Mr. Uzakbai Karabalin a General Director of the JSC “Mangistaumunaigaz”, Mr. Karmys Bokanov a deputy akim of region, Mr. Sagyn Krymkulov a famous oilman veteran, Mr. Saiyn Nazarbekov an architect and a member of writers’ union, Mr. Duisenbi Aripov labour veteran, respected elder and kinsman of glorious heroine, and Mr. Medet Duisenov a poet appeared with welcoming speech at monument unveiling. Also the unveiling ceremony was shared by head of the internal policy department Mr. Zharmrgrnbet Aituarov, and deputy akim of Mangistau village Mr. Abzal Sarbalaiyev.

 This area is named Kalamkas. What does this toponymy keep? What history does this place-name hide? A famous Russian historian Nadezhdin N.I. thought that history should be studied beginning from map. He wrote: “A toponymy is a language of the Earth, and the Earth is a book, where human history records in geographic nomenclature”. A Russian philologist Krot Y.K. considered that “topographic name never might be accidental or without any meaning. It mostly contains either any sign of a tract, or identifying feature of area, either hint at origin of object or any circumstance more or less interesting for a mind and imagination”.

 I doubt whether a young generation know the history of this place-name, but it is still alive in memories of elders. A necropolis Kalamkas became a last shelter for many batyrs*, bees*, and poets, but for some reasons that place was named for the sake of girl Kalamkas, who lived only about 20 years. How did she deserve such recognition?

 Kalamkas descends from Kazakhs who came to Mangistau a few centuries ago. Atagozy, Shotan, Shakan, Esbolai, Khozhambet – ancestors of adai and berish clans of the Youngest juz*. Kalamkas is a daughter of kin named bektemis zhary (from adai clan) who lived on Bozachi peninsula.

A history contained in toponymy Kalamkas is very interesting. Kalamkas – is a name of girl, who lived in a time immemorial and took part in battles on a par with men, and was smart as well as brave. When the hard time had come to her land in the form of hostile invasion she appointed herself as a senior of village and became responsible for nourishment for the whole village. But it was very hard mission, as far as a steppe animal was very light footed and smart, so it was not easy to catch it even for men. Once, when she was hunting for elusive saiga, driving it into pit her horse had stumbled and fall into pit. Thus bellicose, brave, loving her own land and people young Kalamkas died…

 An initiative to immortalize a memory about glorious daughter of steppe was made by oilmen and supported by management of the JSC “MMG”. Also company took responsibility to keep the necropolis Kalamkas in a proper condition, which is recognized as historical and cultural monument. And now due to effort of company’s management we can contemplate a mausoleum with a white dome made of local coquina according to style and technology of rock-cutters of Mangistau in burial place of glorious daughter of Mangistau. This method is inherent only to our masters and has no any analogue in whole Kazakhstan. It is very unique method, because carved sandstone blocks fixable without any mortar. A dome is intended in the form of borik – women’s head-dress made of fur and decorated with feathers of eagle-owl on top. Moreover, authors also embodied in rock other attributes of girlish look – ear-rings, plait and etc.

 Also, a monument depicting a horsewoman in military armour with hauberk, bow and arrows on back erected in camp of the Kalamkas oilfield.

 Oil and gas field Kalamkas named after area is under development of the JSC “Mangistaumunaigaz”. Today it gives 70% of the total amount of oil produced by the Company. The exploitation of the field began in1979: on the 2^nd of March it was established a department on oil and gas production affairs, and was named “Komsomoloil” according to the spirit of that time. After declaration of independent in 1992 the department was renamed to “Kalamkasmunaigaz”. On the 2^nd of November of 1980 Kalamkas oilfield achieved its first million ton of oil, and just after a quarter of a century 100 million ton was produced. Totally during the period of exploitation of Kalamkas field it was produced more that 118 tons of hydrocarbons, which serve for the welfare of the people.

 Kalamkas oilfield singularity is that oilmen and servicing companies work by rotational method. The main body of field’s staff constitutes by a local population that is residents of villages and country towns of the Region. Camp provided with all necessary conveniences like laundry, canteen, library, gym and etc. Production is equipped with modern technique and technology, robotized and computerized.

 Kalamkas oilfield discovery history is also interesting. Prospecting works were very short, they started in 1975 and literally after one year a well #3 gave its first oil gusher.

 Notable, that in addition to their basic liabilities, oilmen consider that they are responsible for safety of historical and cultural monuments for a future generation. The Company had already extended a helping hand to preservation of necropolis “Sisem-Ata”, which should be added into list of monuments to be guarded by UNESCO, as well as to subsurface mosque of Beket-ata in Tobykty area, archeological place Kyzyl kala.

 A woman is a mother and keeper of hearth first of all. But in hard and decisive moments a Kazakh woman was always ready to defend her land and stand up for weak. Kazakhs will always remember names of such warrior women, like Tomiris, Bopai hanym, Aizhan kyz, Aliya, Manshuk, Hiuaz and etc.

 Homage to memory about Kalamkas is a homage which the JSC “Mangistaumunaigaz” renders to all women of steppe.

 Let the spirit of our glorious Kalamkas to support producers of the black gold. And let the happiness prevailing in Kazakhstan now to be everlasting.

 Aituar Utegenov
Head of the PR group of the JSC “MMG”
Toigan Taskinbaiyeva
Member of writer’s union