Ancient artifacts found in southern Turkmenistan indicate the settlement of the Oks civilization

A large collection of artifacts collected by archaeologists during a superficial survey of the Berdysychran-Depe site in southern Turkmenistan indicates a settlement of the Oksa civilization, according to the website nplus1.ru.

Nazariy Bulavka from the University of Warsaw, together with scientists from Poland, surveyed an area of about 15 hectares and discovered a settlement that existed in the valley of the Tejen River in the Middle and Late Bronze Age (about 2250-1700 BC), and possibly a little longer, the source notes.

Researchers examined two mounds of different sizes and found 261 artifacts. The finds include pottery fragments, a clay statuette, fragments of alabaster vessels and heavily damaged bronze items, as well as stone tools. Typological analysis showed that the items belong to the Middle Bronze (Namazga V, about 2250-1900 BC), Late Bronze (Namazga VI, about 1900-1700 BC) and, possibly, the final stage of the Bronze Age (about 1700 –1500 BC).

The finds, primarily ceramics, allowed archaeologists to conclude that the mounds were an important site of the Bactrian-Margiana archaeological complex.

Excavations of the Berdysychran-Depe site change the picture of the extent of the Bactrian-Margiana archaeological complex, indicating that the valley of the lower reaches of the Tejen River was also part of its territory.

According to scientists, further research in this region will help to better understand the development of ancient culture in the oases of the Tejen River.

The research results are published in the journal Archaeological Research in Asia.

The Bactrian-Margian archaeological complex includes the Oksa civilization, which existed in the southern part of Central Asia and Eastern Iran in the Middle and Late Bronze Age (late III - early II millennium BC).

Monuments of the urban culture of this civilization were discovered in the second half of the 20th century. The high development of crafts in this region was confirmed by the finds of ceramics, tools and ornaments. The study of ancient seals and other artifacts allowed scientists to assume that a special writing system existed in the Oks civilization.

The largest settlement of this civilization was probably the city discovered in Gonur-Depe - the delta of the Murghab River - where a monumental palace and a number of other public and ritual structures were discovered. At the end of the 20th century, a large burial ground was found here, in which, over ten years, scientists have excavated about three thousand burials. In 2004-2009, researchers managed to find 8 royal tombs, which are almost underground houses, decorated with objects of art and jewelry.

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