Pavlodar Priirtyshe is an interesting and important area for archaeological research. Many monuments are evidence of it, which were left by our ancestors. According to scientists, some of monuments refer to Paleolithic era.
Auliekol is one of the unique archaeological cities, which is located in Ekibastuz, Pavlodar region, from 50 km to the north-west of Ekibastuz, at the confluence of the Olenty river into Auliekol Lake.
From a geographical point of view, this area is characterized as predominantly flat terrain. Settlement is located on top of the outcrop, which is called ‘Karaoba’ by local people.
The existence of this ancient settlement was known for a long time ago, local historians also reported about it. However, a serious study of the archaeological monument was not provided.
Auliekol attracted the attention of scientists only in 2005, when it was examined by expedition of the Institute of Archaeology and Pavlodar State Pedagogical Institute. It was defined that settlement is multilayer monument, and it contains materials of different archaeological periods after examination and collection of materials.
The earliest findings are remains of Neolithic, in the form of stone tools: scrapers, fragments of bifaces and microplates of yellow jasper, gray quartzite, brown and green flint.
Medieval complex is characterized by fragments of pottery, fragments of brick and glazed tiles. They gathered near the remains of residential and industrial buildings and at the necropolis of the settlement, where ruins of mausoleums were discovered by the medieval nobility of brick.
More detailed investigations were made by scientists in 2007, and gave surprising results. Findings prove that there was a large administrative center of nomadic civilization in the 14th century. Unique artifacts again prove this version. Archaeologists have found silver coins, earrings and pieces of decorative tiles with unknown symbols. According to scientists, these symbols are associated with the penetration of Islam among nomads.
Except the residential complexes, there were found variety of burial settlements. After careful investigation, it was obvious that a huge cemetery was from the Altyn Orda. The exact time was given according to discoveries of the burial coin. According to definition of numismatists, it dates back to 1323 year. It means that buried relates to 20-th years of the XIV century. Necropolis acted according to preliminary calculations of scientists, from the 20-ies of the XIV century to the first half of the XV century. The beginning of the monument operation falls on the heyday of the Altyn Orda, the final was at the time, when Abulkhayr khan was on the throne of the eastern Desht-i-Kypchak, and sultans Kerey and Zhanibek lived at that time. In other words, it is a prologue of that period, when the Kazakh Khanat became an independent state.
Scientists have discovered that a separate sector of the excavated ancient cemetery was quite different from the other gravestone constructions. Archeologists said that here was elite burial. Aristocracy buried in mausoleums - the largest funerary settlements of the steppe in that period. Building Size - 12 to 19 meters, the famous mausoleum of Zhoshy Khan is smaller than the finding in Auliekol. Today, one mausoleum is totally studied, and started clearing of the second one, which is called "Large".
The fact about the mausoleum was Muslims’ mausoleum. It was proved by dome’s debris with decoration of blue glaze. Medieval architects adorned religious sanctuary with such materials. Archaeologists also found an ancient tomb. Apparently, the highest hierarchy of the Altyn Orda was buried there. According to other version which was given by scientists, one of the Zhoshy khans’ descendants was buried in the grave.
Found mausoleum is very interesting, because it is the largest outstanding construction of the 14 century, which was found in the steppes of Kazakhstan. It is located on the same row with such unique monuments of architecture as Alashakhan and Zhosykhan mausoleums.
The White Mosque is one of the interesting monuments in Pavlodar region and one of the oldest buildings in the city of Pavlodar. It is located on 138, A. Margulan street.
One of the first public sovereign theatres in Kazakhstan is Kazakh theatre named after Zhusipbek Aymautov. The theatre is located in Pavlodar, Lomov Street 140.