Yesterday, the opening ceremony of the permanent exhibition “Franco-Turkmen Archaeological Mission, 30 Years of Archaeological Work: Ulug-Depe” took place in Ashgabat, at the National Museum of Fine Arts.

Presented here are archaeological finds discovered during excavations at the historical site of Ulug-Depe, located 170 km southeast of the capital of Turkmenistan.

The opening of the exhibition is timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the Franco-Turkmen Archaeological Mission (MAFTUR) and is a tribute to Olivier Leconte, the French founder of MAFTUR, who passed away five years ago.

At present, the director of MAFTUR from the Turkmen side is the head of the National Department for the Protection, Study and Restoration of Historical and Cultural Monuments of Turkmenistan, Muhammed Mamedov, and from the French side the mission is headed by archaeologist Julio Bendezu-Sarmiento.

The exhibition, which contains more than 230 exhibits, mainly traces the history of the most ancient periods.

Considering that there are traces of Neolithic occupation, we see the development of Ulug-Depe precisely at the beginning of the Eneolithic period (5000-3000 BC), and then in the Bronze Age (3000-1500 BC). The population was engaged in irrigated agriculture and livestock breeding. Excavations of numerous clay ovens in the residential area indicate intensive craft activity, and the discovery of tiny beads of turquoise and lapis lazuli indicates international trade between different regions.

As noted by the director of the State Historical and Cultural Reserve “Abiverd” Ahmed Halmuradov, more than half of the exhibits on display were restored by the reserve's specialists.

According to archaeologists, the most valuable exhibits of this exhibition are elegant vessels made of marble, found in the burials. Considering that marble is a very valuable ornamental material, it can be assumed that the burials belong to very noble people.

Ulug-Depe, located in the Ahal province, in the Kaakhka district, in the village of Dushak, is located on a hill 30 meters high, occupying an area of about 17 hectares. Ulug-Depe is the only place in the Central Asian region where all historical periods from 6000 BC to the Parthian-Sassanid period of our era are recorded.

For 30 years, the Turkmen-French archaeological mission has been cooperating with the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan and the National Department for the Protection, Study and Restoration of Historical and Cultural

Monuments. Since 2019, the mission has received financial support from Bouygues Bâtiment International.