This year, it is the 40th anniversary since opening of Gonur-depe – the city of kings and gods of Margiana. Together with our Turkmen colleagues, it was discovered by V.I. Sarianidi, who is now at the head of the Margiana Expedition, which is the joint project of Turkmenistan’s National Management for Protection, study and restoration of historical and cultural monuments and the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of Russian Academy of Sciences.
- Victor Ivanovich, please tell us, what is Gonur?
- Already couple of years after working there, it was clear that ruins of the formerly majestic city - by all appearances, the major settlement of Margush country were hidden under layers of soil and sand. Here, I would like to particularly stress that in various oases of the ancient delta of the Murgap River nearly 100 settlements of different sizes were found already by the mid seventies. By now, only some of them were dug out: Gonur-depe, Togolok 1, Togolok 21, Ajiguyi 8 and 9, Keleli and Tahirbai.
But, Gonur was the most notable among all the examined monuments not only for its sizes and discovered findings. Above all, it is an unusual city. Despite of considerable for its period sizes (its total area is nearly 25 hectares), only the ruler and maybe his family resided there. Major territory enclosed inside of three lines of walls two of which have defensive towers, was occupied with temples and ritual complexes in close proximity to them. Following from this it is possible to make a conclusion that the city was intended for kings only and residents of the country gathered there to perform rites. At present, only a few such cities are known in the world.
- Victor Ivanovich, what people did settle the territory of Margush?
- Many people are interested in the question who were they – creators of the amazing culture of Margush country, which is recognized now by the scientific community as the ancient civilization. In this connection, I often hear a term “strangers”. I would like to explain my position on this. Yes, these people came to delta of the Murgap at the end of the 3rd millennium B.C. Earlier, nobody resided in this territory comprising Gonur, Keleli, Togolok and other oases of ancient delta of the Murgap. People can not live forever in one place because their number is increasing and natural resources of any locality are limited. When there is nothing to feed the children, no enough grass for cattle, people start on a journey to find new territories where the living conditions would be suitable for them. Another question is – wherefrom did the population of Margush come? I think that the tribes, which resided in the northern foothills of the Kopetdag, comprised a major part of those strangers. Ceramic dishes and many articles found in Gonur-depe and Altyn-depe testify to this fact.
But materials of Margush attest to close contacts of residents of this country with the population of Valley of the Indus River, Indian subcontinent and with the population of ancient Near East. For example, the Gonur Palace has many architectural elements, which were also used in construction of palaces in Syria, in ancient Elam.
Royal and especially rich aristocratic tombs of Gonur were made in the form of underground houses – such type of sepulchral edifices is typical exactly to the Near East. But speaking about the same sepulchral edifices, the graves in the form of linings i.e. the same type, which are made in Turkmenistan up till now, were more widespread in Margiana (80% of all known).
Of course, there was a movement of the population, cultural impulse from leading centers of the world of that time. But those people, who due to natural conditions and economic circumstances, came to the territory of modern Turkmenistan at the end of the 3rd millennium B.C., entered into close interaction with tribes that lived there. They taught them something and learnt something from them. On the new land, first in the Kopetdag foothills and then moving further to the east and in delta of the Murgap River, they created an original, independent culture, which we –archeologists called Bactrian-Margianian archeological complex. It is the highest level culture, which is undoubtedly, the culture of ancestors of the modern Turkmen people. It was confirmed by anthropological data as well. As the researches of anthropologist N.A. Dubova and her colleagues showed, the diversity of outward appearance, which is typical to the modern Turkmens, was basically formed in the bronze epoch i.e. the epoch, when Margush country existed. In next 3-4 thousand years, only the Oguz component was added to it, which brought the Turkic language to the Turkmen land.
- Victor Ivanovich, please tell us how the unique artifacts were found and if they can influence opinions of scientists concerning the ancient land of Turkmenistan?
- This year, we started to dig out a small hill situated in the north-west of the monument outside the third line of its walls. Earlier, it seemed that there were no buildings beyond the walls. But, the excavations proved that it was wrong. We were able to find interesting small dwelling complex and several wonderful graves. They differ from all other previously discovered burial places mainly by giant sizes (up to 5-6 m in length). Exactly in these burials, where people and animals were buried in antiquity, ceramic dishes, small statuettes from burned clay, fine fragments and even several intact silver articles, fragments of golden adornments taken away by robbers of antiquity were found. For example, we discovered small golden cone-shaped buttons, amazing golden pendant, and pieces of the thinnest golden spiral, apparently remains of chain. In the same burial place, a small statuette of saiga (up to 4 cm in length) was lying on the floor. Its facing part was made of gold and the reverse side was silver. Masters of antiquity place a turquoise mounting between legs of a tiny animal, resembling a heart or a leaf of the Indian plant – pipal.
It is notable that it is the first image of this animal found in the art of Margiana. It is also very important that this statuette was found during excavations of a burial place, where only animals were buried. By the way, nearly all golden findings this year were discovered exactly here, whereas not a one fragment of gold was discovered in rich burial of human being next to it. Burial places of animals are most interesting and unique peculiarity of culture of the population of Margush country. For the time being, scientists are not able to explain the behavior of people connected with burring animals with great honor. So large number of special ritual burial places where sheep, dogs, donkeys or oxen are berried is unknown at any other monument of Central Asia in such ancient epoch.
Another important finding was made in a large sepulchral cell, where the bones of man have been discovered in the rooms and remains of dogs and sheep in a pit in front of them. This is a masterly and realistically accomplished wonderful faience sculpture of a sitting monkey. It should be noted again that sculptural images of monkeys are unknown in Margiana. Like a large number of articles from ivory, it also makes an emphasis on close ties with the Indus River Valley. I noticed that in the territory of Turkmenistan, there is larger number of articles made of ivory than in India. How can it be explained? Elephants didn’t live here like in India. It means that in that remote time, trade and cultural relations between ancient territories of India and Turkmenistan were quite strong and that delivery of valuable material of labor was not difficult for merchants.
Moreover, we found another interesting accumulation of articles. Many fragments of ceramics, in some cases, specially broken so-called dishes of worship and a large number of stones were lying within the territory of nearly 20 square meters. This was the exact circumstance that drew our attention, because it is impossible to find stones in sands. It means that they were delivered here from far away for some works or were used as various instruments – anvils, graters and pestles. The vessels of worship represent wide and not high ceramic articles, which sides were decorated with drawings scratched prior to their burning. There is a high tree sometimes called “myrrh” in the center of the drawing, as well as the images of sheep or goats on its sides. The vessels of worship found during this season have two peculiarities: firstly, one of them features figures of Bactrian camels near the tree instead of images of sheep, and secondly, there is a figure of animal only on one side instead of two sheep on each side of a tree.
In addition to these vessels which we have gathered from fragments in this small room, a clay figure of the naked man was also discovered there. A statuette was broken like vessels. Apparently, it was specially broken into several pieces, which were found in different parts of this room. Such breaking and scattering of articles testify to the fact that some complicated rituals were performed there. In immediate proximity to this territory, we were lucky to find a unique round bronze seal, having the same octactinal form as the modern emblem of Turkmenistan.
As far as its common outline appeared, the workers started to cry loudly, rejoice and call us to come to this place. “Look here, it is our emblem, it our national emblem!” And indeed, its surface consists of four octagons sequentially diverging from the center, resembling by its shape the emblem of independent Turkmenistan.
- How these seals were used by the ancient people of Margush?
- The matter is that such seals are one of the characteristic features of culture of Margush country. They are studied by many scientists in different countries. In Margush country, seals were first of all passed for accessory of women. They wore them on neck or near waist and never used them in the way we do with modern seals. This seal – amulet served as talisman for its owner and the whole family. With the use of images on seals, the people of Margush tried to keep the forces of evil away from the home, avert evil curse from grain and cattle. For this purpose, making, for example, the vessels for keeping grain, an imprint like this was engraved on the side of a large jug before their burning in furnace. For the same purpose, sacred trees, animals, magic marks were depicted on the sides of other vessels.
- Tell us please about the last finding you discovered in the depth of Gonur.
- Yes, this is a real masterpiece of the Margianian art. …In the last moment of work of the expedition, our workers found the bronze triangular slice in one of the graves in the south of Gonur, which was fully plundered in antiquity. It features the image of mountains, on which 5 wild rams climb. This is a unique and amazing pattern of the art of Bactrian-Margianian archeological complex. Till now, we knew nothing about such decorative slices. This breast adornment was worn by men in Margiana, though in its shape, it resembles a well-known Turkmen adornment “tumar” which women have worn recently. This bronze slice is very thin, about 2 mm, but in ancient time bronze was estimated higher than gold, though this alloy is more exposed to destruction. We were lucky to find this artifact thousands of years later. I thank the fortune that allowed us to find this extraordinary adornment. At present, our restorer from the State historical and cultural park “Ancient Merv” together with his colleague from the Louvre restores this slice, because without clearing and fastening, the bronze articles are destroyed very quickly. After their essential restoration, we will pass them to the Museum of history and local lore of Mary province.
- Victor Ivanovich, please tell us, what is Gonur?
- Already couple of years after working there, it was clear that ruins of the formerly majestic city - by all appearances, the major settlement of Margush country were hidden under layers of soil and sand. Here, I would like to particularly stress that in various oases of the ancient delta of the Murgap River nearly 100 settlements of different sizes were found already by the mid seventies. By now, only some of them were dug out: Gonur-depe, Togolok 1, Togolok 21, Ajiguyi 8 and 9, Keleli and Tahirbai.
But, Gonur was the most notable among all the examined monuments not only for its sizes and discovered findings. Above all, it is an unusual city. Despite of considerable for its period sizes (its total area is nearly 25 hectares), only the ruler and maybe his family resided there. Major territory enclosed inside of three lines of walls two of which have defensive towers, was occupied with temples and ritual complexes in close proximity to them. Following from this it is possible to make a conclusion that the city was intended for kings only and residents of the country gathered there to perform rites. At present, only a few such cities are known in the world.
- Victor Ivanovich, what people did settle the territory of Margush?
- Many people are interested in the question who were they – creators of the amazing culture of Margush country, which is recognized now by the scientific community as the ancient civilization. In this connection, I often hear a term “strangers”. I would like to explain my position on this. Yes, these people came to delta of the Murgap at the end of the 3rd millennium B.C. Earlier, nobody resided in this territory comprising Gonur, Keleli, Togolok and other oases of ancient delta of the Murgap. People can not live forever in one place because their number is increasing and natural resources of any locality are limited. When there is nothing to feed the children, no enough grass for cattle, people start on a journey to find new territories where the living conditions would be suitable for them. Another question is – wherefrom did the population of Margush come? I think that the tribes, which resided in the northern foothills of the Kopetdag, comprised a major part of those strangers. Ceramic dishes and many articles found in Gonur-depe and Altyn-depe testify to this fact.
But materials of Margush attest to close contacts of residents of this country with the population of Valley of the Indus River, Indian subcontinent and with the population of ancient Near East. For example, the Gonur Palace has many architectural elements, which were also used in construction of palaces in Syria, in ancient Elam.
Royal and especially rich aristocratic tombs of Gonur were made in the form of underground houses – such type of sepulchral edifices is typical exactly to the Near East. But speaking about the same sepulchral edifices, the graves in the form of linings i.e. the same type, which are made in Turkmenistan up till now, were more widespread in Margiana (80% of all known).
Of course, there was a movement of the population, cultural impulse from leading centers of the world of that time. But those people, who due to natural conditions and economic circumstances, came to the territory of modern Turkmenistan at the end of the 3rd millennium B.C., entered into close interaction with tribes that lived there. They taught them something and learnt something from them. On the new land, first in the Kopetdag foothills and then moving further to the east and in delta of the Murgap River, they created an original, independent culture, which we –archeologists called Bactrian-Margianian archeological complex. It is the highest level culture, which is undoubtedly, the culture of ancestors of the modern Turkmen people. It was confirmed by anthropological data as well. As the researches of anthropologist N.A. Dubova and her colleagues showed, the diversity of outward appearance, which is typical to the modern Turkmens, was basically formed in the bronze epoch i.e. the epoch, when Margush country existed. In next 3-4 thousand years, only the Oguz component was added to it, which brought the Turkic language to the Turkmen land.
- Victor Ivanovich, please tell us how the unique artifacts were found and if they can influence opinions of scientists concerning the ancient land of Turkmenistan?
- This year, we started to dig out a small hill situated in the north-west of the monument outside the third line of its walls. Earlier, it seemed that there were no buildings beyond the walls. But, the excavations proved that it was wrong. We were able to find interesting small dwelling complex and several wonderful graves. They differ from all other previously discovered burial places mainly by giant sizes (up to 5-6 m in length). Exactly in these burials, where people and animals were buried in antiquity, ceramic dishes, small statuettes from burned clay, fine fragments and even several intact silver articles, fragments of golden adornments taken away by robbers of antiquity were found. For example, we discovered small golden cone-shaped buttons, amazing golden pendant, and pieces of the thinnest golden spiral, apparently remains of chain. In the same burial place, a small statuette of saiga (up to 4 cm in length) was lying on the floor. Its facing part was made of gold and the reverse side was silver. Masters of antiquity place a turquoise mounting between legs of a tiny animal, resembling a heart or a leaf of the Indian plant – pipal.
It is notable that it is the first image of this animal found in the art of Margiana. It is also very important that this statuette was found during excavations of a burial place, where only animals were buried. By the way, nearly all golden findings this year were discovered exactly here, whereas not a one fragment of gold was discovered in rich burial of human being next to it. Burial places of animals are most interesting and unique peculiarity of culture of the population of Margush country. For the time being, scientists are not able to explain the behavior of people connected with burring animals with great honor. So large number of special ritual burial places where sheep, dogs, donkeys or oxen are berried is unknown at any other monument of Central Asia in such ancient epoch.
Another important finding was made in a large sepulchral cell, where the bones of man have been discovered in the rooms and remains of dogs and sheep in a pit in front of them. This is a masterly and realistically accomplished wonderful faience sculpture of a sitting monkey. It should be noted again that sculptural images of monkeys are unknown in Margiana. Like a large number of articles from ivory, it also makes an emphasis on close ties with the Indus River Valley. I noticed that in the territory of Turkmenistan, there is larger number of articles made of ivory than in India. How can it be explained? Elephants didn’t live here like in India. It means that in that remote time, trade and cultural relations between ancient territories of India and Turkmenistan were quite strong and that delivery of valuable material of labor was not difficult for merchants.
Moreover, we found another interesting accumulation of articles. Many fragments of ceramics, in some cases, specially broken so-called dishes of worship and a large number of stones were lying within the territory of nearly 20 square meters. This was the exact circumstance that drew our attention, because it is impossible to find stones in sands. It means that they were delivered here from far away for some works or were used as various instruments – anvils, graters and pestles. The vessels of worship represent wide and not high ceramic articles, which sides were decorated with drawings scratched prior to their burning. There is a high tree sometimes called “myrrh” in the center of the drawing, as well as the images of sheep or goats on its sides. The vessels of worship found during this season have two peculiarities: firstly, one of them features figures of Bactrian camels near the tree instead of images of sheep, and secondly, there is a figure of animal only on one side instead of two sheep on each side of a tree.
In addition to these vessels which we have gathered from fragments in this small room, a clay figure of the naked man was also discovered there. A statuette was broken like vessels. Apparently, it was specially broken into several pieces, which were found in different parts of this room. Such breaking and scattering of articles testify to the fact that some complicated rituals were performed there. In immediate proximity to this territory, we were lucky to find a unique round bronze seal, having the same octactinal form as the modern emblem of Turkmenistan.
As far as its common outline appeared, the workers started to cry loudly, rejoice and call us to come to this place. “Look here, it is our emblem, it our national emblem!” And indeed, its surface consists of four octagons sequentially diverging from the center, resembling by its shape the emblem of independent Turkmenistan.
- How these seals were used by the ancient people of Margush?
- The matter is that such seals are one of the characteristic features of culture of Margush country. They are studied by many scientists in different countries. In Margush country, seals were first of all passed for accessory of women. They wore them on neck or near waist and never used them in the way we do with modern seals. This seal – amulet served as talisman for its owner and the whole family. With the use of images on seals, the people of Margush tried to keep the forces of evil away from the home, avert evil curse from grain and cattle. For this purpose, making, for example, the vessels for keeping grain, an imprint like this was engraved on the side of a large jug before their burning in furnace. For the same purpose, sacred trees, animals, magic marks were depicted on the sides of other vessels.
- Tell us please about the last finding you discovered in the depth of Gonur.
- Yes, this is a real masterpiece of the Margianian art. …In the last moment of work of the expedition, our workers found the bronze triangular slice in one of the graves in the south of Gonur, which was fully plundered in antiquity. It features the image of mountains, on which 5 wild rams climb. This is a unique and amazing pattern of the art of Bactrian-Margianian archeological complex. Till now, we knew nothing about such decorative slices. This breast adornment was worn by men in Margiana, though in its shape, it resembles a well-known Turkmen adornment “tumar” which women have worn recently. This bronze slice is very thin, about 2 mm, but in ancient time bronze was estimated higher than gold, though this alloy is more exposed to destruction. We were lucky to find this artifact thousands of years later. I thank the fortune that allowed us to find this extraordinary adornment. At present, our restorer from the State historical and cultural park “Ancient Merv” together with his colleague from the Louvre restores this slice, because without clearing and fastening, the bronze articles are destroyed very quickly. After their essential restoration, we will pass them to the Museum of history and local lore of Mary province.
