The Akyrtas palace complex is one of the most mysterious and interesting medieval buildings in Kazakhstan. The history of the study of Akyrtas has more than 150 years. Stone ruins attracted the attention of local historians and scientists from the second half of the 19th century. In the 1890s, orientalist V. V.Bartold and geologist D. L.Ivanov conducted the first studies of Akyrtas. Bartold identified the ruins of Akyrtas with the medieval settlement of Kasri-Bas (Kasribas), mentioned in the written Arabic sources of Ibn Khordadbeh and Kudama (IX­X centuries). At the beginning of the XIII century Taoist monk Chan-Chun in his diaries mentioned the discovery of the ruins of a stone structure on the road to Taraz. The comparison between Akyrtas and Kasri-Bas was supported by    K. M. Baipakov, who considered it to be an unfinished headquarters of the Karluks, who owned Semirechye in the 9th–10th centuries.

The whole complex consists of several objects of different times: the unfinished palace building Akyrtas, residential estates, the ruler's castle, a fortress, houses, a park, quarries for the extraction of stone and clay.

Kostobe settlement is identified with the ancient city of Jamukat (Khamukat), founded in the 6th century by the Bukhara Sogdians. The mention of Jamukat is found in the 10th century geographer al-Maqdisi, as well as in Nershahi's «Tarihi-i-Bukhara». Research of the Kostobe settlement began in 1938 by A. N. Bernshtam, and archaeological excavations were carried out by a detachment of the Taraz archaeological expedition in 1986–1987y. under the direction of K. M. Baipakov.

Kostobe is one of the largest settlements in the Talas valley. It’s topography includes the central ruins surrounded by a rampart, a detached mound (possibly a temple of fire) and necropolises. During archaeological excavations on the citadel of the settlement, a palace was discovered, the interiors of which were decorated with carved pieces.

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

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.

Settlement Kulan, VI–XIII centuries

The city was first mentioned in the travel notes of the Chinese pilgrim Xuan-Jian. It is reported by numerous medieval travelers. Ibn Khordadbeh and Kudama (9th century) place Kulan 14 farsakhs west of the city of Taraz. Kudama writes: «In the north of Taraz and Kulan there are sands, behind them are stone deserts, which stretched to the border of the territory of the Kimaks». Al-Maqdisi (X century) reports: «Kulan is a fortified city with a cathedral mosque. Now it is empty, it stands on the big Taraz road». In the XIII century the author of the geographical dictionary Yakut writes: «Kulan is a pleasant town on the border of the country of the Turks from Maverannahr». The topography of the settlement shows shahristan, a citadel and traces of an unfortified rabad on the eastern side.

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