Aims
The aims of this year's Bronze Age settlement and cemetery studies in SE Kazakhstan were to create a chronology for Bronze Age settlement in South Kazakhstan and to attempt to relate this chronology to other activities in the area, including the creation of petroglyphs.Previous excavations on these sites had already discovered the form and function of the settlement and cemetery sites but had not managed to answer questions about their date.

Location
The area covered by this year's Bronze Age settlement and cemetery studies in SE Kazakhstan was similar to that covered by the south Kazakhstan petroglyph survey. Sites were excavated at several locations in the Kuksu river valley, and in the Chu-Ili mountains at Kuldjabacy.

Excavations at Talapty 1 - House 3
Still awaiting an interim report for this site.

Excavations at Talapty 1 - cemetery site
Still awaiting an interim report for this site.

Excavations at Kuigan 1

The site at Kuigan 1 was discovered when Bronze Age tools and ceramics were identified in the erosion cut of the river Kuksu. It was originally excavated 20 years ago, identifying a Bronze Age dwelling, however work ceased due to intensive soviet agriculture on the site. The area has recently returned to pasture/steppe allowing excavation to resume.

The geology of the area is a thick loess soil (fine windblown sediment, redeposited by the river) which can reach depths of 0.5m. However this has been extensively altered by agricultural activities and much of this layer has been destroyed, along with the archaeological deposits beneath. The Iron Age kurgans still survive however, and it was hoped that the thicker soil on the edge of the mound might preserve Bronze Age layers underneath.

Although standard practice would be to orientate test pits N-S it was decided to orientate the excavation area on the edge of the present kurgan, radiating outward from the centre. In this way it was hoped that information on the original diameter of the kurgan (prior to destruction from modern ploughing and erosion) would be discovered, as well as information on earlier Bronze Age deposits. An area was cleared and a 3m by 1.5m test pit was dug, using hand tools.

Excavations at Kuigan 2
Still awaiting an interim report for this site.

Results
The results of the Bronze Age settlement and cemetery studies in SE Kazakhstan were good. Suitable samples for C14 dating were discovered at several locations, and we are awaiting data from their analysis.