Ancient Taraz Archaeological Park sits over the old city site uncovered beneath the former Green Bazaar area. Excavations here revealed foundations, baths, workshops, water systems, and thousands of artefacts from a long span of the city's history. The walkways make the site easy to read, even if the remains are low and fragmentary.
Come here before the mausoleums if you can. It gives Taraz a frame: this was not just a provincial town with a few old tombs, but a fortified trade city on the Silk Road. The museum adds useful context, especially for visitors who do not know the history of southern Kazakhstan.