ANCIENT TURKIC TOPONYMS IN JETYSU REGION
Keywords:
Turkic toponyms, Zhetysu region, transboundary zone, Chinese information, toponymic layers, Kashgari map, ancient Huns and Saks, “26 history”, Turkic civilizationAbstract
Currently, the scope of usage of geographical names in Kazakhstan is expanding in international treaties, official documents, foreign media, and the internet. The correct orthographic and orthoepic formalization of toponyms common to all Turkic peoples is closely linked to their scientific interpretation and accurate transliteration from different writing systems. In this context, studying
materials stored in libraries and archives of China and Eastern countries is highly relevant, as they serve
as the historical-eographical and linguistic foundation for the integration of Turkic peoples through place names. To determine the current composition of Central Asian toponyms and their variations in different languages and old scripts, it is crucial to conduct research based on historical data. The study of the toponymic system from the early existence of Kazakh tribes to their formation as a nation is of particular importance. It is necessary to analyze which tribes inhabited Central Asia in different historical periods, what languages they spoke, what religions they followed, and their interactions with neighboring nations. Linguistic and historical sources, as well as archaeological findings, confirm not only cultural but also deep ancestral connections between ancient Huns, Saka, and modern Turkic-speaking peoples, including Kazakhs. When considering toponyms from a historical perspective, it is essential to encompass all regions where Scythians, Huns, and ancient Turkic tribes lived. This study includes areas of Central Asia, Mongolia, southern Russia, Siberia, and the Xinjiang region of China, where Turkic toponyms have been preserved to this day.
The article analyzes ancient Turkic toponyms in the border regions of Kazakhstan and China, exploring their historical and etymological characteristics, geographical locations, and transcription changes over different historical periods. The study is based on data collected during a field scientific expedition conducted in 2024 in the Kazakhstan-China transboundary region.
