Bactria–Margiana Archaeological Complex

A haven culture (also Oxus culture or Oxus civilization, after the ancient name of the Central Asian Amu Darya River ) is a Bronze Age culture in the Karakum Desert in present-day Turkmenistan and parts of Afghanistan called. It existed probably 2200-1700 BC around the time of the Indus Valley Civilization, the kingdom of Elam in Mesopotamia and the Middle Kingdom in Egypt. The disappearance of the oasis culture is not exactly clear, but was probably caused by climatic changes.

Overview

The oasis is a culture for the region and period (late 3rd and early 2nd millennium BC) unusually high level of pottery and metal processing (bronze, silver). Testify finely finished and decorated with geometric motifs stone vases, bronze beaked vases (possibly part of a Soma - cult ), silver vases, jewelry ( up container with applicator, ivory comb, mirror ), a silver needle with a sheep as a head and gold beads.

In addition to massive stone work also finely crafted sculptures were found. These include female, later also male, flat clay figures with beak-like noses, which were probably hung in homes. In addition, plastic, clumsy acting seated stone figures with attached stone head and striking fur costume, which were deposited in graves and are interpreted as mother goddesses, but also can have comparable to the Egyptian Ka statues, acts as a soul carrier. Except pit graves tombs of eminent persons were found that were created as a replica of a residential building.

The ( partly monumental ) buildings can thus infer mathematical, geometric and astronomical knowledge. This is demonstrated by several excavated cities with right-angled road network which have thick walls and a palace -like building in the center. Several cities have been created in a composite - in reference Adji Kui there are nine in the narrow area.

In Adji Kui amulets were found, their images - including the eagle - snake motif frequently occurring - were interpreted as representations of scenes of Mesopotamian Etana - myth found in graves faience bangles from the Indus Valley Civilization and Syrian stamp seal with winged female deity on a panther suggest that long distance trade was taking place. On a pronounced commercial culture and stamp seals suggests to identify the estate, as well as scoring markers for keeping accounting records of goods.

The people of the oasis culture domesticated sheep and goat, and donkey and especially camels. With sophisticated irrigation systems large fields were provided, where barley, wheat and legumes were grown.

Discovery

The oasis of culture was in the 1970s in an area that was called by him Bactria - Margiana Archaeological Complex ( BMAC, according to the ancient names for the regions of Bactria and Margiana ), discovered by the Russian archaeologist Viktor Ivanovich Sarianidi. Sarianidi devoted himself to the study of those cultural decades of his life. Significant remnants he found in the Daschly oasis. Since a few years, the Italian archaeologist Gabriele Rossi - Osmida digs among others in Adji Kui.

In 2001, on the assumption that the oasis culture has developed its own font. This would be about 2300 BC emerged, although later than the print in Egypt and Mesopotamia, but far earlier than in China. At issue is whether it is a font or pictograms.

BMAC and Indoiraner

Some scholars are of the opinion that there is a connection between the Oxus culture and the original homeland of the peoples known as Indoiraner them or neighboring peoples.

Excavated ruins said to have similarities with complexes that are described in the Rigveda, and it also appears to be evidence of the Soma - cult.