Risultati preliminari delle indagini archeologiche ed etnografiche presso il sito di Togolok 1

Modern Turkmenistan is mainly constituted by a desert landscape, yet despite its harsh climate, cultures have been able to construct networks of water channels since the Bronze Age. This has resulted in a man-made landscape that integrates towns and villages. Extensive surveys and recent archaeological excavations have highlighted that between 2400 and 2100 BC (Namazga V period), the region of the Murghab alluvial fan was characterised by the development of complex urban societies. However, starting from the Late Bronze Age, a new group of mobile pastoralists appeared in the Murghab region and settled along the edges of the sedentary sites. Although their presence is well-attested both by survey and excavation data, their degree of interaction with the sedentary farmers is still debated. In modern Turkmenistan, semi-mobile shepherds continue to drive their cattle across the Murghab, using mobile camps for different months. This paper presents the preliminary results of the excavation of the sedentary site of Togolok 1, as well as the first ethnographic study of the mobile communities of the Murghab region

Le complexe cultuel de Togolok 21 en Margiane

A Bronze Age culture covering an area of 3000 Sq Km in the remote Karakum desert has been discovered during the last decade. It is assumed to be the country of Margush of the Behistun inscription. Over 150 settlements were found and among them the Gonur- 1 site was apparently a capital. Its center is occupied by a citadel of an almost square shape with the remnants of the once monumental complex. It is possible that a smaller citadel was also situated on another settlement of Adji Kui-8. The sites of the Togolok group belong to the Early Iron Age. The cultural level of the capital settlement of Togolok- 1 was 3,5 m thick and has revealed three ceramic complexes. The material from the surface of the Togolok- 1 5 site refers to the Early Iron Age and represents a special interest. On the Togolok-27 site there was found a plastic vessel of an unusual shape. Similar ceramic complexes, though of the mid. I mill. B.C., are found in Bactria on such sites as Kutlug Tepe and Altin-10. On the Togolok-2 1 site there was excavated a monumental complex built in the shape of a square, having strong defensive walls with the central " fortress " inside them. The interior of the " fortress " has a surprisingly regular planning. The Northern part of the building was apparently used for ceremonial occasions. The interior of all of the premises and the floors were plastered. The central section of the building was occupied by " an inner small court " with a by-passing corridor and a vestibule. The Southern section was most likely used for subsidiary premises. The findings of the complex include some cult ritual vessels, among them a vessel made of a big shell, and stone cones with cylinders on their tops. The character of these findings leads us to presume that the temple was most likely used as a place for cult libations of such drinks as haoma or soma. Among the other findings should also be mentioned a bull's head, a two-sides amulet, a three-edged cone with a drawing of a tree on top of a mountain surrounded by snakes standing on their tails, a stone mace decorated with twisted ribbons, a clearly ritual bronze axe. All these findings taken together prove the special character of the central complex. So far until the absolute dates are obtained the period of the complex is referred to the turn of the II-I mill. B.C. or even to the beginning of the I mill. B.C. The Togolok-2 1 plan has no direct parallels among other buildings and is most likely the invention of the people who came from the ancient delta of the Murghab river in the II mill. B.C. It is quite accepted that these were immigrant tribes from eastern Iran. At present the Bactrian archaeological complex finds its most demonstrative parallels in Beluchistan among the materials of Mehrgarh VIII and Sibri which makes it necessary to resolutely revise the archaeological evidence of the Aryan problem.Sarianidi Viktor Ivanovič. Le complexe cultuel de Togolok 21 en Margiane. In: Arts asiatiques, tome 41, 1986. pp. 5-21

Nouvelles sépultures sur le territoire de la «nécropole royale» de Gonur Dépé

This article presents the recent (2009) discovery of an unplundered burial at the site of Gonur Depe in Turkmenistan (burial n° 3900) dated 2400-2200 BC, the ancient period of the "Royal Necropolis" of the site. The funerary chamber is decorated with mosaic murals. The material discovered includes pottery and bronze vessels, including a complete large cauldron, as well as stone implements such as a long stone staff. The most remarkable find is a four-wheeled wooden cart drawn by two camels; the wheels are attached with copper or bronze bands. Seven human skeletons and two big dogs have been recovered. The authors comment on the symbolic and funerary ritual in connection with Zoroastrianism. Another rich neighboring burial (n° 3880) also belongs to the category of the "Royal Tombs". Skeletons of dogs and camels, along with humans and a variety of architectural decoration and funerary goods, are recorded. The "international" relations of the material of these burials with Indian and Mesopotamian civilizations are observed on the basis of the shapes (bronzes) and iconography (mountain symbol); the picture of a fight between dragons and snakes deserves a special commentary.Cet article présente la découverte récente (2009) d’une sépulture non pillée sur le site de Gonur Dépé au Turkménistan (tombe no 3900). Datée 2400-2200 avant J.-C., cette tombe se rattache à la période ancienne de la « Nécropole royale » du site. Les parois de la chambre funéraire sont ornées de mosaïques décoratives. Le mobilier mis au jour comporte des récipients en céramique et en bronze, parmi lesquels un grand chaudron, ainsi que des objets en pierre et, notamment, un grand bâton. La découverte la plus remarquable est un char en bois à quatre roues tiré par deux chameaux, dont les roues sont assorties de jantes en cuivre ou en bronze. Sept squelettes humains et les restes de deux gros chiens ont été découverts. Les auteurs commentent le rituel funéraire et symbolique en relation avec le zoroastrisme. Une autre tombe riche voisine (no 3880) appartient également à la catégorie des « tombes royales ». Des squelettes de chiens et de chameaux étaient associés aux inhumations et divers objets funéraires et éléments de décor architectural ont été mis au jour. Les relations « internationales » dont témoigne le mobilier de ces tombes avec les civilisations indienne et mésopotamienne sont commentées sur la base des formes de bronze et de l’iconographie (symbole de la montagne) ; l’image d’un combat entre dragons et serpents fait l’objet d’un commentaire particulier.Sarianidi Viktor Ivanovič, Dubova Nadezhda A., Vallée-Raevsky Julie. Nouvelles sépultures sur le territoire de la «nécropole royale» de Gonur Dépé. In: Arts asiatiques, tome 65, 2010. pp. 5-26

Book Review: Δ. Κ. Βελισσαρόπουλος. Έλληνες και 'Ινδοί. Ήσυνάντησηδύο κόσμων. Τ. 1-2. Άθηνα, «Έστιας», 1990

Проблема взаимоотношений древнегреческой и древнеиндийской цивилизаций - одна из тех "вечных" проблем, которые вновь и вновь привлекают внимание исследователей. Рецензируемая двухтомная монография известного греческого историка философии и дипломата Д.К. Велисаропулоса, как он сам подчеркивает во "Введении", ориентирована не столько на решение конкретных вопросов, сколько на то, чтобы создать по возможности полную сводку всех тех материалов, которые могут служить источниками для постановки и решения целого ряда важнейших вопросов по проблеме греко-индийских контактов в древности