Archaeology and archaeological research in Kazakhstan -
Tours and excursions to archaeological sites in Almaty region and Zhetysu region -
The Big Besshatyr Mound is located in the vast expanses of the Altyn-Emel Park, where the dry steppe suddenly finds a powerful voice of history, where a mysterious, monumental witness of ancient times rises. It stands among dozens of smaller mounds, like a leader among warriors. Its name translates as "Five Tents", but in fact there are many more of them here - a whole necropolis hidden in dusty silence. This is the largest of the 31 mounds located nearby, its diameter is 105 meters, the height is 17 meters, it is part of the Besshatyr mounds, ancient Saka burials. During excavations inside the mound, a massive wooden structure made of Tien Shan spruce was discovered, which served as the burial chamber of the king. Around the mound there are "stone menhirs" (stone steles made of unprocessed stone). The entire complex is a sacred and ritual object, a place of pilgrimage and one of the tourist attractions of the park. You can get here from the village of Basshi, where you must register and pay for your stay in the park.
How to get there and visit -
The Big Besshatyr Mound is located 180 kilometers from the city of Almaty in the Altyn-Emel National Park and Reserve, Zhetysu Region, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 43°55'21"N 78°12'38"E
Information -
Big Besshatyr Mound is not just a mound. This is a sacred place where more than 2,500 years ago the Saka tribes buried their nobility - kings, priests, heroes. It was here, at the foot of the Zhetysu Mountains, that they erected this giant burial mound, majestic and mysterious. Its height reaches 17 meters, and its diameter is more than 100. But the main thing is not on the outside - the main thing is underneath. Inside there are complex wooden tombs, tunnels and passages, laid out of massive Tien Shan spruce forests. Scientists still cannot fully explain how ancient people could create such a strong structure with such precision and engineering skill, capable of withstanding centuries. When you stand as this mound - something inside freezes. This is not a place for vanity. The silence of power reigns here. You do not want to talk here - you want to listen. The tramp of horses, the rumble of ritual drums, the breath of fires and the rustle of brocade clothes in which the Saks were sent off into eternity can be heard through the wind. The entire area breathes archeology: there are more than 30 burial mounds around, some of which are hidden in the folds of the steppe and almost unnoticeable. And a little further away there are megalithic rings - huge stones standing vertically, similar to a miniature Stonehenge. They were oriented to the cardinal points and, perhaps, were used for rituals or astronomical observations. The nature here is severe, but majestic. The steppe stretches to the very horizon, embracing the gaze with its golden haze. In the spring it comes to life - poppies, wild wormwood appear, tulips bloom, and the whole earth seems to thank for being touched with respect. In the distance you can see the Katutau and Aktau mountains, and above you is the endless sky, filled with light, wind and some special, ancient peace.
Attractions nearby:
Singing Dune
Terekty Gorge
Terekty petroglyphs (rock carvings)
700-year-old willow
Chokan Valikhanov Spring
Oshaktas Steles (stone steles)
Aktau Mountains (White Mountains)
Katutau Mountains (lava mountains)
Altynemel Mountain Range
Sholak Mountains
Ulken-Kalkan Mountains
Kysty-Kalkan Mountains
Matai Mountains
Degeres Mountains
Kerkulans (Przewalsky horse)
Kulans (wild donkeys)
Sights of Altyn-Emel Park
History of Besshatyr Mounds
Legend of the Singing Dunes
History of the Przewalski horse
Fauna of Altyn-Emel Park
Flora of Altyn-Emel Park
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