Kazakh scientists create oldest dog breeds database

Scientists of the Al Farabi Kazakh National University are engaged in fundamental scientific research work themed Ethnozooarcheological studies of the role of wolves and dogs in the ancient and modern culture of Kazakhstan. They created the oldest dog breeds database, Kazinform News Agency cites the Kazakh Science and Higher Education Ministry’s press service.

The project research advisor is a professor of the Archeology, Ethnology and Museology Faculty of the Kazakh National University, a candidate of historical sciences, Tattigul Kartayeva.

Photo credit: Kazakh Science and Higher Education Ministry’s press service.

The scientists conduct paleozoological, zooarcheological laboratory research of remains of greyhounds unearthed during archeological excavations at Derkum 1 – Eneolithic age; Turgen 1^st- 4^th centuries B.C., early Iron Age; Sortobe – 8^th century C.E.; Arna – 12^th century C.E., Kestek – 11^th-12^th centuries C.E.; Bozok – 11^th -12th centuries C.E.; and Kultobe – 18^th-19^th centuries.

The foreign scientists in charge of expert laboratory research Hermes Taylor and Pavel Kosintsev also contributed to the project.

The scientists prepared the Archeological background information about ancient Kazakh greyhounds (Archeological evidence of the ancient greyhounds of Kazakhstan) to include the Tazy breed to the World Pedigree Database, and the World Canine Organisation. The authors of the document are the experts of the Forensic Archeology and Anthropology Scientific and Research Institute, Jean-Marc Deom and Renato Sala.

The scientists lead a new search for new rock paintings of dogs, and scientific interpretation of rock carvings of greyhounds among petroglyphs discovered in Almaty region (Akkainar, Burisholak, Matibulak, Yespe, Karashagyl), Zhambyl region (Karatau mountains, Kulzhabasy, Dolankara and Kushoky), Kyzylorda region (Sauskandyk gorge).

Ethnoarchaeological and ethnographic research resulted in creating the Historical ethnography of greyhounds. Its author young scientist Bagashar Kozhakhmetov in pursue of a Ph.D. degree is working on a dissertation themed Cult of dogs in Kazakh world view: genesis and historical and cultural succession.