​  ​  Trade and craftsmanship held a special place in the development of medieval cities in Kazakhstan. Located along the Great Silk Road, Otyrar was a major commercial and cultural hub from the early Middle Ages, serving as a key link between Central Asia and the East. Craftsmen, farmers, and herders sold their products in the marketplace, relying on a barter-based trading system — a tradition that, as archaeological evidence suggests, continued well into the 17th century. 
   The trading arcades were not merely places of exchange, but also important public spaces that fostered social interaction and strengthened communal interdependence among the city’s inhabitants. The presence of such structures indicates a degree of economic stability achieved by the urban population. 
    Excavations carried out at a square located at the junction of the city’s three main gates revealed a site that functioned as the central marketplace. 
     Remains of shops built along the square, as well as a bakery, confirm that this area served as a trading zone. Within the bakery, archaeologists discovered hand mills and underground grain storage pits. 
    Findings indicate that these structures functioned not only as points of commerce but also as vital components of urban life, contributing significantly to the development of domestic and social culture. This underscores Otyrar’s importance as not just a regional, but also an international center of trade and interaction.