TYPES OF KAZAKH SADDLES: HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL ANALYSIS (BASED ON THE FUNDS OF THE AKTOBE REGIONAL MUSEUM OF LOCAL LORE)

Abstract

Abstract. The article provides a comprehensive historical and cultural analysis of the collection of saddles preserved in the holdings of the Aktobe Regional Museum of History and Local Lore. The objects of the study include archaeological saddle and harness specimens dating to the Hunnic period, traditional Kazakh saddles from the late 19th to the early 20th centuries, horse equipment from the Soviet period, as well as auxiliary items such as ashamai (children’s saddles) and saddle pads (toqym).

Based on the analysis of constructional features, manufacturing technologies, materials used, and artistic decoration, the functional, social-status, and symbolic significance of the saddles is revealed. The study demonstrates that saddles constitute an essential component of the material culture adapted to the nomadic way of life of the Kazakh people and that they developed in close connection with military practices, equestrian traditions, social hierarchy, and worldview. Furthermore, the article highlights the importance of the museum’s saddle collection as a valuable source for understanding interregional cultural continuity, historical memory, and the evolution of traditional craftsmanship. The research materials contribute to scholarly studies in the fields of Kazakh ethnography, museology, and cultural heritage preservation.