Ozar’s dynasty was ruling the city of Almalyk for two generation at least.

Later the city voluntary surrendered to Genghis Khan.

It was the capital of a ruler named Ozar (Buzar). Bartold, the city was mentioned in Muslim sources shortly before the Mongol expansion. The site of Ucharal is identical with ancient Ilan Balik, which was mentioned, next to Almalik and Taraz, by the Armenian Cilician king Hethum I when he returned in 1254 from his tribute-bringing journey to the Mongol Great Khan Möngke.Īccording to V.V. 100 cm long, undated gravestone has an engraved Maltese cross on the main long side and an inscription in Turkic language and Syriac script. In 2014, a Nestorian gravestone (kayrak) was also found at Uch-Aral. (See map) A large amount of the coins found on the surface of the ancient settlement, and dating from the XI-XV centuries, reveal an intensive urban and commercial life of the city situated on the territory of the Tien-Shan Corridor of the Great Silk Road.

The ancient settlement was situated on the left river-bank of the Ili River in a distance of two marches from the city of Almalyk which lies in today’s People’s Republic of China. The present project includes topographical and archaeological studies of the large ancient settlement on the territory of the Ili River Valley – Uch-Aral, which is also known in Armenian, Persian and Chinese sources of XII-XIV centuries as Ilanbalyk – Ilibalyk – Ilibaly. Archaeological excavation of a medieval city and presumed Nestorian Christian graveyard

Forge of empires graveyard 2017