Archaeological Attractions of the Altyn-Emel Nature Reserve -
Excavations on the Besshatyr Mounds and Archeology in the Altyn-Emel Park -
The Besshatyr Menhirs - stone steles, stone columns, large long rough stones placed vertically in the Altyn-Emel Park, are an archaeological and historical attraction of the park. These stones are called silent witnesses of the era of the Saka kings. These are not just boulders - they are ancient milestones, obelisks of the past, monuments erected by the hands of those who lived before words appeared here. Next to the stone steles are the famous ancient Saka mounds of Besshatyr, which are also an archaeological attraction and a place of pilgrimage. The stone menhirs and the mounds themselves are one ancient complex. "Besshatyr" means "Five Tents" in translation, there are about 30 burial mounds and dozens of menhirs, built in a strict circle, as if in an invisible ritual. These stones up to 2 meters high stand like warriors. Each of them is turned in a certain direction. Archaeologists are sure that this was not just a cemetery, but a center of power, where rituals, sacrifices and meetings of leaders were performed. The Ili River flows next to the complex and the Degeres Mountains are located nearby.
How to get there and visit -
The menhirs (stone steles) on the Besshatyr burial mounds are located in the Altyn Emel National Nature Park, approximately 180 kilometers from the city of Almaty on the R-20 highway (Almaty-Khorgos), entry from the village of Shengeldy through checkpoint No. 1, Zhetysu region, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 43°55'22"N 78°12'34"E
Information -
The Besshatyr complex, burial mounds and menhirs (stone steles) are of scientific and cultural interest, and the entire complex is a natural, archaeological and historical landmark of the region. This is not just a cluster of burial mounds, but a real "city of the dead", where every detail - from the menhirs to the location of the burials - contains encrypted messages from ancient nomads. The complex is dated to the Saka period of the 7th-3rd centuries BC. On some menhirs, you can see carved signs - stylized images of people, animals, magical symbols. Some see them as guardians between the worlds, some - a memory of fallen warriors, and some - encrypted messages to descendants. The mysticism of the Besshatyr menhirs is that they seem to be alive. Come closer - and you will feel how ancient warmth comes from them. The air around them is different, dense, saturated with something unknown. This place is not noisy, but talkative. It does not show itself right away, but the one who stops, who feels the ground under his feet and the wind on his face - will understand why people came here with respect thousands of years ago and will come again. The place is often compared to Stonehenge, only Saka. In the 50s, archaeologists found gold jewelry with amazing images here: deer with branched antlers, winged leopards, mythical griffins. Each decoration is a masterpiece of ancient art. But the most interesting thing is that most of the burial mounds have not yet been excavated and explored. Who knows what treasures this land still hides?
Besshatyr is the heart of the Saka culture, a silent testimony to the Iron Age, when proud, warlike tribes ruled the steppes of Zhetysu. It was a time when every stone had meaning, every peak had power, and every person knew their connection with the earth and the sky. Today, seekers, travelers, photographers, shamans and simply those who want to feel something real come here. No words are needed here. It is enough to stand among the menhirs, close your eyes and let the wind tell you a story that is thousands of years long.
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