Note: Viktor Zaibert, a world-famous Kazakh archaeologist, died on April 20th at the age of 75. Alan K. Outram, Professor at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom, reflects on his distinctive contribution to worldwide research and education in this article.

        Viktor Fedorovich Zaibert has devoted almost half a century of his life to researching Kazakhstan's ancient history. He has written several scholarly articles and books on the subject, as well as popular novels aimed at educating the general people about Kazakhstan's rich history. His discovery and excavation of the Botai site in Northern Kazakhstan was of worldwide significance and drew a lot of international scientific interest.

        Botai still holds the world's first hard evidence for horse husbandry, and it's crucial to understanding horse domestication and the beginnings of pastoral cultures in Central Asia. Botai's study has entailed collaboration with numerous foreign scientists, including those from Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Russia, France, Denmark, China, and Lithuania, under the energetic direction of Professor Zaibert. Many of the people Viktor recruited to work with him were thought leaders in their industries and used cutting-edge approaches in their work at Botai.

        At Botai, wholly new approaches and procedures were used for the first time in certain circumstances. Viktor Zaibert's warm and open-minded attitude to scientific cooperation has fostered significant levels of innovation at the facility.

        Viktor's study at Botai has left a huge legacy, not only in terms of its undeniable historical significance, but also in terms of the links it formed between different researchers and the innovative techniques it spawned. Botai has also served as a training ground for future archaeologists. Victor Zaibert has not only offered experience to hundreds of Kazakhstani students, but several foreign colleagues have also brought undergraduates, masters students, and doctorate candidates to the site to complete part of their studies.

        Botai's position in the larger saga of humans harnessing horse power is still a hot topic of study, with a lot of cutting-edge research still to be done and published. Many of Viktor's colleagues are heartbroken at the loss of such a vibrant archaeological leader, and they lament not being able to share and debate their latest findings with him. Viktor Zaibert's enormous legacy, on the other hand, is safe, and he will be remembered lovingly.

The author is Professor Alan K. Outram, University of Exeter, UK