Krym Altynbekov
Artefacts dating from the third century B.C. have been restored over 16 years by specialists under the supervision of art restorer Krym Altynbekov, reported Kazpravda.kz, citing MIR 24 TV channel on Jan. 25.
Artefacts, including a fox fur coat, hat and stockings of a Saka rider, were found at excavations in different regions of Kazakhstan and were very fragile to work with. Scientists found some of them in the mud of one of the mounds 16 years ago. They looked like clods of earth when they were brought to Almaty.
Specialists had to develop special chemical solutions to restore the findings. They help to recover materials made from wood and cloth.
“Organic matter is very fragile, delicate, exposed to rapid destruction because it is loved by bacteria. They eat chemical inclusions that are present in the soil. In the presence of moisture and heat, the temperature begins to rise and the destroying chemical process starts,” said the head of restoration laboratory Altynbekov.
More than 400 small crafts and jewellery were returned their lost appearance. Restorers will pass all these findings to the museums of Kazakhstan soon. For example, the decorations on the saddle, which are mythical animals in the form of leather and wood elements, now can be seen only with a magnifying glass, as only small fragments of the drawings has remained.
“There’s a special processing technique – colourful felting and edges are embroidered. This technology is still used in the Kazakh villages. This culture is directly linked to our modern culture, which survived only in rural areas,” said Altynbekov.
