The “Koylyk” mound

Koylyk settlement is a medieval settlement of the Iliysk valley. It was located on the eastern edge of modern Koylyk village, on the bank of the Aschi-Bulak River. In VIII-XIV centuries it was the largest trade, craft and cultural center of Zhetisu. The town was famous for its bazaars. Muslims, Christians, Buddhists lived here, as evidenced by the manuscripts of travelers, archaeological finds of Muslim cultural objects of XIII-XIV centuries, Christian church, Buddhist and Manichaean temples.

Koylyk was considered to be one of the largest centers of Buddhism in the territory of modern Zhetisu region. The temple of Buddha found during excavations was an impressive structure. Its dimensions at the base reached thirty-five meters, and its height up to five meters. In the rubble and on the floor of the temple were found fragments of large hums, a fragment of a jug with a spout in the form of a bull’s head, an iron dagger, door butts, bronze crafts.

Archaeological research of the Koylyk settlement has been carried out since 1964. The expedition led by a young and talented archaeologist Karl Baipakov laid a number of pits and made a plan of the settlement. Subsequently, during several years, the residential estate in the citadel of the settlement was studied, a bathhouse of “hammam” type, made of burnt bricks, was opened. Mausoleums with facades decorated with carved terracotta and a Friday mosque were found. Many objects discovered during excavations are well preserved and are of great cultural and historical value.