Ежелгі Тараз

Settlement Ornek, VIII–XII centuries

The Kostobe Settlement is associated with the ancient city of Jamukat (Khamukat), founded by Bukharan Sogdians in the 6th century. The name "Jamukat" appears in the writings of the 10th-century geographer al-Maqdisi and in Narshakhi's work "Tarikh-i Bukhara." Research on the settlement began in 1938 with the investigations of A. N. Bernshtam, and archaeological excavations were conducted in 1986–1987 by the Taraz Archaeological Expedition under the direction of K. M. Baipakov.

Kostobe is one of the largest settlements in the Talas Valley. Its topography includes central ruins enclosed by defensive ramparts, isolated depressions (possibly a fire temple), and burial grounds. During archaeological excavations at the citadel of the settlement, a palace was discovered with walls decorated with carved plaster.

Status: archaeological monument of republican significance. Since 2014, Kostobe has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the "Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor." Since 2017, it has been included in the list of regional sacred sites under the "Geography of Sacred Places of Kazakhstan" project of the "Rukhani Zhangyru" program.