Era of the Mongol invasion
Altyn-Emel is one of the few places that has retained its original appearance since the Mongol invasion in the 13th century.
The memory of this is preserved in folk legends: Genghis Khan himself is buried beneath the sands of the Singing Dune; Genghis Khan rested under the shade of the old willow tree in Kosbastau; and Genghis Khan gave the Altyn-Emel Pass its name ("golden saddle").
Oshaktas, the Stone Hearth
The mysterious stone steles of Oshaktas, standing alone in the steppe, did not escape the fate of becoming the heroes of one of the legends, according to which the warriors of Genghis Khan used these stones as a signal tower or built a stone hearth from them for cooking food (Oshaktas, translated from the Kazakh language, means "stone hearth").
Saka Era
Oshaktas is most likely the site of religious rituals dating back to the Saka period (1,000 BC). Similar structures are found in large numbers to the west of this site, near the Saka burial mounds of Besshatyr.
Upright megaliths are called menhirs (meaning "long stone" in Breton).
Menhirs
Menhirs are the oldest man-made structures that have survived to this day. They are widespread in Europe, Africa and Asia (one of the most famous is the British Stonehenge). Their purpose is unknown. Perhaps, they were used for cult, memorial, astronomical purposes, or to determine some boundaries. Installation of vertical stones is one of the most ancient and long-standing traditions. People still erect stone steles to commemorate certain events.
Location
Oshaktas is located near the Small Kalkan Mountain, 1.5 km from the Mynbulak post and 10 km from the Singing Dune.
Distance from the village of Basshi: 36 km.
Distance from Almaty: about 290 km.
