On March 25, 2026, the opening of the international scientific conference «Margiana at the Crossroads of Civilizations: Intercultural Interaction in Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Middle East – Ancient and Modern» took place in Moscow at the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS). The forum was dedicated to the 35th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s Independence. About this reports MFA of Turkmenistan.
The event is being held jointly by the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the RAS, the Institute of Linguistics of the RAS, the Institute of the History of Material Culture of the RAS, the Russian-Turkmen Margiana Archaeological Expedition, the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan, and the Embassy of Turkmenistan in the Russian Federation.
The scientific forum’s topics cover a wide range of issues related to intercultural interaction in Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Middle East, with a particular emphasis on the archaeological and historical-cultural heritage of Margiana (the ancient country of Margush).
The conference, held in a hybrid format, brought together representatives of the scientific community – scientists, experts, research institute staff, and university professors from Turkmenistan, Russia, Armenia, Belgium, Germany, Italy, and France.
Guests included representatives of diplomatic missions accredited in the Russian Federation, employees of the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Russia, students from Turkmenistan studying at higher educational institutions of the Russian Federation, as well as media representatives.
A delegation from Turkmenistan arrived in the Russian capital to participate in the scientific conference. It included representatives from the National Administration for the Protection, Study, and Restoration of Historical and Cultural Monuments of Turkmenistan, the Intangible Cultural Heritage Department of the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan, and the «Ancient Merv» State Historical and Cultural Reserve.
The scientific meeting began with an exhibition that showcased Turkmenistan's rich historical and cultural heritage, as well as the richness and diversity of the unique, primordial traditions of the Turkmen people.
The participants were welcomed by Counselor of the Embassy of Turkmenistan in the Russian Federation S.Durdyev, Director of the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the RAS A.Zagrebin, Deputy Director of the Institute of Linguistics of the RAS A.Sideltsev and Director of the Institute of the History of Material Culture of the RAS A.Polyakov.
The meeting continued with thematic discussions devoted to one of the outstanding, yet still not fully revealed, mysteries of Eastern civilizations – the country of Margiana, famous for its unique monuments and sensational archaeological discoveries.
Separate presentations at the forum were devoted to Gonur-Depe, the capital of the ancient country of Margush, and to scientific discoveries of international significance. As noted, in 1972, the distinguished archaeologist Viktor Sarianidi, together with his Turkmen colleagues, discovered Gonur-Depe and began excavations there.
On March 26, the scientific forum will continue its work through thematic sessions.
