The 2018 archaeological survey in southern Kazakhstan

In 2018, a joint Russian-Kazakhstan expedition has carried out the archaeological survey works in Sarysu District of Jambyl Region in the Republic of Kazakhstan. A total of nine caves have been discovered during investigation of the Shabakty, Shayan and Berkuty river valleys. Some karst cavities retain the Holocene loose sediments that yielded a few artifacts attributed to the Iron Age. A test pit established in Aktogay Cave has revealed the thick Pleistocene strata that proved to be archaeologically sterile. In general, the survey works demonstrated a potential of discovery of the stratified cave sites, including those associated with the Palaeolithic Age.