Archaeological Excavations of the Medieval Settlement of Sarayshyk
From May 26 to August 24, 2024, the Atyrau Regional Museum of History and Local Lore carried out excavations at the site of the medieval settlement of Sarayshyk.
During the archaeological excavations of the medieval settlement, an area of 704.5 sq. m was uncovered. Archaeological research established that the investigated area consists of four main construction horizons.
The upper layer is represented by burials (mausoleums and graves without enclosures). The first construction horizon belongs to the Kazakh–Nogai period (15th–16th centuries) and includes seven rooms and courtyards. The second construction horizon corresponds to the Golden Horde period (13th–15th centuries) and consists of eleven rooms and courtyards. The third construction horizon is associated with the formation of a rabat (13th century) and includes three rooms and additional structures. Thus, there are solid grounds to regard this area as belonging to the period of the formation of the Ulus of Jochi. In addition, the excavations yielded historical, ethnographic, and numismatic materials. The finds included items made of iron and copper, fragments of polished and glazed vessels, as well as objects of iron, glass, and stone. About 100 fragments of ceramics and 79 Golden Horde coins minted in copper and silver were discovered. The excavations also revealed items made of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, as well as beads of semi-precious stones and cast ornaments.
The upper layer is represented by burials (mausoleums and graves without enclosures). The first construction horizon belongs to the Kazakh–Nogai period (15th–16th centuries) and includes seven rooms and courtyards. The second construction horizon corresponds to the Golden Horde period (13th–15th centuries) and consists of eleven rooms and courtyards. The third construction horizon is associated with the formation of a rabat (13th century) and includes three rooms and additional structures. Thus, there are solid grounds to regard this area as belonging to the period of the formation of the Ulus of Jochi. In addition, the excavations yielded historical, ethnographic, and numismatic materials. The finds included items made of iron and copper, fragments of polished and glazed vessels, as well as objects of iron, glass, and stone. About 100 fragments of ceramics and 79 Golden Horde coins minted in copper and silver were discovered. The excavations also revealed items made of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, as well as beads of semi-precious stones and cast ornaments.
