Archaeology of Semirechye at the End of the 19th Century (Based on the Materials of the Expedition Led by Ch.-E. Ujfalvy)

Abstract

Purpose. This article analyzes the archaeological materials gathered by French explorer of Hungarian descent Charles-Eugène Ujfalvy in the course of his expedition into Semirechye (Jetysu). In 1879 his work “French scientific expedition to Russia, Siberia and Turkestan” (“Expédition scientifique française en Russe, en Sibérie et dans le Turkestan”) was published in Paris, where the author expounded extensive and diverse materials on the history, demography, natural economic and cultural specificities of Central Asia. Results. Activities of the European explorers, French in particular, in the territory of Central Asia not once have been the subject of attention and research by specialists. However, only a few mentions in scientific literature can be found about the work of Ch.-E. Ujfalvy in the territory of Jetysu. They are particularly small in number and contain either mentions about the fact of that journey or general descriptions of the expedition. Analysis of archaeological materials gathered by scientists has not been carried out before. The expeditionary route passed through territories that the French author called the Russian Turkestan, by limiting it to Semey in the north, Zarafshan in the south, Fergana Valley in the east and Aral Sea in the west. Ch.-E. Ujfalvy was one of those whose work was distinguished by a great variety and volume of collected material on the history, geography, and traditional culture of the peoples living in the studied territories. Conclusion. Ch.-E. Ujfalvy’s monograph includes not only texts, but also illustrative material. He also outlined the archaeological sites and findings among the landscaping and natural attractions described by the explorer. He has covered some of them in text and some are simply sketched and attached as illustrations to the monograph. The scientist highlights several types of archaeological objects. The article provides a data review about archaeological antiquities of the Jetysu region, gathered by Ch.-E. Ujfalvy in the course of his expedition.