Archaeological research on the Kanka fortress city: between nomads and farmers

Abstract

The settlement of Kanka is one of the largest urban centres on the right bank of the Syrdarya. It comprises a citadel, three shakhristans, each surrounded on three sides by defensive walls, and a suburb of rabad. The fourth side of the settlement bordered the riverbank, along which a wall also ran. A significant object, discovered during the excavations of Shakhristan 1 was the city temple, which was a large monumental structure. The core of the temple complex was a square hall surrounded by bypass corridors. The walls of the temple were decorated with paintings and relief moldings. New research in the settlement was conducted on the eastern part of the city temple, the supposed entrance part site of the temple complex. The archaeological excavations at the Kanka monument have yielded insights into the lifestyle of an outpost city situated at the border of the territories of nomads, pastoralists, and farmers in ancient Central Asia. The findings indicate that ancient nomadic populations likely played a significant role in the dissemination of scientific progress. Through their extensive migrations and cultural interactions, they could have served as conduits for exchanging knowledge and technological innovations among disparate regions.

Keywords

• Tashkent, Kanka, Syrdarya, tempel, mosque, brick, Akhsiket, kitchen room, socio-cultural adaptation, adaptation to the natural environment