Akchakhan-Kala
Alternative name | Akchakhan-Kala |
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Location | Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan |
Coordinates | 41°49′41.17″N 60°43′8.67″E / 41.8281028°N 60.7190750°E[1] |
Type | Settlement |
History | |
Periods | Parthian, Sasanian |
Site notes | |
Condition | Ruined |
Akchakhan-Kala, or Akcha-khan Kala, also named after the locality Kazakly-Yatkan/ Kazakl'i-Yatkan, in modern
Chorasmia built in the 4th/ 3rd century BCE and occupied until it was despoiled in the 2nd century CE.[2][3] It is part of the "Fifty fortresses oasis" in modern-day Uzbekistan.[4] The abandonment of Akchakhan-Kala was apparently followed by the establishment of the new capital of Toprak-Kala, 14 km to the northeast.[5]
Excavations
Akcha-khan Kala has been the object of numerous excavations, still ongoing. A ceremonial complex with a hypostyle hall was discovered.[5]
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Corner of upper enclosure of Kazakl'i-yatkan
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Kazakl'i-yatkan
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Column base at Kazakl'i-yatkan
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Mud brick floor at Kazakl'i-yatkan
Paintings
Many decorations have been found, belonging to the period from the 1st century BCE to the 2nd century CE: a large quantity of frescoes, unbaked-clay modelled sculptures including fragments of a
fire altar with paintings of colossal Avestan gods.[5] Parthian artistic influences have also been described.[6]
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Akchakhan-Kala mural
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Akchakhan-Kala mural
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Akchakhan-Kala mural
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Location of the Akchakhan-Kala fortress in theChorasmianoasis, in relation to other main fortresses
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Akchakhan-kala.
- .
- JSTOR 24049142.
- ^ Minardi, Michele. "Columned Halls in Ancient Chorasmia".
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(help) - ISBN 978-1-78297-167-2.
- ^ a b c Minardi, Michele (January 2020). "The Ancient Chorasmian Unbaked-clay Modelled Sculptures: Hellenistic Cultural 'Impacts' on an Eastern Iranian Polity". Religion, Society, Trade and Kingship. Art and Archaeology in South Asia Along the Silk Road 5500 BCE-5th Century CE (South Asian Archaeology and Art 2016, Volume 1): 195–205.
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