Khurtuyah tas is a famous historical and cultural complex of Khakassia. The stone sculpture situated in the centre of Askiz burial mound was made 4.5 thousand years ago. Nowadays the stele Hyrtuyah tas is a place of pilgrimage and is considered to be one of the most respected stone sculptures.

Ulug Khurtuyah tas means "a big stone old woman". It has a rough face, round stomach and breast. Local women who wish to have a baby usually bring gifts to this monument. People say that asking the statue for help is always more helpful than clinical treatment. The face of the sculpture was constantly covered by milk and sour cream (the legends says that thus you can coax the spirit), so now it is dark and cannot be washed. People say the "the old woman" doesn't hear anything, but when a woman goes three circles around the statue it becomes alive. Specialists date back this monument to the period when shamanism belief was born.

A glass yurt was built over the statue to protect it from the environment effects. The floor in the yurt is covered by beautiful ceramic tile. There are electric heaters placed along the walls of the yurt to keep constant temperature. There is green grass growing around the stele. Today this place is the museum complex "Ulug Khurtuyah tas".

The monument is considered to be world cultural inheritance and is estimated by UNESCO to cost 1.5 million dollars.