During an ethnographic expedition to Altai, scientists from Russia, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan discovered numerous parallels between the culture of the Altai peoples and Turkmen heritage – from ornaments and felting techniques to language and folklore. This was reported by the Russian Embassy in Turkmenistan.

The expedition is titled "Greater Altai: Turkic Heritage – 2026." For the first time, Turkmen ethnographers participated in it with the assistance of the embassy: Ayna Baymuradova, a candidate in history and doctoral student at the Institute of History and Archaeology of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan, and Toyly Hommyev, a lecturer at Magtymguly Turkmen State University.

Over the course of ten days, the researchers became acquainted with the culture of the Kumandins, Chelkans, Tubalars, Altais, and Telengits, the report notes.

"The felting techniques and patterns in Turkmenistan are very similar to those in the Altai. We saw a design we call “gochak”—an image of the horns of a mountain argali sheep. This same motif is also found among the Altai people," said Baymuradova.

According to her, the similarities even manifested themselves in language and folklore: the Kumandins had many words similar to Turkmen, and the songs, beliefs, and traditions of the two peoples were surprisingly close.

Khommyev, who studies national hunting traditions, noted a particular interest in the culture of the Chelkans and Tubalars: he compared the hunting practices of the Turkmen and Altai people and found many similarities between them.

The expedition yielded numerous photographs, interviews, and field materials that will help further explore the common heritage of the peoples of Altai and Turkmenistan.

The expedition was organized by the Altaic and Turkic Studies Research Center "Greater Altai" of Altai State University and the Gorno-Altai State University with the support of the Altai Regional Branch of the Russian Geographical Society.