Oshaktas stelae

Oshaktas stelae

The Besshatyr mounds served not only as burial sites but also as centers for religious rites. One of the most historically and culturally significant features of this area is the presence of ancient altars, crafted as circular stone formations set on the eastern side. These formations are believed to be associated with the sun worship central to Saka culture.

Particularly grand megaliths, or menhirs (from the Breton men for “stone” and hir for “long”), stand prominently around the Royal Mound. Many of these menhirs bear carvings of animals, sun symbols, and the tamga, or emblems, of Kazakh clans.

Approximately 30 kilometers east of the Besshatyr mounds, at the foot of the Small Kalkan Mountains, lies another ancient monument—the Oshaktas stelae. Scholars speculate that the entire expanse from the Dzungar Mountains to the Ili River once served as a spiritual region for ancient nomadic rituals.

The Oshaktas stone stelae (meaning “stone hearth” in Kazakh) are recognized as a significant cultural landmark within the Altyn-Emel National Park, with an official history tracing them to the era of Genghis Khan in the 13th century. Oshaktas is located near the Kishi (Small) Kalkan Mountains, 1.5 kilometers from the Mynbulak checkpoint and 10 kilometers from the Singing Dune. The three solitary stone pillars of Oshaktas, standing alone in the vast steppe on the way to the Singing Dune, draw universal attention.

These pillars stand as rough-hewn boulders, around 2 meters tall, embedded vertically in the earth. According to legend, in 1219, during his campaign to conquer Central Asia, the great Mongol leader Genghis Khan camped here with his troops. To feed his army, a massive cauldron was said to be placed atop the stones, where food was prepared. Another version suggests that Oshaktas was a signaling post where fires were lit, sending smoke signals in the event of an approaching enemy.

There is also a lesser-known yet plausible theory regarding the origins of the Oshaktas stone stelae, suggesting they date back to the Saka era (1st millennium BCE) and were used for sacred rites. A line of similar structures west of the Besshatyr necropolis may have marked the western boundary of a sacred area where pagan ceremonies were conducted, with Oshaktas symbolizing the eastern boundary.

The layout of Oshaktas appears more consistent with a Saka sacrificial altar than with a hearth intended to support a giant cooking pot. It’s worth noting that the Mongol army was renowned for its speed and lightness in movement, making it unlikely they would have carried heavy objects and cooking equipment.

In any case, the site itself—a slight depression in the earth encircled by three tall monoliths and additional enclosing stones scattered around—resembles a large, ancient firepit. The true purpose of these stelae remains one of history’s unsolved mysteries.

Shymbulak & Medeo Tour: High Peaks and City Views

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4-5 hours

Visit the Medeo Dam
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