Turkmenistan is fourth biggest reserves of natural gas in the world as we all know, Turkmenistan is also widely famous for its Door To Hell- known as Darwaja- that is a massive natural excavation of land as a result of boiling natural gas. However, apart from this widely know natural spot & its vast gas reserves, Turkmenistan has many things to offer to its tourists one of which is its great archaeological heritage.
With very old residues of ancient human culture developed in Turkish countries, Turkmenistan is culturally rich & full of archaeological archives and thus one amongst the most fascinating sites for archaeologists and researchers. If you’re a curious traveler interested in world’s cultural diversity, you may also love Turkmenistan for this. In this article regarding archaeological sites in Turkmenistan, we have listed some of those sites which you must visit in Turkmenistan if you love wandering through ancient times of human history.
Archaeological Heritage Of Turkmenistan
Nissa- the capital of Parthian empire
Nissa was one amongst the foremost important & earliest cities of Parthian empire, from which Parthian kings started their conquest and turned Parthia into huge empire.
Nissa, Turkmenistan | img src- flickr.com/photos/25833968@N06/
The Nissa archaeological territories embrace remains from old Nissa as well as new Nissa. The old Nissa is grouped into northern and southern parts. whereas northern half contains remains of old vine storages, workshops & other buildings, southern part showcases the remains of the square Hal with fired brick columns and the round Hall.
As per UNESCO- “Old and New Nissa conserve the unexcavated remains of an ancient civilization which skillfully combined its own ancient cultural components with those of the Hellenistic and Roman west. Archaeological excavations in 2 parts of the location have revealed richly embellished architecture, illustrative of domestic, state and religious functions. situated at the crossroads of important industrial and strategic axes, this powerful empire fashioned a barrier to Roman expansion while serving as a vital communication and trading center between east and west, north and south.”
Konye Urgench
Ancient Konye Urgench was thought-about as one of the major cities of the East. Konye Urgench was the capital of the Khorezm region, a part of the Achaemenid Empire.
Konye Urgench, Turkmenistan | img src- flickr.com/photos/octopuzz
Several outstanding architectural monuments primarily from the eleventh to sixteenth centuries have been preserved just like the II Arslan mausoleum, the Tekesh Khorezmshakh mausoleum, the Turabek-khanum Kala, the fortress Kyrk Molla and the Gutlug timur minaret.
In 2005 Konye Urgench became an UNESCO World Heritage site because:
the tradition of architecture expressed in the design and craftsmanship of Kunya-Urgench has been influential within the wider region to the south and southwest i.e. in Persia and Afghanistan, and later in the architecture of the Mogul empire (India, sixteenth century). Kunya-Urgench provides an exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition (the Islamic culture of the Khorezm) and is exclusive in its state of preservation.
The Turebek Khanum mausoleum
The Turebek Khanum mausoleum, named after the wife of the Urgench governor Kutlug timur is considered to be the most stunning building in Central Asia. The Turebek Khanum complex dates back to the end of the 12th century, beginning of the 13th century. Some archaeologists do not consider it to be a mausoleum, but a throne hall.
The Turebek Khanum mausoleum, Turkmenistan | img src- eurasia.travel
Underside the dome are 365 sections on the mosaic, representing the days of the year. The twenty four arches beneath the dome represent the hours of the day, the twelve larger arches below represent the months of the year and the four massive windows finally represent the weeks within the month. therefore all the geometric patters in the building form a large calendar.
Ancient Merv
Merv is one wonderful place if you love history. it was the largest town in the world in the 1200erds. for many centuries, Merv was regarded as one of the richest, most highly civilized centers of the ancient East. Its greatest period of glory was during the eleventh and twelfth centuries, when it served as the eastern capital of the great Seljuks.
Ancient Merv, Turkmenistan | img src- wondermondo.com
It is one among the key centers on the Silk Road and goes as far back as at least the the third millennium BCE. Merv is reported to be the origin of Hindu belief in Mount Meru, that Hinduism declares to be the center of the world. It is first recorded in history in the avesta, the bible of the Zoroastrian. Merv was a part of Alexander the Great’s conguest and was even named Alexandria for a time. Antiochus I the son of Apame the Persian princesses and Alexander’s general rebuilt Merv. lots of coins with Alexander and Antiochus face on it are found in the digs. lots of coins have been found and we Vter can see are really cool with the faces of the rulers: a long unbroken direct Sassanian rule of 4 centuries is documented from the unbroken series of coins originally minted at Merv. Beside the official zoroastrianism of the Sassanid dynasty, and the parthenon Empire Merv was home to a range of other like Buddhists and Manichaeans.
The city of Merv, that was once a extremely bid deal- in fact- the most important within the world till it absolutely was destroyed by Ghengis Khan’s son. it’s thought that over 1,000,000 of its inhabitants were killed in 1221 or twenty two. What you’ll see within the photos area unit the mausoleums of the dignitary like that of the ruler Sanjar, completed in regarding 1140. The repository in Jewess is fascinating likewise and price a glance and if you’re very inquisitive about their fascination history the Turkmen can quit of there thanks to assist you find out about their fascinating history.
If you are about to visit Turkmenistan, make sure you jot down this archaeological sites in your travel diary, for sure it will be your nostalgia when you will be showing your travel diary to your grandsons!
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