Large-scale excavations at Altyn-depe started in 1965.
During the late chalcolithic period Altyn Depe became a large-scale center with an area of 25 hectares. It was surrounded by an adobe wall with rectangular watch towers. Several living quarters were uncovered. The area called Excavation 9 was a living quarter with several houses, many of them perhaps belonging to wealthy people. The houses had courtyards and street were running between them. People were often buried within houses.[2] At Excavation 5 and Excavation 10 two other larger parts of living quarters were found. Those belong more likely to craftsmen. The houses are smaller and not so well built.[3]
Ziggurat
Ziggurat from Altyndepe, reconstruction
The site is notable for the remains of its ziggurat.[4] This was a monumental religious complex with a four-level tower of the Mesopotamian ziggurat type.[5] This construction has also been described as "proto-Zoroastrian".
There were also other Mesopotamian connections,
"The Altyn Depe civilization was in close contact with neighboring cultures. Sulfur-glazed vessels (Tepe Hissar, Tureng Tepe) obviously brought in from northeastern Iran turned up during the excavations in the aristocratic sector."[5]
Namazga V and Altyndepe were also in contact with the Late Harappan culture (ca. 2000-1600 BC). In Altyn Depe, many Indus Valley items were found, including objects made of ivory, and stamp seals of the Harappian type. At least one item contained Harappian writing.
Masson (1988) views the culture as having a Proto-Dravidian affiliation. Also, Sarianidi affiliates the site with Indo Iranians.
Two-wheeled carts
Models of two-wheeled carts from c. 3000 BC found at Altyn-Depe are the earliest complete evidence of wheeled transport in Central Asia, though model wheels have come from contexts possibly somewhat earlier. Judging by the type of harness, carts were initially pulled by oxen, or a bull. However camels were domesticated within the BMAC. A model of a four-wheeled wagon drawn by a camel of c. 2200 BC was found at Altyn-Depe.[6][7]
Monjukli Depe, another important ancient settlement is located nearby.
^Vidale, Massimo, (2017). Treasures from the Oxus, p. 9, Table 1.
^V. M. Masson: Altyn-Depe. (translated by Henry N. Michael from Russian), The University Museum – University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 1988, ISBN 0-934718-54-7, pp. 43-54
^V. M. Masson: Altyn-Depe. (translated by Henry N. Michael from Russian), The University Museum – University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 1988, ISBN 0-934718-54-7, pp. 33-41
^V. M. Masson and V. I. Sarianidi, Central Asia: Turkmenia before the Achaemenids (trans. Tringham, 1972); review: Charles C. Kolb, American Anthropologist (1973), 1945-1948
^ abV. M. Masson, ARCHEOLOGY: Pre-Islamic Central Asia. iranicaonline.org, 1986 (updated in 2011)
^Hans J.J.G. Holm: The Earliest Wheel Finds, Their Archeology and Indo-European Terminology in Time and Space, and Early Migrations around the Caucasus. Archaeolingua Alapítvány, Budapest, 2019, ISBN978-615-5766-29-9
altyndepe, Алтын, Депе, sometimes, altyn, tepe, turkmen, golden, hill, bronze, bmac, archaeological, site, turkmenistan, near, aşgabat, inhabited, first, from, 3200, 2400, late, regionalization, from, 2400, 2000, integration, full, urban, site, location, moder. Altyndepe Altyn Depe sometimes Altyn Tepe Turkmen Golden Hill is a Bronze Age BMAC archaeological site in Turkmenistan near Asgabat inhabited first from c 3200 to 2400 BCE in the Late Regionalization Era and from c 2400 to 2000 BCE in the Integration Era as a full urban site 1 Altyndepe location on the modern Middle East map also other Eneolithic cultures Harappa and Mohenjo daro Contents 1 Excavations 2 Ziggurat 3 Two wheeled carts 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksExcavations Edit Altyndepe Turkmenistan Large scale excavations at Altyn depe started in 1965 During the late chalcolithic period Altyn Depe became a large scale center with an area of 25 hectares It was surrounded by an adobe wall with rectangular watch towers Several living quarters were uncovered The area called Excavation 9 was a living quarter with several houses many of them perhaps belonging to wealthy people The houses had courtyards and street were running between them People were often buried within houses 2 At Excavation 5 and Excavation 10 two other larger parts of living quarters were found Those belong more likely to craftsmen The houses are smaller and not so well built 3 Ziggurat Edit Ziggurat from Altyndepe reconstruction The site is notable for the remains of its ziggurat 4 This was a monumental religious complex with a four level tower of the Mesopotamian ziggurat type 5 This construction has also been described as proto Zoroastrian There were also other Mesopotamian connections The Altyn Depe civilization was in close contact with neighboring cultures Sulfur glazed vessels Tepe Hissar Tureng Tepe obviously brought in from northeastern Iran turned up during the excavations in the aristocratic sector 5 Namazga V and Altyndepe were also in contact with the Late Harappan culture ca 2000 1600 BC In Altyn Depe many Indus Valley items were found including objects made of ivory and stamp seals of the Harappian type At least one item contained Harappian writing Masson 1988 views the culture as having a Proto Dravidian affiliation Also Sarianidi affiliates the site with Indo Iranians Two wheeled carts EditModels of two wheeled carts from c 3000 BC found at Altyn Depe are the earliest complete evidence of wheeled transport in Central Asia though model wheels have come from contexts possibly somewhat earlier Judging by the type of harness carts were initially pulled by oxen or a bull However camels were domesticated within the BMAC A model of a four wheeled wagon drawn by a camel of c 2200 BC was found at Altyn Depe 6 7 Monjukli Depe another important ancient settlement is located nearby See also EditAnau culture Jeitun South Turkmenistan Complex Archaeological ExpeditionReferences Edit Vidale Massimo 2017 Treasures from the Oxus p 9 Table 1 V M Masson Altyn Depe translated by Henry N Michael from Russian The University Museum University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia 1988 ISBN 0 934718 54 7 pp 43 54 V M Masson Altyn Depe translated by Henry N Michael from Russian The University Museum University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia 1988 ISBN 0 934718 54 7 pp 33 41 V M Masson and V I Sarianidi Central Asia Turkmenia before the Achaemenids trans Tringham 1972 review Charles C Kolb American Anthropologist 1973 1945 1948 a b V M Masson ARCHEOLOGY Pre Islamic Central Asia iranicaonline org 1986 updated in 2011 LB Kirtcho The earliest wheeled transport in Southwestern Central Asia new finds from Alteyn Depe Archaeology Ethnology and Anthropology of Eurasia vol 37 no 1 2009 pp 25 33 Hans J J G Holm The Earliest Wheel Finds Their Archeology and Indo European Terminology in Time and Space and Early Migrations around the Caucasus Archaeolingua Alapitvany Budapest 2019 ISBN 978 615 5766 29 9External links Edit Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Altin Depe Altin Tepe entry in Encyclopaedia Iranica Bronze Age in Eurasia by Valery Pavlovich Alekseyev 1991 http stantours com tm rg ahal ad html Coordinates 36 51 28 50 N 60 25 56 55 E 36 8579167 N 60 4323750 E 36 8579167 60 4323750 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Altyndepe amp oldid 1113007773, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
