Exploration in the northern part of the Turgai trough

A detachment of the Turgai expedition of the Kostanay Pedagogical Institute conducted reconnaissance along the Tyuntyugur (Karamurza) and Markasai rivers. The Tyuntyugur was surveyed along both banks from the source to the Chkalovsk village. Over 68 km, 12 monuments were discovered. One group of monuments (Karamurza I-VII) is located 5-7 km from the Oktyabrsky village upstream of the river, the second (Karamurza VIII, IX, Tselinnaya I-III) is located near the Oktyabrsky village. The collections from the Karamurza III, IX, and Tselinnaya III sites do not contain pottery. The finds are represented by cores, flakes, blades and tools from them. A high asymmetrical trapezoid was found at the Karamurza III site. Of interest is the Bronze Age settlement of Karamurza VIII, located on the first floodplain terrace on the left bank of the river at a height of 2 m from the present-day water level. The area of ​​the monument is about 15 thousand square meters. m. Its territory is plowed open. Ceramics is close to the dishes from the burial ground near Petrovka, North-Kazakhstan region. Vessel rims are usually flat and often have collars. The ornament is made with a comb and tracing. The monument belongs to the Novokumak chronological horizon. The monuments of Karamurz I, II, IV-VII, Tselinnaya I, II gave materials of different times (Neolithic - Bronze Age).

Markasai was surveyed along both banks from the border of Kostanay and Turgai regions to the Zhekekol settlement. A section of the Bolatbek River (a tributary of the Markasai) from its confluence with the Markasai to the Tyubek village was also surveyed. Of the 12 sites found on the Markasai River, four (Markasai VI-VIII, Zhekekol II) are located on the left bank of the river, the rest (Krasny Oktyabr I, II, Zhekekol I, Markasai I-V) are on the right. On the Bolatbek River, all three sites (Kasker I-III) are located on the right bank. At the Markasai VII, VIII, Kasker III sites, flakes and blades without retouching, scrapers from blades and flakes, blades with a straight butt, beveled points, chips from cores were collected on the surface. Markasai I-III, VI, Zhekekol II, Kasker I, II, Krasny Oktyabr I settlements belong to the Bronze Age. The finds are represented mainly by ceramics and animal bones. In Krasny Oktyabr II, Zhekekol I, Markasai IV, V, collections of materials from different times, mainly related to the Neolithic and Bronze Age, are collected.