Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The State Museum of History and Culture of the Republic of Karakalpakstan is one of the oldest museums in Central Asia. Its history began in 1929 with an exhibition organized by the Society of Regional Studies of Karakalpakstan in Turtkul. Currently, the museum is located in Nukus and has more than 65,000 exhibits, divided into three sections: nature, archeology and ethnography, and modern history.

The museum displays the fossilized remains of ancient animals and plants, stuffed rare and already extinct birds and animals of the Aral Sea region. The exhibit "The Last Turanian Tiger" is unique. Such tigers were widely inhabited from Altai to the Black Sea, but these animals were exterminated because of their beautiful skin. The last tiger was killed in the Amu Darya delta by local residents in 1949. Upon learning of this, the director of the Museum of Local Lore, took all measures to ensure that the carcass of the tiger ended up in the museum, and to preserve it at least as a stuffed animal.

Archaeological expositions contain unparalleled artifacts and models of ancient settlements of Khorezm. In particular, a capital in the form of an animal with a ram’s horns, but with a human face, carved more than 2500 years ago from the stones of the Sultanuizdag Mountains. The bronze cauldron of the 6th – 5th centuries is unique. BC, on three legs, similar to the legs of animals, its handle is shaped like a horse.

The ethnographic expositions display an old folk costume, jewelry, yurt decoration, carpets, traditional musical instruments, edged weapons and armor, horse equipment.

Historical expositions are represented by manuscripts and early printed books, coins, portraits of epic heroes and historical figures, and photographs that reflect the development of the region since the beginning of the 20th century.