Ornek Settlement, VIII–XII centuries

The Ornek Settlement is mentioned in medieval Arab written sources as "Kulshub" — one of the most important political and strategic centers under the control of the Karluks. Owing to its favorable geographical location, it developed into a city that flourished at a major trade junction. In the early Middle Ages, gold was mined along the banks of the Altynsu and Shubyryndy rivers, agriculture was developing, and barter trade was conducted between nomadic and sedentary tribes.

As a result of research carried out by the South Kazakhstan Archaeological Expedition under the direction of K. M. Baipakov (1985–1986, 1992–1993), unique medieval monuments were discovered — a mosque with carved stone columns, a mausoleum of mudbrick, as well as utility and residential buildings. The archaeological materials allowed scholars to conclude that a cultural and economic center, which played a significant role on the Great Silk Road, had formed at the site of a permanent sedentary settlement. Status: archaeological monument of republican significance. In 2014, it was 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.