The passing year in the newest history of Turkmenistan was marked with a series of events of cultural life, which considerably consolidated the international authority of the country. Spiritual sphere was determined by the head of state as exceptionally priority, and historical and cultural monuments – as major resource of development of modern national culture, including the culture of thinking.
Since first days of 2012, it was taken concrete steps in this direction. The President of the country signed a Resolution, having approved the order of establishment of protective zones of historical, archeological, town-planning, architectural, and monumental artistic sites as well as unique natural landscapes connected with historical places. In 2012, legislative basis of the country was enriched with the Law of Turkmenistan “On protection of facilities of national historic-cultural heritage”, which became another serious step in creation of comprehensive juridical basis for preservation of cultural values.
2012 was also successful for a number of archaeological expeditions, which are working in Turkmenistan for many years, as well as for those, who just get down to their researches. International Margiana expedition, which carries out excavations in settlements of Bronze Age of Gonur-depe exactly 40 years, gladdened again with their extraordinary discoveries. This year became its jubilee year, and the permanent head of the expedition, Doctor of History Viktor Ivanovich Sarianidi was the winner of contest of the President of Turkmenistan “Turkmenin Altyn asyry”. According to the decision of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan, he was awarded with the title of honorary academician. It was continued the excavations of sites in Kopetdag foothills Yylgynly-depe and Mondzhukly-depe, which age comes to several thousands of years. Two Turkmen-Polish expeditions studied the early medieval settlements Guyrukly-depe and Topaz-depe in Serahs oasis. It was continued the researches of the Parthian fortresses Old and New Nisa together with Italian and Russian archaeologists. The Turkmen-Spanish expedition conducted another season in Geokchik-depe on Misrian plateau in the Caspian region. In addition, the Turkmen archaeologists realized their own exploration of the ancient Taip oasis in old delta of Murgap, carried out works in monuments Ak-depe near Ashgabat, Dashly-depe near Izgant village, Shor-depe, Gum-depe and Pultapty-depe in Lebap, Dashrabat - in Balkan province.
2012 was the first year of the archaeological expedition’s work in the State Historical and Cultural Reserve “Ancient Merv”. Field season has ended with an unexpected and bright discovery: a few rare bronze articles were found during excavations inside the Big Gyz-gala – famous architectural monument located at the entrance to the territory of Ancient Merv - the largest Archaeological Park in Central Asia, which is in the UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Further, within the framework of the program of the U.S. State Department “Conservation of Cultural Heritage”, it was started a large international project on restoration of Big Gyz-gala as well as wonderful clay castles of VII-XII centuries miraculously survived to this day. They are located near Small Gyz-gala. Two Turkmen-American projects on restoration of medieval monuments are realized in Dashoguz province, and in future, it is planned to start the cycle of restoration works in Lebap, in famous Dayahatyn caravanserai. Moreover, according to the same program, the National Conservatory will proceeded to the realization of the project on conservation of unique records of Turkmen folk music and creation of a base for the development of existing in the conservatory collection of audio and video materials, containing all genres of musical folklore and art of bakhshi collected within several decades of expeditionary work.
Since this year, it was started a periodic publication of scientific reports of the National Management for protection, study and restoration of historical and cultural monuments and State Academy of Fine Arts of Turkmenistan entitled “The art and architecture of Turkmenistan”. Planned work at multi-volume “Collection of Monuments of History and Culture of Turkmenistan” is going on. Comprehensive guide will be issued first time in our country. It includes all ascertained antiquities: from famous masterpieces of architecture to numerous nameless “depe”.
ON THE PICTURES: panorama of Koneurgench, round seal from Gonurdepe and Large Gyz gala.
Since first days of 2012, it was taken concrete steps in this direction. The President of the country signed a Resolution, having approved the order of establishment of protective zones of historical, archeological, town-planning, architectural, and monumental artistic sites as well as unique natural landscapes connected with historical places. In 2012, legislative basis of the country was enriched with the Law of Turkmenistan “On protection of facilities of national historic-cultural heritage”, which became another serious step in creation of comprehensive juridical basis for preservation of cultural values.
2012 was also successful for a number of archaeological expeditions, which are working in Turkmenistan for many years, as well as for those, who just get down to their researches. International Margiana expedition, which carries out excavations in settlements of Bronze Age of Gonur-depe exactly 40 years, gladdened again with their extraordinary discoveries. This year became its jubilee year, and the permanent head of the expedition, Doctor of History Viktor Ivanovich Sarianidi was the winner of contest of the President of Turkmenistan “Turkmenin Altyn asyry”. According to the decision of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan, he was awarded with the title of honorary academician. It was continued the excavations of sites in Kopetdag foothills Yylgynly-depe and Mondzhukly-depe, which age comes to several thousands of years. Two Turkmen-Polish expeditions studied the early medieval settlements Guyrukly-depe and Topaz-depe in Serahs oasis. It was continued the researches of the Parthian fortresses Old and New Nisa together with Italian and Russian archaeologists. The Turkmen-Spanish expedition conducted another season in Geokchik-depe on Misrian plateau in the Caspian region. In addition, the Turkmen archaeologists realized their own exploration of the ancient Taip oasis in old delta of Murgap, carried out works in monuments Ak-depe near Ashgabat, Dashly-depe near Izgant village, Shor-depe, Gum-depe and Pultapty-depe in Lebap, Dashrabat - in Balkan province.
2012 was the first year of the archaeological expedition’s work in the State Historical and Cultural Reserve “Ancient Merv”. Field season has ended with an unexpected and bright discovery: a few rare bronze articles were found during excavations inside the Big Gyz-gala – famous architectural monument located at the entrance to the territory of Ancient Merv - the largest Archaeological Park in Central Asia, which is in the UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Further, within the framework of the program of the U.S. State Department “Conservation of Cultural Heritage”, it was started a large international project on restoration of Big Gyz-gala as well as wonderful clay castles of VII-XII centuries miraculously survived to this day. They are located near Small Gyz-gala. Two Turkmen-American projects on restoration of medieval monuments are realized in Dashoguz province, and in future, it is planned to start the cycle of restoration works in Lebap, in famous Dayahatyn caravanserai. Moreover, according to the same program, the National Conservatory will proceeded to the realization of the project on conservation of unique records of Turkmen folk music and creation of a base for the development of existing in the conservatory collection of audio and video materials, containing all genres of musical folklore and art of bakhshi collected within several decades of expeditionary work.
Since this year, it was started a periodic publication of scientific reports of the National Management for protection, study and restoration of historical and cultural monuments and State Academy of Fine Arts of Turkmenistan entitled “The art and architecture of Turkmenistan”. Planned work at multi-volume “Collection of Monuments of History and Culture of Turkmenistan” is going on. Comprehensive guide will be issued first time in our country. It includes all ascertained antiquities: from famous masterpieces of architecture to numerous nameless “depe”.
ON THE PICTURES: panorama of Koneurgench, round seal from Gonurdepe and Large Gyz gala.
