The Bozok State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve is a unique scientific and cultural institution dedicated to preserving and studying the ancient history and cultural heritage of Kazakhstan. It is located on the site of the ancient Bozok settlement and is considered an important archaeological complex reflecting the development of medieval civilization in the region.

The main goal of the museum-reserve is to preserve, study, and pass on archaeological monuments to future generations. In this regard, the institution conducts scholarly research on the historical continuity of Kazakhstan from ancient times to the present day and promotes national values.

The President of the country, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, emphasizes in his Addresses the importance of modernizing historical consciousness and preserving cultural heritage. In this context, the activities of the Bozok Museum-Reserve play an important role in reinterpreting national history and introducing it into academic circulation.

Bozok is one of the earliest chapters in the history of the capital. This medieval settlement is located west of Astana, on the eastern shore of Lake Bozok. Its location was strategically significant, as it allowed control over caravan routes running from north to south and from west to east. Branches of the Great Silk Road passed through this area.

The Bozok settlement was first mentioned in 1816 in the travel notes of Russian officer Ivan Shangin, who journeyed along a caravan route from Siberia to Central Asia. In 1929–1930, the well-known local historian L. Semenov conducted the first exploratory excavations.

The rediscovery of Bozok took place in 1998 thanks to a group of archaeologists led by the prominent Kazakh scientist K. A. Akishev. Since 1999, field research has been carried out, becoming one of the largest studies of sedentary culture sites in the Eurasian steppe.

In the Middle Ages, a caravan route passed 2 km southwest of Bozok: Omsk – Kyzylzhar – Kokshetau – Burabay, then through a right tributary of the Ishim River and the Kairakty River to Karaotkel (Akmola). Along the Nura River, the route continued to Bytygai and further through the Nura and Sarysu rivers toward Sozak – Sygnak – Sauran and Turkestan.

The Bozok site consists of a complex of structures from different periods: an ancient Turkic sanctuary, a medieval settlement, a Golden Horde necropolis, residential buildings, a Kazakh wintering site, and an irrigation system. Its total area is 40 hectares. These materials are of great importance for the study of medieval archaeology in Eurasia.

The discovery of Bozok is important for the history of the capital for two reasons: first, it proves that this area served as an urban center for more than a thousand years; second, it shows that it remained a sacred space in later periods.

Archaeological research has identified the construction stages of the settlement. The area was first developed in the 7th century by ancient Turkic tribes. They chose the eastern shore of Lake Bozok among many locations in the Ishim River valley. They built quarters consisting of three площадки arranged like a three-petaled flower, which later became the center of the settlement.

The northern quarter is the largest and the main one, measuring 63×60 m, with an inner area of 35×35 m. It is surrounded by the highest defensive wall. The southern quarter measures 55×55 m, and the eastern quarter 55×45 m.

In the northern quarter, an early medieval sanctuary and a site of human sacrifice were discovered.

In the 10th century, Kipchak tribes built a residence here for their khans. Bozok’s location was strategically advantageous, situated in the center of Saryarka, at the intersection of river sources of Siberia and Central Asia.

In the 13th–14th centuries, during the Golden Horde period, burial structures, semi-dugout houses, and brick kilns were constructed. During this time, the first signs of the spread of Islam appeared.

Excavations revealed the burial of a woman adorned with rich jewelry. Her headdress, called a “bokka,” was worn by high-status women during the Mongol period.

A complex of semi-dugout residential houses was also studied. These houses consisted of several rooms connected by narrow corridors. The walls were plastered, and the floors were leveled with clay and ash. Each room contained clay stoves and hearths.

Bozok is the first site in Central Kazakhstan where a complete irrigation system has been studied. It consisted of main canals, distribution channels, and ditches, effectively using the natural conditions of the Ishim River valley.

The materials of Bozok cover four historical periods: the Turkic Khaganate, the Kipchak Khanate, the Golden Horde, and the Kazakh Khanate. The settlement existed from the 7th–9th centuries to the 16th–17th centuries.

In the 14th century, Bozok became a spiritual center of the Islamized elite. Its necropolis is one of the earliest medieval religious monuments in the Kazakh steppe.

The museum-reserve is equipped with modern technologies and provides all conditions for the study and restoration of archaeological artifacts. Qualified archaeologists, historians, and restorers work here.

Today, the Bozok Museum-Reserve plays an important role in preserving and promoting Kazakhstan’s historical and cultural heritage, as well as in developing the country’s tourism potential.

The authorized body responsible for managing the relevant sector (sphere of public administration) is the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Since its establishment, the museum-reserve has been temporarily located in the building of the National Museum and uses it on a gratuitous basis.

The museum-reserve operates according to a fixed schedule: on weekdays from 09:00 to 18:00, and it is closed to visitors on weekends and public holidays.