Necropolis of Mani aulie

Form of monument: Sacral object

Date of monument: XVII–beginning of XX century

Location of monument: Aktobe oblast, Irgiz region, in 6 km to the west of Shenbertal village

Researches: for the first time the monument was studied in 1980 by expedition of экспедицией association «Kazrestavratsiya» of the Minister of Culture KazSSR (the Head -S. Azhigali).

Brief description: the history of the origins of this necropolis is unknown. The walls of the stone fences are up to one meter wide. The stone fences vary in size, with some fences containing 5-6 graves. There are common types of kulpytas, which were established in the XIX century, on some tombstones only family signs are carved. Among them, generic signs of all three Juzes can be found. According to historical data, the necropolis originated in the XVII century and was used until the 2nd half of the XIX century.

Legend: The name of the necropolis comes from the name of the Mani aulie hill. According to legend, the Kalmyks attacked the Kazakh land and, together with all the property, took the beautiful wife of the leader and gave her as a wife to one of their batyrs. She gave birth to a daughter and died 15 years later. Before she died, the mother told her daughter that she had been born Kazakh and that she should return to her native father and people. The mother, showing the way, said: ” Together with me a seven-year-old captive boy was brought here, he is a cattle herder. Now he has grown and matured, he looks like a batyr. Explain everything to him, and run away together. This is my last wish. The girl, having decided to fulfil her mother’s last wish, told the dzhigit everything. The boy said that he had no other dream than to return to his homeland, but there was no possibility. One day the girl finds the equipage and the horse, and they run away together to their homeland. A pursuit begins, but no one but the girl’s father can catch up with the horse. Then the girl says to the boy: «You leave and I will stop my father. Don’t look behind». The dzhigit looked behind and saw that the girl was aiming an arrow at her father. Then he came back and told her not to kill her father. The girl was very upset and told the boy that now something bad was going to happen. The father caught up with his daughter and he cursed her: «so you can’t get what you want». Having got rid of the pursuers, the girl and the dzhigit decided to stop at this hill and have a swim in the water. Suddenly the girl cried out: a snake had attacked her and was suppressing her. The girl managed to tell the dzhigit: «The curse of the Kalmyks is very strong, it turned out to be true. Now we cannot be together. Bury me here and never mention my name». The dzhigit fulfils her wish. And whoever asks whose grave this is, he names the place – «makes sense»). Thus the name Mani hill comes from. And this dzhigit turned out to be Dzhanibek batyr.