The foundation of the department of restoration in Otrar state archaeological preservation museum was laid in 1984. Anarkulov Pernebai, Zhusanbaev Ilesbai, Zhumabaev Userbai, Esen Kasetov were the head of this department at a certain period.
The employees of this section from its establishment decorated exhibitions and various exposition, restored fund exhibits. In 1986 created the ceramic furnace as an experiment and tested ceramics there. The art restorer of the restoration department created the clay artifact by using local clay. It was a great experiment to determine the technology.
After a short break this department was reopened as “The department of Restoration and Conservation”. The main cause was the employees had an active part in the conservation activities carried out by UNESCO and gain experience.
The monuments of Otrar oasis have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List. In August of 2001 agreements were signed by the Republic of Kazakhstan and UNESCO and UNESCO Otrar project was financed by the Japanese Trust Fund for the Preservation of the World Cultural Heritage. The Otrar conservation project was implemented in Kazakhstan in partnership with: Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Institute of Archaeology and Institute for Scientific Research and Planning on Monuments of Material Culture, Otrar state archaeological preservation museum.
Under the adopted programme “Cultural Heritage” which was initiated by the President of Kazakhstan N.Nazarbaev in 2004 the experts of the Institute of Archaeology named by A.Margulan and Kazrestavratsia, Otrar state archaeological preservation museum’s department employees are working together. There had been extensive works to observe, conservation and conversion into museum of some important complexes like Zhuma mosque of the 16th c, block of flats of 16th c, block of flats of the 11th – 12th centuries.
The staffs of our department are always take part in the archaeological excavations in other places. In particular they participated in creating the collections in the archaeological expeditions like Sauran from the South Kazakhstan, Koilyk – from Almaty region, Aral, Asar, Kerderi from Kyzylorda Oblast, Tortkul, settlements of Taraz from Taraz city, Kordai, Talas, Baizak, Zhambyl, Merki, Shu, T.Ryskulov region from Zhambul Oblast. As well as they work on the restoration work of different exhibits from our funds like: metal, glass, leather, wood, ceramics and so on.
In the future there is a plan to restore and conversion into museum the archaeological monuments Otrartobe, Kuyryktobe, Mardankuyk, Altyntobe. In particular, the staffs are translating and learning the scientific literatures, international conventions which are connected with conservation and restoration. Restoration is an integral part of the museum work. This department works from the very beginning of the museum foundation. Numerous museum exhibits were restored, renewed and revived by the experts of our museum.