ASTANA — The rich, undiscovered sites of Kazakhstan continue to reveal their secrets, with excavations shedding light on the ancient city of Kumiyan, also known as Meiramtobe. Located in the Zhanakorgan district of the Kyzylorda Region, this mysterious site remains only partially explored, offering just glimpses into its storied past. The remains of ancient city of Kumiyan, also known as Meiramtobe, located in the Zhanakorgan district of the Kyzylorda region.
Photo credit: kzvesti.kz Click to see the map in full size. The map is designed by The Astana Times.
Situated approximately 30 kilometers southwest of the modern village of Kelintobe, Kumiyan was a bustling settlement from the 12th to 13th centuries. The city’s ruins are nearly four kilometers from the dried-up Syrdarya riverbed. The city, which occupied a rectangular area of roughly 210 by 180 meters, was fortified with walls up to six meters in height and three and a half meters in width.
Historical records and excavation evidence suggest that with a gate located in the southwest, five towers stood on each side of the city, spaced 35 meters apart. A moat, eight meters wide and nearly two meters deep, encircled the city, providing additional protection. In addition, there was a citadel with an area of 45 by 45 meters in the center of Kumiyan.
Local historian Alimzhan Yerzhanov noted that only a tiny elevation remains on the city’s northwest side, an intriguing feature yet to be fully explored. “Presumably, these.