Remains of an 11th century city: a tilted and broken minaret and balbal tombstones

 

Founded in the 9th century, Balasagun was a grand city along the Silk Road. It was captured by different cultures, including the Mongols, who called it Gobalik, the "Pretty City". The archaeological site reflects "the cultural and artistic traditions of numerous nations and peoples, from Byzantium in the west, to India in the south, and China in the east". (buddhistdoor.net) The different cultures that lived in the region include shamanist, Buddhist and Zoroastrian. Although most of the peoples of the region embraced Islam between the 8th and 12th centuries, the city also had a sizable Christian population until as late as the 14th century. All that remains of this glorious past is a tilted and broken minaret, today known as the Burana Tower. It was built in the 11th century and originally was about 46 metres tall, but several earthquakes caused much damage to it. Next to the tower you can see petroglyphs, balbal tombstones (kurgan stelae), tombstones with Arabic inscriptions, and stone tools - they are from the broader area and further away. In the little museum on site, you can see, among other items, stones with Christian symbols.