THE PROJECT "VIRTUAL MUSEUM OF THE PALEOLITHIC OF KAZAKHSTAN" HAS BEEN LAUNCHED

On the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Kazakh National University, the teaching staff of the Faculty of History, within the framework of the project "Virtual museum of the paleolithic of Kazakhstan", launched a virtual version of the museum of the paleolithic of Kazakhstan as part of the university.

The authors of the project are Dean of the Faculty of History, doctor of historical sciences, professor Dosbol Baikonakov and lecturer of the Department of History of Kazakhstan, PhD Zhuldyz Bekbauova.

Dean of the Faculty D.Baikonakov commented on the launch of the project: "In his message to the people, Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev paid special attention to the issues of digitalization and innovation in the country. In this direction, we decided to create a 3D tour or a virtual version of the museum, forming a group of students and professors studying at the university to make a small contribution. The main goal of this project is to form an innovative base of historical and archaeological knowledge, provide visual information, scientific research and educational materials related to the Paleolithic era in a virtual format and organize interactive educational resources for students and researchers in simulation practice. We are grateful to everyone who participated in the implementation of this project".

According to one of the project organizers, Head of the Department of the History of Kazakhstan, doctor of historical sciences, professor, and academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Bereket Karibaev, the Paleolithic Museum of Kazakhstan holds significant importance. Established in 2000 on the initiative of professor Zh.Taimagambetov, the museum houses over 500,000 artifacts collected over many years by specialists such as Kh.Alpisbaev, A.Medoev, B.Aubakirov, O.Artyukhova, and others. The museum also features written materials from a joint kazakh-russian multidisciplinary archaeological expedition led by academician A.Derevyanko, active since 1992. Exhibits and photographic materials are chronologically sequenced and organized into five sections. The museum is equipped with maps indicating paleolithic and neolithic sites in Kazakhstan. The project leader, lecturer of the Department of the History of Kazakhstan, PhD Zh.Bekbauova, highlighted the following unique aspects of the project.

• Scientific novelty: this is the first student virtual tour in the country created at the university. If you follow a special link, you can get acquainted with the data and scientific works of scientists who contributed to the creation of the museum can be seen at a special link. This function was not used in museums where a virtual tour in Kazakhstan was created);
• Interactivity: in a virtual environment, users can interactively explore important sites, parking lots, and tools from the paleolithic period. This system allows users to actively learn the story.
• Visualization: it shows the life and culture of the Paleolithic using modern graphic technologies. With the help of 3D models and animations, artifacts are embodied in the image of movement, creating a realistic impression on the viewer. Detailed information about the photos, parking lots and artifacts in the museum will be available when you click on the specially created help button. You can also listen to information about the museum in two languages using an audio call.
• Interdisciplinary connections: the project is developing at the intersection of the fields of history, archaeology, anthropology, information technology, artificial intelligence, reaching a wide audience.
• Remote access: the virtual project is accessible via the Internet from anywhere in the world, which allows you to present the program to a wide audience. It is available to all applicants from schoolchildren to undergraduates, undergraduates and doctoral students interested in history, archaeology, paleolithology, mesolithology, neolithology, etc.
• Multilingualism: the project provides information in kazakh, russian, english and chinese. This function creates a bridge of communication between cultures.

The head of the project, Zhuldyz Bekbauova, also noted that the drafters of the project are students of the faculties of history, information technology, biology and biotechnology. These are 1st year students of the Faculty of Information Technology: Daniyar Aronov, Arman Tolegen, Bolat Tynys. Elvira Umbetzhanova, project manager of the Center for commercialization of technologies and creative Industry, and Zhanar Bayanova, a 1st-year doctoral student of the ethnology and anthropology educational program of the Department of Archaeology, Ethnology and Museology of the Faculty of History, also made a significant contribution.

First-year students of the Faculty of History, Aiganym Tleubek, Nazereke Arisbay, and Damira Nurpeis, along with first-year student of the Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Meruert Samet, contributed to the project. The translation of the text was carried out by first-year student of the Faculty of Information Technology, Dilda Nurbek, and first-year student of the Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Anai Ulan.

The project was announced in kazakh by the leading specialist of the paleolithic museum of Kazakhstan Balgynbek Demesin, in english by the 1st year student of the Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology Zarina Mels.

The virtual museum of the paleolithic of Kazakhstan is not only an educational and research platform, but also a platform for preserving cultural heritage, combining innovation and history. She uses modern technology to help uncover the secrets of the early stages of human history.

Virtual version: of the project "Virtual museum of the paleolithic of Kazakhstan"

Press-service of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University