Otrar

Otrar or Otyrar, also called Farab, is an ancient city in southern Kazakhstan which was located on the Silk Road [1]. It was an important city in the history of Central Asia, situated on the borders of settled and agricultural civilizations [1]. The town was situated at the junction of different geographical landscapes and was at the intersection of the caravan routes of the Great Silk Road [1]. The prosperity of Otrar was interrupted by the Mongol invasion of Central Asia [1]. The area of the settlement is about 2 square kilometres [1]. The Ark (central fortress) and Shahristan (fortified city) formed a five-corner hill about 18 meters of height [1]. The area of the hill is 200,000 square metres [1]. Excavations proved that it was an advanced town with monumental buildings [1].