«Monuments of Ancient Taraz» Museum Park

The history of Taraz, founded over two thousand years ago, is intimately connected with the saga of the Great Silk Road. This ancient trade route, stretching from China to the Mediterranean Sea, passed through what is now Kazakhstan, where the city of Taraz thrived. The city’s significance reached far beyond local borders; Arab, Greek, and Persian authors wrote of Taraz’s magnificence, underscoring its global historical relevance.

Taraz’s period of prosperity ended in the 13th century due to invasions and conflicts. Nomadic tribes pillaged the city, and in 1220, Genghis Khan’s forces laid siege, ultimately razing it to the ground. The city, along with its historical heritage, was forgotten for centuries. Although it revived slowly, Taraz’s legacy endured. Over time, it was known by various names—Aulie-Ata, Mirzoyan, Dzambul—before ultimately reclaiming its original identity as modern-day Taraz.

The quest to uncover ancient Taraz has long intrigued archaeologists. For years, pinpointing the city’s oldest remains proved challenging, with various theories emerging. In the 1960s, during the construction of a new building on the central market grounds, monumental ancient structures were discovered. Although dismissed at the time, these structures were later recognized as the Eastern Bathhouse of ancient Taraz. This discovery marked the first step toward identifying the site of the lost city beneath the central market of Taraz.

On December 25, 1979, acknowledging Taraz’s unique historical and cultural legacy, the state established the Museum-Reserve “Monuments of Ancient Taraz.” This institution preserved archaeological sites both within and around the city. However, it was not until 2011 that large-scale excavations began. That year, the city authorities decided to demolish the central market to open up the area for archaeological research.

The Eastern Bathhouse was uncovered anew, its top layer conserved and reconstructed with modern bricks replicating ancient techniques. Researchers discovered a unique underground heating system, reminiscent of Roman baths and eastern bathhouses, along with evidence of an ancient aqueduct network.

Excavations continued, and in 2015, the archaeological park “Ancient Taraz” opened to visitors on the former market site, coinciding with the 550th anniversary of the Kazakh Khanate. The reconstructed fortress walls follow the perimeter of the remaining ancient ramparts, marking the shahristan, the central part of ancient Taraz. Within these walls lies the citadel—the “heart” of Taraz, where its rulers once resided. However, much of the citadel was destroyed during the construction of the market’s meat pavilion. Only the eastern and southern walls remain, while the northern wall extends into privately owned land beyond the ancient site.

Today, the museum-reserve is dedicated to preserving Taraz’s cultural heritage, continuing excavations, and discovering new artifacts. It also conducts scientific research, publishing books, brochures, and guides. Alongside these efforts, the museum-reserve actively protects and conserves the historical monuments it uncovers.

Restoration is another key focus. Several notable sites have been revived, including the mausoleums of Aisha-Bibi and Babaji-Khatun—extraordinary examples of medieval architecture. Efforts to restore sacred and civil buildings from the Aulie-Ata period, such as the Kali Zhunus Bathhouse and the mosques of Abdykadir and Nametbai, are ongoing. Restoration work is also progressing at the monumental Akyrtas palace complex, and excavations continue at medieval settlements like Taram, Bektobe, Tujmekent, Balasagun, Ornek, and Kulan.

Today, the museum-reserve “Monuments of Ancient Taraz” manages a vast array of archaeological, architectural, and historical sites. Its collection spans millennia, from Scythian burial mounds (7th–5th centuries BCE) to religious and civic architecture from the 19th–20th centuries, totaling over 100 historical and cultural monuments.

The Archaeological Park

At the core of the reserve is the archaeological park “Ancient Taraz,” opened in 2015 over the ancient city’s excavation area. Spanning more than 20 hectares, the park houses:

• An observation tower and entry arch;
• An ethnography museum and cultural center;
• The House of Friendship;
• The “Taraz Melodies” Stele;
• The Mumbulak Garden;
• The «Ancient Taraz» Museum.

Visitors can traverse specially built wooden walkways to view the excavation sites and witness the ancient city emerging from the ground. Remnants of residential quarters, public buildings, and fortress walls reveal the layers of different eras, showing how successive generations built over the same land.

Located within the archaeological park, the «Ancient Taraz» Museum spans three levels, offering 1,200 square meters of exhibition space. Archaeologists have determined that this site was once the citadel, the city’s main hub where rulers lived and built the surrounding city.

The museum’s collection comprises artifacts uncovered during excavations, including ceramics, bone, metal, and glass objects, along with silver, bronze, and even gold items from various periods. Among the most notable exhibits is a treasure trove of 97 gold and silver items found in a single jar, thought to have belonged to an ancient jeweler.

Through dioramas, visitors gain insights into ancient Taraz’s daily life, traditional crafts, and early infrastructure, including its water and irrigation systems.

Today, the «Monuments of Ancient Taraz» reserve is one of Kazakhstan’s premier tourist attractions, drawing thousands of visitors from around the world each year.