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Karaganda land is a rich place, which has variety of interesting places connected with the history of Kazakhstan. One of these places is Baskamyr city. This archaeological monument is located from 83 km north-west of Zhezkazgan, Karaganda region. It is surrounded by hills on a small plain at the confluence the Zhezdy River to the Taldysay River. It presents a square building with a moat and ramparts. The city clearly oriented by cardinal angles.

Numerous scientists date Baskamyr to the VIII-XI centuries.

Baskamyr city, which is located in the tract Taldysay to south from Ulytau Mountains, attracts a great scientific interest as an object, in which can be seen construction traces of Kipchaks - one of the tribes, who were founders of formation of the Kazakh ethnic group.

Baskamyr is a unique archaeological monument, which represents remains of the medieval castle and inside a small town, which was enclosed by three massive walls with a citadel and flanking towers. Also two crypts were included into Baskamyr, eponymous cemetery, stone lookout tower with 3.5 m height, the aryk system which began at Sarybulak, mine, depth of 20 m at the distance of 1.3 km and a separate building of brick with stone floor. The form of the city is square. The length of the wall is about 80 m. The citadel (26h23 m) is in the centre. Outside the city and citadel are surrounded by moats and earthen ramparts. The width of the outer shaft is 5.7 meters, height is 1.4 meters. A pit is in the inner northern corner, where kept drinking water which was supplied by aryk.

The area of the medieval city is 310 square meters. Archaeological excavations were conducted here, which allowed clearing 7 rooms with a clay floor, adjacent to the inner citadel walls, brick oven and open hearths with diameter of 0.5-0.9 meter, depth - 0.3 meter. At the corner of the citadel was preserved fragments of the tower with 2.3 meter high. Scientists were able to make valuable discoveries of steel pottery and other products of wood and metal (iron, copper, bronze) during excavation.

Baskamyr city identified with the medieval town of handags from Oguz tribe - Khiam (VIII-XI c.) from information of Al-Idrisi. The source about Oguz cities Khiam and Dzhadzhane says: "Both are small towns, highly fortified."

Baskamyr consistently attracts the attention of scientists and archaeologists. A.Margulan was the first archaeologist who investigated it, later - S.Zholdasbaev, Zh.Smailov. Archaeological expeditions worked here in 1948, 1950, 1952. Many modern archaeologists believe that Baskamyr is not discovered all secrets and excavations yet, it must continue.

The museum "Baskamyr" was formed in the tract Taldysay (Ulytau district, Karaganda region) on 13 April, 1994.

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