In medieval Arabic written sources, the ancient settlement of Ornek is mentioned as «Kulshub», one of the centers of political and strategic importance, which was under the control of the Karluks. Being a trading settlement, Ornek turned into a prosperous city due to its advantageous geographical position. From the early Middle Ages, gold was mined on the banks of the Altynsu and Shubyrynda rivers, farmers cultivated fields, there was a natural exchange between nomadic and settled tribes.

During archaeological research (1985–1986, 1992–1993), a detachment of the South Kazakhstan archaeological expedition led by K. M. Baipakov discovered unique medieval monuments, such as a mosque with carved stone columns, a mud-brick mausoleum, utility and residential premises. Archaeological materials made it possible to conclude that a cultural and economic center was formed on the site of a permanent settled settlement, which played an important role on the Great Silk Road.

Status: archaeological monument of Republican significance. Since 2014, it has been included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List as one of the objects of the international route «Silk Road: Route Network of the Chang'an-Tien Shan Corridor». In 2017, within the framework of the «Rukhani Zhangyru» program under the «Sacred Geography of Kazakhstan» project, it was included in the list of sacred monuments of regional significance.