International archeological Kyzyl-Kuragino expedition this year will move from the vicinity of the Eerbek village to the Tsar valley in the Pii-Khem district of Tuva where large-scale excavations will take place on the route of the future railway Kyzyl-Kuragino. The work in the camp site is under way to make life of volunteers from different countries of the world interesting in the free from digging time. The camp is to open on June, 5. Volunteers will come to the site since June, 3. This year 1500 people applied for a place in the expedition. The contest was open for people around the world aged 18 to 26.
The idea of the "Kyzyl - Kuragino" expedition was born in connection with the construction of railroad route which will connect Kyzyl with the Kuragino transport hub (Krasnoyarsk Krai), as the volunteer project page states.
Among the tasks of the expedition is to study archeological sites located in the zone of railroad construction, and rescue archeological excavations of objects on the territory of the future railroad route.
Work has been going on at the same time from 2012 on territory of Tuva as well as in Krasnoyarsk Krai: camp "Valley of Tsars" for 160 persons in Tuva and camp "Yermak" for 130 people in Krasnoyarsk Krai.
During the earlier excavations, finds from the Iron and Bronze Ages were discovered. They are iron knives and axes, pendants made in the Scythian animal style, elements of decoration of clothing, bronze objects of funerary cult of Early Scythian era, pottery from various epochs and other material.
Among unique finds are artifacts from Early Scythian epoch , found in 2011 - griffon-shaped quiver hook, sword-belt buckle with ornament reminiscent of a Chinese Tao-te mask, which is evidence of Chinese influence on Scythian culture.
Altogether, about 80 archeological sites are located within the "Kyzyl - Kuragino" railroad construction zone: kurgan burial sites, encampments, and petroglyphs, as the project web-site states.
Applications are being accepted from students from Khakassia, graduate students, young instructors and scientists of Russian universities, scientific and scientific-educational institutions. The relevant departments are; History, geography, theory and history of culture, ethnology and other related fields.
In 2013 the composition of the expedition will increase, and the geography of the participants will widen: not only student-volunteers from Russian regions are submitting applications, but enthusiasts from abroad are also expected - from Germany, USA, Great Britain, Latin America, republics of former USSR and other countries