U.S. Embassy Bishkek Helps Unveil Kyrgyzstan’s Golden History

Ambassador Yovanovitch and Director of the Museum of History Mr. Chynaev at the Gold Collection opening ceremony

On April 24, 2008, Ambassador Marie L. Yovanovitch participated in the opening of a new exhibit, titled the Golden Collection, at the Kyrgyz State Museum of History. The collection consists of golden burial masks and other treasures from thousands of years of Kyrgyz history, including the Scythian, Hun, Buddhist and Karakhanid periods. The U.S. contributed $51,000 through an Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) grant so that the collection could be catalogued, restored and displayed permanently for the first time to museum visitors. AFCP projects are selected on a competitive basis from submissions around the world, and are intended to demonstrate U.S. respect for foreign cultures. This is the second time that a project was selected in Kyrgyzstan, as an 11^th century Shakh-Fazil Mausoleum was restored near Safed Bulon village in Jalabat province in 2002.