The National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the National Museum of China have launched an international archaeological expedition entitled «The Culture of Northern Kazakhstan during the Transition from the Bronze Age to the Early Iron Age» to strengthen scientific cooperation between the two countries.

As part of the expedition, archaeological research is being conducted at the Imantau Complex, a Bronze Age settlement located in the Imantau area of the Aiyrtau District in the North Kazakhstan Region. The expedition is headed by D. Duysenbay, an archaeologist and leading researcher at the Institute for Scientific Study of Cultural Heritage of the National Museum of the RK.

The fieldwork began on July 14 and is scheduled to continue until August 17. The excavation area covers 324 square meters.

A large number of Bronze Age pottery fragments, stone tools, and animal bones have been discovered during the excavations. Among the most notable finds are a bone applique, arrowheads, awls, bronze awls, and ore residues used in metalworking.

Based on the results of the initial excavations, the Imantau settlement appears to have been a large, permanent Bronze Age settlement.