A complex of the ancient Turkic era was found at the foot of Kokentau

The Semipalatinsk Archaeological Expedition of Shakarim University conducted comprehensive archaeological research at the foot of the Kokentau range in June within the framework of the program "Complex historical and archaeological research of the Abai region" implemented within the framework of the programmatic funding of the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In the course of field work, several archaeological objects belonging to the ancient Turkic era were studied. According to construction features and results of preliminary dating, they belong to the Kimak-Kipchak period. According to the assumption, these facilities were built to conduct religious and ritual ceremonies in the sacred space called "reserve". Several stone sculptures were discovered during the excavation. Two of them were installed in the eastern part of the buildings, and another statue was found deliberately buried in a special pit. The fact that the tradition of deliberately burying stone statues is also known from Kuman-Kipchak places of worship in Eastern Europe is an important archaeological similarity in the interpretation of the Kokentau find.

During the excavation, signs of animal sacrifice were also recorded. The found remains of bones allow to study the religious beliefs and ritual practices of the medieval peoples of the region. Special samples of organic materials were taken to clarify the time of construction and use of the monuments. The concentration of several religious and ritual objects and stone statues in one area gives reason to believe that the foothills of Kokentau have been used as a sacred space for a long time.