Ceramic of the medieval Kastek settlement

The Zhetysu archaeological expedition of the A.H. Margulan Institute of Archaeology under the leadership of A.A. Nurzhanov (1957-2021) 2011-2020 is devoted to the analysis of ceramics from the excavations of the explored medieval town of Kastek. Ceramics is the main source in the periodization of the cultural layer of medieval cities and settlements. In addition, the production of ceramic products in cities and its products determine the high skill of handicraft. In the medieval town of Kastek 2011 numerous scientific articles related to research have been published, which addressed issues related to the types and features of the found kerami products. Since the collection of ceramic products found in the city was preserved very well, it was classified by types, forms, and methods of production. In the manufacture of ceramic products, local raw materials (clay, feldspar, quartz) with a natural additive were used. The main purpose of the article is 2018. introduction to the scientific circulation of ceramic products discovered during excavations, analysis of ceramic products of the medieval town of Kastek and search for similarities based on materials found in nearby monuments. To achieve this goal, new data are presented, previously published publications are analyzed and the degree of study of the material is discussed. 

Ceramics of the city of Kastek in the field season of 2018 belong to 2 stages: VIII century. – the beginning of the X century.; X century.-the beginning of the XIII century. The medieval town of Kastek is located 2.5 km north of the village of Kastek, Almaty region, Zhambyl district, at the headwaters of the Zhetizhol mountain range, in the lower part of the Suyktobe mountain. The closest to the city of Almaty is the medieval city (90 km from Almaty). The total area of the medieval city is 30 hectares. His 5 hectares of land belong to the citadel and Shahristan. The volume of excavations for ten years up to 2020 is 8000 m. The geographical position of the city was very favorable for economic and political ties. The development of the economy can be found out by irrigation and the location of land plots in the city, get to the Chui Valley through the Kastek pass, located in the upper part of the city. During the archaeological excavations, it was found that the city was one of the most developed centers of border post and trade. Material data were also found indicating that it was one of the most important points of regulation of trade relations. During the decade of complex excavations, a lot of information was obtained about the achievements of natural culture, stratigraphy, planigraphy, defensive structures, which are an indicator of the socio-economic life of the city. Most of the artifacts found are ceramics, and the rest are made of bone, iron, and glass.