 1, sheet 2.
2.
Nazarov, A. Y. (2021). Classification Of
Documents Of Turkestan Scientific Societies
Kept In The National Archive Of Uzbekistan. In
INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND CURRENT
RESEARCH CONFERENCES (pp. 9-12).
3.
National Archive of Uzbekistan Fund I-71, list 1,
collection 2, back page 38.
4.
National Archive of Uzbekistan Fund I-71, list 1,
collection 1, back page 23-23.
5.
National Archive of Uzbekistan Fund I-71, list 1,
collection 4, page 29.
6.
National Archive of Uzbekistan Fund I-71, list 1,
collection 3, back page 57.
7.
Turkestan Archeology amateur circle //
National Encyclopedia of Uzbekistan. Volume
8. -
Tashkent: “National Encyclopedia of
Uzbekistan” State Scientif
ic Publishing House,
2004. - B. 649.
8.
National Archive of Uzbekistan Fund I-71, list 1,
collection 10, page 35.
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6.
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)
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9.
National Archive of Uzbekistan Fund I-71, list 1,
collection 7, sheet 97.
10.
National Archive of Uzbekistan Fund I-71, list 1,
collection 10, back page 34-34.
11.
National Archive of Uzbekistan Fund I-71, list 1,
collection 13, sheets 1-2.
12.
National Archive of Uzbekistan Fund I-71, list 1,
collection 13, sheet 4-17.
13.
National Archive of Uzbekistan Fund I-71,, list 1,
collection 8, pages 20, 24-26.
14.
National Archive of Uzbekistan Fund I-71, list 1,
collection 26, sheets 6-7, 26.
15.
Nazarov, A. Y. (2021). HISTORICAL AND
ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCHES OF TURKESTAN
SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES (ON THE BASIS OF NAU
FUNDS). CURRENT RESEARCH JOURNAL OF
HISTORY (2767-472X), 2(11), 63-67.
16.
UzMA Fund I-71, list 1, collection 25, sheet 3.
17.
Azimbaev, M. S. (2014). Traditional education in
the Turkestan region based on archival
materials of the Central State Archive of the
Republic of Uzbekistan. Document. Archive.
Story. Modernity.
—
Ekaterinburg, 2014, 270-
274.
18.
Azimbaev, M. S., & Usmanova, U. S. (2020).
Representation Of Applying The Method Of
Oral History In Russian History. The American
Journal of Social Science and Education
Innovations, 2(12), 32-36.
