Kara Tepe

37°16′42″N 67°10′58″E / 37.278239°N 67.182916°E / 37.278239; 67.182916 Kara Tepe is a Buddhist archaeological site in the

, whose coinage can be found on the site.

History

The earliest Buddhist worship structures in Qoratepa, also known as Qoratag, date back to the 1st century CE.^[3][4] The peak of Qoratepa coincides with the 1st to 3rd centuries CE, during which many worship complexes were built. The earlier ones were renovated and expanded.^[3][4] During this period, Buddhist monks, their novices, city officials, and benevolent city dwellers played significant roles and offered support.^[5][3]

Artifacts

Numerous inscriptions on the remnants found in Qoratepa reveal details about the site. According to the inscriptions, some monastic establishments at Qoratepa include Kxadevakavixara - Podsho Monastery, Vxara Gulavxara vxad - Gulavxara's son (Gondafar) Monastery, and Okavixara.

Abandonment

By the end of the 3rd century CE, the Qoratepa monastic communities either fell into decline or were abandoned due to the military campaigns of the Sasanian Empire against the Kushan state.^[3] In some monastic cells, hearths were installed. During the same period, certain sections of Qoratepa monastic complexes continued to function until the late 4th and early 5th centuries.^[5] From the late 4th century onwards, some of the buildings and worship chambers of Qoratepa were used as burial sites, while the entrance areas were filled with rubble and soil.^[5]

Findings

The earliest burials included remnants of clothing and textiles in Sogdian style, Peroz bowls, and bowls decorated with bird motifs. Subsequent burials dated to the 5th-6th centuries included the burial of Termez rulers with one side bearing a leopard figure. From the 7th to the 12th centuries, ascetics used some of the semi-ruined monastic cells and chambers in Qoratepa.^[5][3] The initial graves contain Sogdian-style combs, combs with handles, and eye pendants, horn-shaped spatulas, medallions, and comb cases with engravings, Sassanian pottery and lamps, spindle whorls, and an inkwell.^[4][6] They were adorned with inscriptions in Indian scripts (Kharoshthi and Brahmi) and drawings on the walls, including Kushan-Bactrian and Pahlavi-Fars.^[3][7][4]

Archaeological research

Initially, in the years 1926–1928, the State Museum of Oriental Art in Moscow conducted an expedition related to the culture of Eastern peoples.^[5][3] In 1937, Mikhail Masson, Y. G. Pchelina conducted research work.^[3][5] In the 1960s, archaeologist B. Y. Stavitsky led archaeological excavations.^[3] Later, joint Uzbekistan-Japan archaeological expeditions took place.

Repairings

Repairs to the monastery in Qoratepa were carried out in the 4th and 5th centuries. The local sculptures were restored, and new wall paintings were created (mostly in one color and located lower than the previous ones). Many pilgrims from India visited the monastery. In the 5th century, the monastery was finally abandoned, and its premises began to be used as a cemetery. The findings from the graves indicate that in the 8th century, the Christian monastery was active.

• 
  North court
• 
  General view, northern area
• 
  Inside a cave

Artefacts

Many niches were found that sheltered sculptures of gold or ceramic

• 
  Terracotta head (200-400 CE)
• 
  Relief (200-400 CE)
• 
  Terracotta head
• 
  Frieze of an elephant
• 
  Kara Tepe mural, 2nd-4th century CE.
• 
  "Greek" column base

See also

• Dalverzin Tepe
• Khalchayan
• Surkh Kotal

References