Cambridge, 30 September 2026 – Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Kingdom Alibek Bakayev delivered an opening address at the international scientific conference entitled “New Directions in Understanding Ancient Interactions across Eurasia”, organised by the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research at the University of Cambridge.
The event brings together leading archaeologists and researchers from Kazakhstan, the United Kingdom and other countries. The conference programme covers a broad range of topics relating to Eurasian history, spanning the Bronze and Iron Ages, the medieval period and nomadic societies.
In his welcoming remarks, the Kazakh Ambassador emphasised the importance of objective, evidence-based research into the history of the Great Steppe, the expansion of international academic cooperation and the application of modern interdisciplinary research methods.
Particular attention was given to opportunities for strengthening cooperation between academic and museum institutions in Kazakhstan and the United Kingdom, including joint research projects, academic exchanges and the training of young scholars.
On the sidelines of the conference, Ambassador Bakayev also attended the official opening of the exhibition “Botai – Culture of the Great Steppe”, dedicated to the historical and cultural heritage of one of Kazakhstan's most significant archaeological sites. The opening ceremony was also attended by a delegation from the North Kazakhstan Region and Professor Alan Outram of the University of Exeter, who has made a significant contribution to international research on Botai culture.
In his address, the Ambassador highlighted the unique place of Botai culture in the history of the Great Steppe and its significance for understanding the earliest forms of interaction between humans and horses. He underlined that Kazakhstan's rich archaeological heritage forms not only an integral part of its national history but also an important component of Eurasia's shared historical and cultural heritage.
The exhibition and conference at Cambridge represent a continuation of Kazakhstan's efforts to promote its historical and cultural heritage internationally and to further strengthen scientific and cultural cooperation between Kazakhstan and the United Kingdom.
Presented by the North Kazakhstan Regional Museum Association, the exhibition brings together archaeology, contemporary art and ethnography. It features archaeological artefacts and ethnographic objects from museum collections, alongside 22 works of art created by participants in international artists' symposia held in 2019, 2023 and 2025.
The Botai settlement, dating back to the fourth–third millennia BC, is included on UNESCO's Tentative List of World Heritage Sites.
