Today, together with the world community, Turkmenistan celebrates the International Day for the Protection of Monuments and Historical Sites. Its main goal is to attract public attention to the protection and preservation of the world's cultural and natural heritage.
Jemal Orazmuradova, head of the department of the National Directorate of Turkmenistan for the protection, study and restoration of historical and cultural monuments, spoke about the work to preserve historical monuments in the country on the pages of the Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper.
As she noted, Turkmenistan can rightfully be proud of its achievements in this area. The oldest monuments are Jeytun, Anau, Kara-depe, Namazga-depe, Altyn-depe, Gonur-depe, Bezegli-dere, architectural complexes of Abiverd, Serakhs, monuments on the banks of the Amu Darya and in the foothill valley of the Kopetdag, medieval Merv, Kunya-Urgench and Dehistan - are an invaluable historical and cultural heritage of the Turkmen people.
Currently, more than 1 500 monuments of history and culture are registered with the state.
In the early 90s, Turkmenistan joined the "Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage", adopted by UNESCO in 1972. In the country, the tasks of studying and preserving the cultural and historical heritage are a priority. Adopted special state programs aimed at in-depth study of the archaeological sites of Turkmenistan, popularization of cultural heritage. Within the framework of these programs, scientists and specialists from the National Administration of Turkmenistan for the Protection, Study and Restoration of Historical and Cultural Monuments, the Institute of History and Archeology of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan work together.
Research and conservation and restoration activities are regularly carried out at the most significant objects of the national historical and cultural heritage. There is also active cooperation with foreign colleagues. Thus, the results of joint reconnaissance studies carried out by the international expedition from Merv to Amul formed the basis of the large transnational Project "Silk Road: Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor", nominated for the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The state register of objects of the national historical and cultural heritage of Turkmenistan is constantly updated with new information and documents on the geographical location, legal status, quantitative and qualitative characteristics and on the assessment of objects of the national historical and cultural heritage.
According to the Decree of the President of Turkmenistan “On issues of ensuring the protection of immovable historical and cultural monuments of Turkmenistan”, work is underway to examine the land plots allocated for construction, reclamation, economic and other types of work and draw up a conclusion on these plots on the presence of monuments of cultural history on them. Thanks to this, it was possible to ensure the protection of many objects of the national historical and cultural heritage.
On the International Day for the Protection of Monuments and Historical Sites in Turkmenistan, relevant specialists hold a number of educational and informational events, presentations and meetings among the general population in order to promote the rich historical and cultural heritage of the country.
