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