Ancient and Medieval Lebap in the System of Eurasian Cultures and States (Based on the Materials of Historical and Archeological Research)
50th Annual Meeting of the PIAC, Kazan 2007
Lebap —the Middle Amudarja — Ainul and Zemm district — are main parts of the modern Lebap velajet of Turkmenistan, along with the Middle Amudarja valley and the adjacent territories with the historical center in Amul Chardjui which used to be a contact zone in the course of historical and cultural development in ancient and medieval times. It occupied an important place in the historical and cultural connections and communicational relationships in the system of Eurasian cultures, ethnic groups and states.
The insignificance of written data about the region puts emphasis on archeological material when studying its history. However, the historical and archeological study of the Middle Amudarja region is on a weak level, with the exception of works by STACE, V. N. Pilipko and A. A. Burkhanov, which does not allow the creation of a holistic and detailed description of historical and cultural development of this territory.
The Lebap region possessed a convenient geographical position at the meetingpoint of the largest and most important historical cultural districts of Central Asia (in ancient and medieval times Baktria – Tokharistan, Sogd, Khoresm and Margiana, in medieval epoch – Khoresm, Khorasan and Maverannahr), as well as the main military and trading ways (among them the Great Silk way). Thus, Lebap represented a particularly active zone and had expansive cultural connections with many regions of Eurasia.
The main line of the Lebap region was Ox-Jeikhun-Amudarja, the main transport and trading way of Central Asia. Historically, there were four main crossings in its middle part: Kerki-Kerkichi, Navidah — Khodja-Idat-kala, Bityk-kala (Farap) — Amul-Chardjui and Usty-kala — Odei-depe.
Archeological data prove the dense population of the region as early as 1st millennium B.C. (V. N. Pilipko). The research stated the existence of several trading passageways in the early iron period: Yaz-depe — Odei-depe — Khoresm — the lower Amudarja and lower Balhab – Odei-depe – Khoresm (T.Sagdullaev).
The banks of the Amudarja and Margiana were parts of Akhemenid Iran, which later were in Greek-Baktria sphere of influence. In the 1st century B.C., Parthian merchants swam along the Guishui (Amudarja).
Archeological data assume intensive developement of the Lebap region at the time these territories were included in the Kushan Empire (V. N. Pilipko, A. A. Burkhanov). At this time strong fortresses and rural settlements were built, new lands were developed, irrigation system was constructed, the population grew, trade and cultural relationships were active, local cults as well as Buddhism traditions were developing.
In the first third of the 3rd century A.D. the Sasanids conquered Arshakid Parthia and invaded Merv and Sakastan, the lands of their allies. In the second half of the 4th century the Sasanids conquered the Kushan lands — Baktria, the Amudarja banks and a part of Bukhara oasis. This led to a temporary disappearance of some settlements (B. G. Gafurov, V. A. Sedov, A. A. Burkhanov)
The materials of our archeological digs show that in 4-5th centuries in Lebap region, as well as in the adjacent Baktria-Tokharistan and Sogd, the process of economy increase and stabilization was going on (B. G. Gafurov, V. A. Sedov). As it was noted, some settlements were in deterioration, but this must have been caused by the events of the second half of the 4th century and the later ones, when in 5-7th centuries the Middle Amudarja was the place of the struggle between Sasanid Iran and the nomads. The sources mention battles between Varakhran 5th Bakhram Gur (420–437) and Turkic khan near Merv and Amul.
In the Kushan-Sasanid epoch there was a certain influence and cultural impact of Sasanid Iran: sticking on ceramics, terracotta figures of warriors with swords from Kerki and Amul of the official Sasanid art; Sasanid coins and the subjects of the local governors coin emissions (G. A. Pugachenkova, V. N. Pilipko, A. A. Burkhanov).
In the period of constant conflicts and wars between the nomads and Sasanid Iran (later on, the Arab Caliphate) in Sogd, Tokharistan and the Middle Amudarja big settlements decrease. Consequently, a fortified castle becomes a typical thing in the inhabited localities (G. L. Semenov, T. D. Annaev, A. A. Burkhanov). Presumably, it caused the fact that the round temple we digged out in Khazarek-depe out of a purely cult construction had tuned into a fortified castle, and had been deserted in the second half of the 7th century as a result of a fire and a massacre. It is proved by a thick layer of ashes in the filling of the citadel corridors and rooms, as well as in the corresponding cultural layers of the exploring shaft in the main part of the settlement.
In the 5-8th centuries the Lebap region culture (ceramics, terracotta, weapons) were also influenced to a certain extent by the traditions of the lower Syrdarja, Bukhara Sogd and Tokharistan. It is proved by the archeological dig materials we obtained in Khazarek-depe and Arapkhana.
The main directions of historical and cultural development of the Amudarja lands contacts and connections inside Lebap are seen in the developed Middle Ages as well.
The contacts of Lebap with other regions of Central Asia and the Middle East, particularly with Merv and Sogd, were strengthening owing to the Arab conquest and the inclusion of the territories described into the united historical cultural region — Khorasan. It is known that the Arabs were unable to conquer Amul straight after invading Merv. Thus, after the Arab governor of Khorasan ar-Rabi died in 672, the new governor, Abdallah bin Khudjra, had to struggle with the citizens of a city on the Amudarja.