The NU Library cordially invites you to attend a book presentation by Dr. Kevin White, Visiting Scholar at Nazarbayev University.

About the book:

In 2014, a farmer in East Kazakhstan discovered a large stone measuring 17 x 28 x 95 cm and featuring a cross with Syriac script – the liturgical script of Eastern Christianity in late antiquity and the early Medieval era. This discovery resulted in subsequent excavations which led to the confirmed discovery of the lost Silk Road city Ilibalyk referred to the chronicler of the 13th century Armenian King Hethum I. These finds join those discovered at multiple other sites throughout Zhetysu, indicating a substantial pre-Islamic Christian religious identity in the region dating from the 6th century. 

The publication of this research project conducted through the University of Salzburg was released in February 2026 and is titled Rediscovery of a Lost History of Central Asian Christianity: Historical Context and Archaeological Evidence (Piscataway, New Jersey: Gorgias Press, 2026). This publication is featured at the link.

This publication features a comprehensive survey of archaeological finds related to Syro-Aramaic Christianity in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, examining Soviet and modern Russian-language archaeological reports, analyzing the observations and conclusions of Soviet and modern archaeologists. Consisting of 483 pages, this work features over 200 photographs and illustrations related to Syro-Aramaic Christian finds, as well as providing extensive Russian-language bibliographical information, and maps with precise GPS coordinates providing the location of sites where evidence of Christianity has been discovered.

About the author:

Kevin White graduated with a PhD in Religious Studies from the University of Salzburg in 2024. He currently serves as a Visiting Scholar for Nazarbayev University and Research Fellow for ZECO (the Zentrum zur Erforschung des Christlichen Ostens – or Center for Eastern Christian Studies) of the University of Salzburg (Austria). In this capacity with ZECO, Kevin is developing the Central Asian Center for Syriac Studies (formerly Department of Nestorian Studies) to serve as a field-based platform to facilitate research and development of this field, mapping and implementing archeological engagement strategies, and the development of geoinformatics related to the historical and socio-religious geography of Central Asia. 

Through their existing collaborations, the Zentrum zur Erforschung des Christlichen Ostens (ZECO) and the Kazakhstan Academy of Sciences co-hosted the “6th Salzburg International Conference for Syriac Christianity in China and Central Asia” in 2019. Subsequently, the “7th Salzburg International Conference for Syriac Christianity in China and Central Asia” was held in Samarkand in 2023. These two conferences featured an interdisciplinary synopsis of religious studies and history, archaeology, philology, manuscript studies and epigraphy (Syriac, Uyghur, Sogdian, Old Iranian, Arabic, Chinese). Presenters comprising our network include prestigious universities from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Russia, Singapore, Switzerland, Turkey and the USA.

Venue: Nazarbayev University Library, 5E.228 (Conference Hall)

We are pleased to note that a copy of the book will be donated to the NU Library and will be available to members of the NU community.

We warmly welcome all interested in history, archaeology, religious studies, and Central Asian heritage.