Akyrtas Archaeological Site

The Akyrtas Archaeological Site is an ancient set of ruins located roughly 45 kilometers from the city of Taraz in Kazakhstan’s Zhambyl Region. This site presents the remains of a palace complex built from massive, dark-red stone blocks arranged in a rectangular layout measuring 18.5 by 20.5 meters. Historians date its origin back to the 8th or 9th centuries.

Akyrtas is shrouded in mystery, with archaeologists and scholars still debating its true purpose. Some believe Akyrtas was an ancient Buddhist temple, while others suggest it may have been a Nestorian Christian monastery complete with monk cells. Another theory posits that it was an 8th-century Arab palace, commissioned by the Arab general Qutayba ibn Muslim, who commanded forces in the famous Battle of Talas in 751 CE. Support for this latter theory includes the discovery of a mosque’s foundation, suggesting the structure could have served as a residence for an Arab military leader.

Through extensive research, archaeologists have found that Akyrtas was a sprawling complex featuring a primary structure with a grand entrance, a large inner courtyard, and two water basins. The palace complex extended beyond this main structure to include country estates, a park, quarries for clay and stone used in its construction, a fortress, and a caravanserai. The engineering and construction techniques were advanced for their time, as seen in the precise joins in the walls and foundation. Akyrtas consists of four sections, each with residential and utility rooms, including two ayvans—open, three-sided vaulted spaces. The walls, towering between 3.5 to 5 meters in thickness and supported by a foundation 4 meters high, housed an intricate water supply system that channeled spring water to the residents, underscoring the grandeur and importance of this archaeological marvel.

Akyrtas is known to be ancient, with most structures dating to the 8th or 9th centuries. Yet despite its age, much about it remains an enigma. The first documented mention of Akyrtas appeared in 1222 in the writings of the wandering Taoist monk Chang Chun. Although only the stone foundations now remain of what was once an awe-inspiring complex, its construction from red stone—highly unusual in a region where clay was the dominant building material—stands as a testament to its uniqueness and high-quality craftsmanship. Some speculate that the builders may have been craftsmen from the Delhi Sultanate, Armenians brought by Arab conquerors, or even extraterrestrial visitors!

The most widely accepted theory today is that Akyrtas was indeed the residence of Qutayba, the Arab general who conquered Bukhara, Khwarezm, Samarkand, Tashkent, and the Fergana Valley between 709 and 714, later refusing to bow to a new caliph and ultimately facing execution. This defiance might explain why the palace was left unfinished. If this theory is correct, Akyrtas marks the furthest eastern outpost of Arab expansion; the borders of influence between the Caliphate and China would soon be defined near this region following the Battle of Talas half a century later. In time, the Turks, including the Uyghurs, would begin to embrace Islam.

Within Akyrtas, visitors find a maze of rooms, their foundations preserved to a single stone’s height. Some of these stones remain nearly untouched by time, their surfaces still smooth and meticulously aligned with almost computerized precision—a hallmark of many ancient civilizations’ architectural feats.

One of the best-preserved stones, possibly part of an archway, lies by the gates and has come to be known as «Qutayba’s Throne.» Local legend has it that this stone grants wishes to those who sit upon it.

How to Get There: From Taraz, take the A-2 highway to the village of Akchulak (which also has a railway station with the same name). Pass through Akchulak, then take a left onto a trail, continuing for about another 5 kilometers to reach Akyrtas.