Taldysay, a complex of monuments

It is located on the left bank of the Zhezdy river, 83 km north-west of Zhezkazgan (Karagandy region).

Favorable natural and climatic conditions of the region, availability of natural water sources, pastures, ore deposits have caused a rather high density of settlement of the Taldysay tract since ancient times. The Taldysay complex includes monuments from different historical periods - sites and locations of the stone age (Mesolithic, Neolithic, Eneolithic), a cave with traces of ancient habitation in antiquity, a settlement of ancient metallurgists of the Bronze Age, burial grounds of the Bronze Age, early iron and medieval times, medieval settlement of Baskamyr, remains of irrigation systems, guard tower and tombstones of the XVI-XIX centuries.

The settlement of ancient metallurgists, including housing and production complexes with copper smelting and copper foundry production, characterizes the region as one of the major ancient centers of mining and metallurgy in Eurasia. In the burial grounds of the Bronze Age, the early Iron Age and the Middle Ages there are constructions in the form of fencing, a moustache barrow and medieval funerary structures. Late gravestones are represented by structures made of mud, burnt bricks and stone.

On the top of the hill, to the east of the medieval settlement of Baskamyr, there is a guard tower with sides of 3×3 m and a height of 3.5 m - the construction of a sub-square in terms of shape, made of stone slabs. To the west of the settlement there is a cave with traces of ancient habitation. The cave is 20 m long, up to 15 m wide and 1-1.5 m high. The entrance to the cave faces southwest. The width of the cave entrance is 2 m. At the entrance to the cave, cultural layers saturated with ceramic fragments, animal bones and ash have been identified. The medieval hillfort of Baskamyr is the central monument in the complex. The hillfort is a sub-square structure, oriented by corners on the sides of the world. At the corners and in the centre of each side of the hillfort there are the remains of flanking towers protruding outward. In the central part of the hillfort there is also a citadel with flanking towers in the corners. The entrance to the citadel is located at the eastern corner and is formed by three corridors forming a U-shaped entrance. The walls and towers are made up of small mud blocks. The dwellings are attached to the inner side of the fortress wall on the citadel. Sufas and hearths stand out in the interior of the dwellings. According to research materials, the ancient hillfort of Baskamyr is classified as a medieval town-exhibition.

The accumulation of various monuments (residential buildings and burial grounds) in one tract is explained not only by the attractiveness of the area for people to live in, but also by the graves and tomb structures that have become revered and sacred to people of different eras.

At present, the Taldysay complex of monuments has become one of the most popular tourist destinations.