I am a recently retired professor of anthropology. I taught undergraduate courses in anthropology and archaeology since 1981. I also spent one year teaching in the Department of Anthropology at University of Hawaii-Manoa (1987-88). My main emphasis of work is Iron Age archaeology in the Republic of Kazakhstan. I recently published the monograph Rethinking Prehistoric Central Asia: Shepherds, Farmers, and Nomads (Routledge Press 2017).
This paper addresses the problem of protecting and preserving archaeological sites from the Bronze Age through the Medieval Period (ca. 2500 BC–1500 CE) as part of sustainable development that includes such economic and social benefits as (1) promoting national status; (2) integrating archaeological sites into the Silk Route narrative; (3) developing tourism related to historic and cultural heritage; and (4) creating a citizenry that values its cultural and historic resources in the face of rapid economic development and changing natural and cultural landscapes. Two UNESCO World Heritage sites will be discussed briefly: Otrar and the surrounding oasis, a medieval complex of sites along the Great Silk Route, and Tamgaly, a petroglyph and archaeological reserve. These two UNESCO World Heritage archaeological sites or preserves will be contrasted with the Talgar Iron Age sites (400 BC–100 CE) situated in a rapidly changing landscape due to economic development and infrastructure (pipelines, railways, roads, and housing) about 12–15 km east of the major city of Almaty. The goal of this article is to discuss the complexity of the entangled sectors of cultural and historic preservation, economic development, tourism, and global transnational heritage within the framework of sustainability.
Part of the book: Education, Human Rights and Peace in Sustainable Development