Settlement Toprak Kala

This settlement belongs to the list of the most important historical and cultural monuments of Khorezm of the first and fourth centuries AD. In the third century, here located the main city of the Empire, the active study of which domestic archaeologists began in mid-1938s. Scientists found out that the settlement had the correct form of a rectangle, in the north-west corner of which were the mansions of lords. To the south of the castle, which had three towers, a temple of fire adherents was located.

 

The largest street of the settlement, which divided it into several parts, went from the central castle to the south. On both sides of the main street there were many neighborhoods were people of different classes lived. It is believed that the central element of the entire architectural complex was a fortress erected around the third century AD. Once a rich city it gradually began to decline due to the endless military campaigns.

 

The archaeological treasures of this complex

 

Numerous expeditions were able to find here a lot of interesting facts, material evidence and other artifacts like:

  1. Numerous ancient coins;
  2. Remains of ossuary-vessels used for Zoroastrian burial;
  3. Artfully decorated ceramics;
  4. Different beads;
  5. Necklaces made from a variety of natural materials;
  6. Numerous workshops where items for military use were manufactured;
  7. Multiple artifacts related to painting and other forms of fine art;
  8. Numerous examples of ancient sculptures;
  9. The documents and samples of literary creativity, that enabled archeologists to make a conclusion about the development of writing and office work at the time. In total, scientists have discovered more than a hundred different written documents, written in the ancient language with the help of black mascara on tablets made of wood or leather. Unfortunately, the documents written on a leather material were in the worst condition.

 

A lot of unexplained facts remain

 

Of a genuine interest is the complex in terms of features of city planning and construction of fortifications. Most often in connection with this the palace of the ruler of the Empire can be recalled. Its 3-tower shape, that included numerous rooms, located in these towers, leaves more questions than answers. How the builders of that era managed to erect dwellings at an altitude of nearly twenty-five meters? This fact allows archaeologists to speak of the great skill of urban architects of that distant era.