“Names of Lands and Waters — The Chronicle of the People”: Historical and Toponymic Expedition to the Kurmangazy District
From July 13 to August 1, 2025, the Atyrau Regional Museum of History and Local Lore organized a historical and toponymic expedition to the Kurmangazy District with the aim of studying the origins and historical significance of the names of land and water bodies, identifying variants preserved in popular memory, and systematizing them scientifically.
The main objective of the expedition was to research the origins and historical meaning of ancient toponyms, collect and scientifically classify variants preserved in folk memory. During the study, about 30 settlements were surveyed, and interviews were conducted with more than 60 village elders and residents. In addition, around 20 old settlements and encampments of historical character were examined. The expedition team included: Nazarbek Kosshiyev, chief editor of the regional socio-political newspaper “Atyrau”, writer and publicist; Arman Zhumagaziyev, Acting Director of the “Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan” Institute at Kh. Dosmukhamedov Atyrau University; Erlan Tlekkabylov, Academic Secretary of the Museum; Marat Kasenov, Senior Researcher, Candidate of Historical Sciences, archaeologist; as well as staff members of the museum. Research was conducted through the analysis of cartographic data and field expedition methods. The expedition established that the names of settlements trace back to the Nogai and Kalmyk periods and collected a number of valuable accounts related to the Naryn Sands and the Azgir region.
According to the expedition leader, Yerlan Konyskereyuly, given the high likelihood of losing certain historical names and records, it is especially important today to gather and document the stories of local elders, who represent a living chronicle.
