Name of the monument: Sundet mausoleum
Typological affiliation: sacred object
Dating of the monument: XX century
Location of the monument: Aktobe region, Bayganinsky district, 66.8 km south-west of the village of Zharkamys.
Historical information: Sundet is one of the notable personalities of the Emba-Sagyz valley, a representative of the Adai clan, whose activities have been preserved in the people’s memory. According to legend, Sundet was a religious figure and a wealthy man who lived in the 19th century. Sundet was preserved in the people’s memory as a peacemaker, more than once administered a fair trial and was respected among the people in resolving various disputes.
As the legend tells, the Sundet mausoleum was built at the beginning of the XX century. his son Agysbay. He erected a mausoleum on the banks of the Emba with his five sons after performing the hajj to Mecca. According to the research of scientists M. Mendikulov and S.E. Azhigali mausoleum dates back to the second half of the 19th century. It is believed that the mausoleum was built by the folk architect Dauletniz. According to the master’s plan, the mausoleum turned out to be octahedral, in terms of architectural features, which have no analogues in this region.
Description and characteristics of the monument: one of the outstanding monuments of folk architecture of Western Kazakhstan, in the architecture of which there is a change in the architectural and planning principles of the construction of mausoleums in the second half of the 19th century. During the construction, the author retained the traditional prima of masonry walls and dome structure. The mausoleum is interesting for the integrity of the external volumetric composition and the strictly geometrized ornamental decor of the main facade. The “string” motif, based on the “tuye-taban” folk ornament on the parapet, is organically combined with the architecture of the building. According to the idea of the author – master Dauletniyaz, the mausoleum turned out to be a domed structure, in terms of having an octahedral shape. The octahedron of the walls of the mausoleum resembles the skeleton of a yurt, the top of which is decorated with a dome.