Excavations of Taskora

The paleo ethnographic detachment of the South-Kazakhstan complex archaeological expedition of the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR carried out work on the slopes of Karatau. The homestead, called Taskora (Stone Shed) by the population, is located on the plain at the exit to the Altyntau gorge, on the northern slopes of Karatau, 8 km from the village of Kyzylbayrak. Apparently, the estate got its name thanks to the well-preserved stone walls. The ruins (22.2 X 17.2 m) are located on a small rocky hill 10-12 m high. At the end of the 19th century, gold was mined in this area. Traces of numerous pits are located to the east of Taskora, at 800-1000 m. The population calls these workings "mynshunkur".

Excavations unearthed 13 rooms, four residential, and the rest were utility rooms. Mud-brick (38x18x7 - 8) and cobblestone were used during the estate's construction. In two rooms there was a hearth-tandoor. A pottery kiln was found in the southwestern corner of the estate. Due to poor preservation, it was impossible to establish its design fully. The entrance to the estate was on the south side. In the lowland near the exit, the remains of two buildings (22x9 m and 22x12 m) can be traced. There was a small lake next to them. Together with the crop fields, the entire complex has a circumference of 570 m and is surrounded by stone walls.

During the excavations, mostly ceramics were found. There are few watering utensils. Olive colors: off-white, dark brown, black and blue. On the bottoms of the irrigation bowls there are tamgas in the form of a cross and in the form of a T sign. During the clearing of the floors, bones of melon and watermelon were found. It was possible to distinguish two periods of the estate's life and preliminarily date the first to the 15th century and the second to the end of the 16th century.

Exploration work was also carried out on the southern slope of the Karatau ridge, in the Besaryk gorge. Over 40 km in the gorges, more than 10 wintering settlements were recorded. The material dates them to the 16th-17th centuries. In the locality of Dirmen (mill), an early medieval settlement was found, which dates back to the 6th-8th centuries judging by the ceramics.