Welcome to the site of the Department of Nestorian Studies of the Kazakhstan Archeological Institute of the Kazakhstan Academy of Sciences. This department was founded in June 2017 in follow up to the recent developments in Nestorian archeology within the territory of Kazakhstan.
Our Mission
The primary goal of the Department of Nestorian Studies is to create infrastructure which will facilitate the research and development of the Nestorian history of Kazakhstan and Central Asia, recruit the top experts in the field as well as promising young Kazakhstan students, and creating the best possible atmosphere for them to conduct research and publish findings.
Strategy of the Department for Nestorian Studies
Strategies to fulfill this mission first involve networking and synergizing with the top Nestorian experts in the field and seeking how we can serve and facilitate their research interests in the heart of Nestorian territory of Central Asia. In addition to providing access to research and sites, our department welcomes the input of experts in helping to develop this platform.
Researchers will have the opportunity to pioneer research as well as helping to shape strategies which will affect the future course of Nestorian Studies in Central Asia. As our department can serve as a regional hub, along with our developing close relationship with other departments in the region, researchers will be able make a valuable contribution to Nestorian research in Kazakhstan as well as all of Central Asia.
We welcome departments from universities and schools, as well as other groups, which may wish to collaborate in research efforts. We are very interested in exploring opportunities for partnerships in archeological excavations, research and development.
Our History
This all began when a Nestorian gravestone with Medieval Syriac script was discovered in East Kazakhstan. Subsequent excavations yielded the first documented Nestorian gravestones found within the territory of Kazakhstan.
In 2015 a farmer in Eastern Kazakhstan found a large stone with an engraved cross and strange writing surrounding the cross. Digital analysis revealed the writing to be Syriac and the stone to be a gravestone of a Nestorian Christian priest. Subsequent developments led to a joint excavation in the summer of 2016 with the Kazakhstan Archeological Institute and the Tandy Archeological Institute of Texas. This excavation yielded the first ever excavated Nestorian gravestones in Kazakhstan, three with ancient Syriac script - the liturgical language of the Church of the East. Several other stones have since been discovered in addition to other artifacts.
Additional successful excavations led to the formal creation of the Department of Nestorian Studies by the Kazakhstan Archeological Institute of the Academy of Sciences. In the Russian academy, Syriac Christianity – also known as the Church of the East in Western circles – is termed Nestorian Christianity, hence the name of this department. The ultimate goal of this department is to create infrastructure to facilitate excavations, research, and publications of this often overlooked history of Kazakhstan and Central Asia.
For the complete story of the creation of the Department of Nestorian Studies, click here.
People
Executive Committee
Research Fellows
We are pleased to have on staff some of the top experts in the world serving as Research Fellows
Research Assistants
Support Staff
Developmental Support
Zachary Marsh
IT and Web Services
Phil Thomson