The monument is located on the northeastern side of the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi. Coordinates: 43.2980974, 068.2708977. According to the 1958, excavation report by archaeologist and historian N. B. Nemtseva, at this site was discovered an underground structure, above which perhaps once had stood a mausoleum. Kainar Kushek Sultan is remembered in history as a brave military commander who distinguished himself in numerous battles. He led the vanguard troops of Tauyekel Khan’s army during the siege of Bukhara. In this campaign, in 1598, Tauyekel Khan was severely wounded and later died in Tashkent, while Kainar Kushek Sultan fell in battle and was buried in Turkistan, as his father, Ondan Sultan. According to N. B. Nemtseva, Ondan Sultan’s burial site is located in the passageway between the Great and Small Aksaray structures.
The resting place of Kainar Kushek Sultan, situated only 5 meters from the outer wall of the Great Aksaray and next to the burials of other noble Kazakh figures, emphasizes his high status and enduring honor in people memory. During archaeological research, archaeologists found a 3 cm hole in his skull caused by the sharp blade of a battle axe— clear evidence of that the sultan died in battle.
Above his grave once stood a quadrangular sagana (rectangular aboveground enclosure), but it has since disappeared. However, the underground burial chamber — lahat (crypt) has remained intact. Architect N. Usmankhodzhaev and archaeologist N. B. Nemtseva first examined the structure between 1954 and 1958. In 1997, archaeologist M. K. Tuyakbayev within Turkestan Archaeological Expedition, headed by Ye. A. Smagulov fully excavated and re-examined the mausoleum. In 2020, specialists from the Museum-Reserve “Azret Sultan” together with experts from KazRestavratsiya carried out repeated excavations and conducted conservation works to preserve the site.
References:
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