Yarty-Gumbez

Yarty-Gumbez

The mausoleum of Yarty-Gumbez is located about 7-8 kilometers southeast of the archaeological site of Serakhs. It is a heavily damaged domed mausoleum believed to have been constructed in 1098, as indicated by an inscription on its walls. The mausoleum is built with fired bricks measuring 23x23x5-5.5 cm. It has a square plan with external dimensions of 12x12 meters and is covered by a dome supported by a unique system of three large stalactite-like structures topped by a fourth one. The surfaces of these structures are plastered with gypsum.

One distinctive feature of this mausoleum is its southern entrance orientation and the absence of niches and an entrance portal inside. The facades are divided into three panels, and the corners are softened by three-quarter circular brick columns. Similar to the mausoleum of Abu'l-Fazl, the facade walls are decorated with a pattern of paired bricks. Inside, the bricks are laid in a "fir-tree" pattern. The eastern facade retains a mihrab, suggesting that a wooden canopy of a mosque was attached to the wall.

G.A. Pugachenkova suggests that this mausoleum might be the remnants of the tomb of Sheikh Ahmed al-Hadi, who was buried near Serakhs according to the Samanids (12th century) records.