Publications
The alpine natural park "Ak Cholushpa" as an ecotourist interest area
Ak Cholushpa Nature Park, established in 2011 near the borders of Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and China, demonstrates significant potential for sustainable ecotourism. This study identifies its diverse tourist attractions, including natural and archaeological sites, through systematic analysis, fieldwork, and sociological surveys. The park's unique landscape clusters—Chulyshman Valley, Ulagan district, and surrounding areas—offer high recreational value, with most objects rated above average by respondents. The research confirms the park's role in preserving local ethnic identity while fostering economic growth through tourism. However, challenges such as accessibility and insufficient infrastructure are highlighted. The findings underscore the importance of developing cross-border ecotourism strategies, including improved road networks, to maximize the region's potential for both local livelihoods and international tourism.
Materials of the Sayano-Altai Archaeological Expedition of 1935 in the A.V. Anokhin National Museum of the Altai Republic
A significant archaeological collection from the Golden Mountains of Altai, unearthed during the Sayano-Altai Expedition of 1935 and housed in the A.V. Anokhin National Museum, remains largely unpublished, limiting its research potential. The expedition, led by S.M. Sergeev, uncovered artifacts from two distinct cultures: ancient Turkic materials near Tuekta and early Iron Age Bystryansk culture relics near Bystryanskoye. These findings, part of the museum's 'golden fund,' offer valuable insights into Altai's prehistory but have been understudied due to lack of documentation. The summary highlights the need for further analysis of these materials to fully realize their scientific significance.
Partnerships and understanding between Kazakh pastoralists and golden eagles of the Altai mountains : a multi-species ethnography
A unique interspecies partnership between Kazakh pastoralists and golden eagles in the Altai Mountains reveals a model of co-domesticity, where eagles are temporarily integrated into human domestic life without hierarchical dominance. This study demonstrates that deep ethno-ornithological knowledge and mutual agency enable Kazakhs to cultivate relationships with eagles, mirroring their interactions with other livestock. The research highlights parallels in migration patterns and landscape use between eagles and pastoralists, challenging human exceptionalism by emphasizing interspecies communication as a means of understanding the world. The study employs multi-species ethnography to explore apprenticeship dynamics, where both humans and eagles engage in reciprocal learning, offering insights into non-dominant human-animal relationships.
Eurasia and India
The 'Golden Mountains of Altai' region, spanning 351,000 km² in southern Siberia, shares deep cultural and spiritual parallels with India. This study highlights enduring traditions and beliefs prevalent across Buryatia, Khakassia, Altai, and Tuva Republics, emphasizing their connection to Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist cosmologies—particularly the sacred Mount Meru (Sumeru). The research draws from firsthand travel experiences, documenting rituals like offerings of tea, bread, and coins at birch trees, which symbolize reverence for nature. It also explores Altai's multifaceted significance as a 'Gate to Shambhala' or 'Pearl of Asia,' bridging Eurasian and Indian spiritual landscapes. Methodologically, the study combines ethnographic observation with comparative analysis of religious texts, offering a nuanced perspective on transcontinental cultural syncretism.
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