b approval of the Rules for Ensuring the Safety, Storage, Scientific Research and Use of the State Fund of Mass Archaeological Finds and Archaeological Materials by the National Depository of Mass Archaeological Finds and Archaeological Materials
Order of the Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated July 23, 2026 No. 359-NK. Registered with the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan on July 24, 2026 No. 39393
In accordance with paragraph 4 of Article 34-3 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On the protection and use of objects of historical and cultural heritage", I ORDER:
1. To approve the attached Rules for Ensuring the Safety, Storage, Scientific Research and Use of the State Fund of Mass Archaeological Finds and Archaeological Materials by the National Depository of Mass Archaeological Finds and Archaeological Materials.
2. The Committee of Culture of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, shall ensure:
1) the state registration of this order in the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
2) posting of this order on the Internet resource of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan after its official publication.
3. Control over the execution of this order is entrusted to the supervising Vice Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
4. This order shall enter into force upon the expiration of ten calendar days after the date of its first official publication.
Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan
A. Balayeva
Approved by the Order of the Deputy Prime Minister- Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan on July 23, 2026 No. 359-NK
Rules for Ensuring the Safety, Storage, Scientific Research and Use of the State Fund of Mass Archaeological Finds and Archaeological Materials by the National Depository of Mass Archaeological Finds and Archaeological Materials
Chapter 1. General provisions
1. These Rules for Ensuring the Safety, Storage, Scientific Research and Use of the State Fund of Mass Archaeological Finds and Archaeological Materials (hereinafter referred to as the Rules) have been developed in accordance with paragraph 4 of Article 34-3 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On the Protection and Use of Objects of Historical and Cultural Heritage" (hereinafter referred to as the Law) and determine the procedure for ensuring the safety, storage scientific research and the use of materials transferred to the State Fund of Mass Archaeological Finds and Archaeological Materials.
2. The following basic concepts are used in these Rules:
1) a mixed (hybrid) system is a storage method that provides for the targeted placement of storage units of archaeological finds and materials on racks and their simultaneous digital linking to the electronic database of the National Depository of Mass Archaeological Finds and Archaeological Materials;
2) archaeological material – objects and samples identified in the course of archaeological work and of value as objects of scientific research;
3) mass archaeological finds – archaeological finds in the form of fragments, details or multiple objects of the same type that have no special value and collectively reflect the cultural and chronological features of the studied object of historical and cultural heritage.;
4) The State Fund of Mass Archaeological Finds and Archaeological Materials (hereinafter referred to as the State Fund) is a set of mass archaeological finds and archaeological materials obtained during archaeological work on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan and subject to storage in the National Depository of Mass Archaeological Finds and Archaeological Materials;
5) The National Depository of Mass Archaeological Finds and Archaeological Materials (hereinafter referred to as the Depository) is a legal entity designated by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan that accepts, records, systematizes, stores and uses mass archaeological finds and archaeological materials;
6) responsible custodian is an official of the Depository appointed by order of the head of the Depository, who bears full financial responsibility for the safety of materials and finds accepted into the State Fund.;
7) researcher – an individual or an authorized representative of a legal entity who studies mass archaeological finds and archaeological materials for scientific, historical or cultural purposes;
8) the place of storage of the State fund – the specialized premises of the Depository (warehouses, safe rooms, storages) intended for permanent or temporary placement of objects of the State fund providing their protection from external influences and unauthorized access;
9) contractor – a natural or legal person who carried out archaeological work, during which the transferred mass archaeological finds and archaeological material were obtained;
10) regime storage – a set of administrative and technical measures to ensure the material safety of objects of the State Fund, restrict unauthorized access to them, maintain established temperature and humidity, light and fire protection conditions;
11) authorized employee – a full-time employee of the Depository, whose official duties include working with funds, who has the right of access to the storage facility of the State Fund on the basis of an order from the head of the Depository.
3. In accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 34-3 of the Law, all mass archaeological finds and archaeological materials obtained by individuals or legal entities of the Republic of Kazakhstan and other States as a result of archaeological work on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan are deposited in the Depository and included in the State Fund of Mass Archaeological Finds and Archaeological Materials.
Chapter 2. Procedure for ensuring the safety, storage, scientific research and use of the State Fund of Mass Archaeological Finds and Archaeological Materials in the National Depository of Mass Archaeological Finds and Archaeological Materials
4. The Depository ensures safe custody of the State Fund, which is carried out by fulfilling the following conditions::
1) maintaining a constant temperature and humidity regime in the storage areas of the State Fund, while maintaining temperatures from +18°C to +22°C and relative humidity at the level of 50-55%;
2) storage of items in specialized storage units (boxes) that protect against mechanical damage and comply with the requirements set out in paragraph 6 of these Rules, with mandatory sealing and labeling;
3) restriction of the list of persons entitled to access the places of storage of the State Fund by order of the head of the Depository and registration of each case of access in the register of access to the places of storage of the State Fund in any form;
4) conducting a reconciliation of the availability of State Fund facilities with accounting documentation (inventory) at least once a year with the participation of a commission established by order of the head of the Depository;
5) placement of finds and materials in storage areas of the State Fund, equipped with security and fire alarm systems and video surveillance systems installed on the security console of the Depository.
5. Storage of objects of the State Fund is carried out according to a mixed (hybrid) system. When targeted, marked boxes with finds and materials, individual artifacts requiring special storage conditions, as well as accounting and field documentation related to them are placed on the shelves.
6. The weight of one storage unit (box) placed on the shelves should not exceed 15 kilograms. Metal shelving systems that do not emit chemically active substances and have an anti-corrosion or other protective coating are used to accommodate storage units (boxes).
7. The use of racks made of wood or combustible composite materials is not allowed in the storage areas of funds. The placement of the shelving equipment should ensure free air circulation, unhindered access to each storage unit, as well as free passageways for evacuation.
8. The premises of the National Depository are equipped with automatic fire alarm and fire extinguishing systems. Fire extinguishing systems (including water and foam systems) capable of causing physical or chemical damage to mass archaeological finds and archaeological materials are not allowed to be used directly in storage areas. The use of gas systems or fire extinguishing systems with finely dispersed water is recommended.
9. The temperature and humidity regime is maintained at a level that ensures the stability of the materials, excluding sudden fluctuations in the environment. For these purposes, the storage facilities are equipped with specialized ventilation and air conditioning systems, as well as control and measuring devices (thermohygrometers) for continuous monitoring.
10. The premises where funds are stored must be protected from direct sunlight. Artificial lighting sources are equipped with filters that exclude ultraviolet radiation that can harm archaeological materials.
11. In order to ensure the safety of the objects of the State Fund, researchers are provided with free and gratuitous access to materials and finds for their study in the research hall by providing them in the presence of a responsible curator or an authorized employee.
12. Researchers' access to the materials is carried out in a research room that meets the following requirements:
1) equipping tables with a flat surface, soft lighting, as well as optical and measuring instruments necessary for research;
2) mandatory presence of a responsible custodian or an authorized employee during the entire time of the researcher's work;
3) the presence of a video surveillance system that records the process of working with materials;
4) prohibition of indoor use of products capable of damaging materials (dyes, sharp objects, liquids).
13. The depository provides the researcher with the following conditions for the scientific study of materials:
1) provision of a workplace equipped in accordance with paragraph 12 of these Rules;
2) providing access to the accounting and field documentation available in the Depository, field descriptions, photo recording materials and the results of natural science analyses regarding the requested archaeological complex.
14. The procedure for providing materials for study is carried out in the following sequence:
1) the researcher sends a written request (application) to the Depository in the form of a paper or electronic document indicating the purpose of the work, the list of necessary materials and the planned deadlines.;
2) the head of the Depository or a person authorized by him shall review the application within 5 (five) business days from the date of its receipt for restrictions on access by third parties.;
3) if there are no restrictions or the written consent of the contractor is provided, the Depository shall coordinate with the researcher a schedule for visiting the research hall.;
4) the responsible custodian, in accordance with the agreed schedule, prepares the objects of the State Fund for transfer from the place of storage of funds to the research hall (inspection of appearance, dust removal and completion);
5) the fact of the materials being delivered to the research hall is recorded in the register of temporary use of materials of any form signed by the researcher and the responsible custodian.
15. The Contractor has the priority right to study and publish the specified materials.
16. Within five years from the date of delivery of mass archaeological finds and archaeological materials to the National Depository, their use by third parties for the purpose of independent scientific research or sampling is allowed only with the written consent of the contractor.
17. After five years, the materials are transferred to the general scientific access mode.
18. When publishing materials, it is mandatory to make a reference to the author who conducted the excavations, the year of the work and the National Depository.
19. Laboratory analyses requiring complete or partial destruction of the sample (hereinafter referred to as destructive analysis) are carried out in order to determine the chemical and physical composition, chronology and other scientific characteristics of archaeological materials. Destructive analysis is carried out by specialized research laboratories at the request of the researcher, approved in accordance with the procedure established by paragraph 14 of these Rules, or on the basis of a permit issued in accordance with paragraph 21 of these Rules.
20. In destructive analysis, the preservation of the scientific significance of the studied complex is ensured in the following ways::
1) preservation of the main part of homogeneous finds obtained from the specified archaeological complex in the Depository (for mass archaeological finds);
2) sampling in an amount not exceeding the scientifically justified need of the laboratory;
3) Photofixation, measurement, and macroscopic description of the sampled sample prior to analysis.
21. Control over sampling for destructive analysis is carried out by means of a Sampling Act drawn up in any form, which is signed by the researcher and the responsible custodian. The Sampling Report records the exact weight, dimensions, description of the sample being taken, the method of examination used and the timing of its implementation. For control purposes, the sampling process is recorded on video, and after the analysis is completed, a copy of the laboratory report must be submitted within 10 (ten) business days for attachment to the Depository's accounting documentation.
22. The procedure for obtaining the written consent of the contractor is carried out in the following sequence:
1) a third party (researcher) submits an application to the Depository in accordance with the requirements set out in subparagraph 1) paragraph 14 of these Rules;
2) The depositary, within 3 (three) business days from the date of receipt of the application, officially notifies the contractor of the received request (including by e-mail);
3) the contractor, within 15 (fifteen) calendar days from the date of notification, submits to the Depository his written consent or a reasoned refusal to use the materials by a third party. The consent may specify the specific scope and conditions of use of the materials.;
4) the absence of a response from the contractor within the prescribed period of 15 (fifteen) calendar days does not constitute automatic consent. In this case, the Depository notifies the applicant of the need for a direct settlement of copyright issues with the performer.;
5) disagreements that have arisen between the contractor and third parties regarding the use of materials are resolved in court in accordance with the civil legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
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