The Besshatyr necropolis, translating to «Five Tents,» stands as a historic and sacred site dating back to the first millennium BCE. It was a place of veneration for the ancient Scythians, or Saka people.
The Besshatyr Royal Mounds are the primary attraction of the Altyn-Emel State National Nature Park, situated within the Kerbulak District of Kazakhstan. The term «Besshatyr,» meaning «five tents,» may refer to the five largest mounds in this region, some of which were excavated by archaeologists in the mid-20th century.
Located in the western section of Altyn-Emel National Park, Besshatyr sits on the right bank of the Ili River, in the Shylbyr area, between the Dzhungar Alatau’s Degeres Ridge to the west and the Small Kalkan Mountains to the east, approximately 35 km from checkpoint #1 when entering from Shengeldy village.
The site features enormous burial mounds, the largest of which rises 17 meters high and spans 104 meters in diameter. These mounds serve as the final resting places for Saka chieftains and military leaders from the 7th to 3rd centuries BCE. From afar, the stone-constructed mounds resemble tents. In total, 31 mounds have been found in the area—21 with a stone covering and 10 built with gravel and earth.
The Besshatyr mounds stretch 2 km from north to south and 1 km from west to east, covering an area of approximately 2 square kilometers. The mounds are categorized by size into large, medium, and small. Royal mounds for tribal leaders, chiefs, and kings range from 50-100 meters in diameter, those for esteemed warriors and noble clan heads from 30-40 meters, and simpler mounds for ordinary warriors from 15-25 meters. The largest, known as the Royal Mound, measures 17 meters in height with a diameter of 105 meters.
Inside the larger mounds, complex underground passageways have been discovered. Their interiors were lined with timber from Tian Shan fir trees, harvested from the Zailiyskiy Alatau range over 200-250 km away and transported down the Ili River.
The Besshatyr necropolis was extensively studied by the Semirechye archaeological expedition in 1957 and again from 1959-1961. Numerous artifacts unearthed during the excavations offer insights into the powerful nomadic Saka tribe’s way of life. Unfortunately, these royal mounds were looted in ancient times, leaving only remaining objects and the grandeur of the structures to suggest the lost treasures’ value. Despite this, the Besshatyr mounds hold immense cultural significance as historical relics.
The mounds are encircled by rings of menhirs, adding a unique dimension to this sacred landscape. Across an area of 2 square kilometers, 18 royal mounds ranging from 8 to 70 meters in diameter and 2 to 20 meters in height are concentrated. To the west of the royal graves, running north to south, lies a chain of 45 stone enclosures adorned with carved images of animals. Scholars believe this area served as a ritual site within the necropolis. The burial chambers beneath the mounds are constructed with intricate designs using rare Tian Shan fir.
The choice of this location for burial grounds was no coincidence. The river flowing from the east appears like a mirage in the sun-scorched steppe, only to vanish again in the west. Surrounding Besshatyr are other Saka cemeteries, such as Kzylauyz, Altyn-Emel, and Karashoky. Located 3 km southeast are the later Usun burial sites, Besshatyr II, which contain 40 mounds, and further away, the Kalkan I cemetery with 118 burial structures. Near the Altyn-Emel Pass, the Altyn-Emel necropolis contains 36 additional mounds.
Often referred to as the “Semirechye” or «Saka Pyramids,» the Besshatyr mounds remain a symbol of ancient history and enduring mystery.