Southern Uzbekistan Research Articles

중앙아시아 불교유적의 분포현황과 의의

Buddhist remains in Central Asia are found in five regions: Bactria-Toharistan region in southern Uzbekistan and in southwestern Tajikistan, Fergana region in eastern Uzbekistan and Sogdiana region in central Samarkand, Merv region in eastern Turkmenistan, and Semirechiye region in north-eastern Kyrgyzstan. They are dated from around the 1st century to the 9th and 10th centuries. Most of the Buddhist remains in the northern part of Bactria-Toharistan region are Buddhist temples, but there are only stupas remained without temple buildings such as the Jurmala Stupa and Airtam Stupa. The Karatepa Buddhist Temple, the Fayaztepa Buddhist Temple, and the Buddhist Temples inside and outside the capital city Dalverzintepa are built on the Kushan period in the 2nd and 4th centuries and stupas are found in all these temples. Semirechiye is the region where Buddhist remains are clustered following Bactria-Toharistan region and was influenced by Chinese Buddhism after the 7th century and Tibetan Buddhism later. Not stupas but a large Buddha statue and a large statue of nirvana are found at Akbeshim Buddhist Temple and Ajinatepa Buddhist Temple, respectively, that represents the change in the object of worship. The Buddhist remains of Central Asia are largely divided into two periods. The Bactria-Toharistan Buddhist culture from the 2nd to the 4th centuries was the first period of Buddhist culture in Central Asia, when Buddhism was first introduced and settled in Central Asia along with the expansion of the Kushan Empire. The late Buddhist culture of the Central Asia flourished in Bactria-Toharistan and Semirechiye regions in the 7th and 8th centuries was the second period, and the center of Buddhism moved to East Asia. It was confirmed that Buddhism in Central Asia was developed by exchanging influences with other religions, such as Zoroastrianism previously propagated through traces of rituals related to fire or murals in Buddha statue with a flame-shaped halo. In Buddhist architecture, the use of drying bricks and the construction of stone cave temple that dug into the sandstone layer are reflected in consideration of the material and climate characteristics of the site. As such, it can be seen that the Central Asia did not simply serve as a messenger of civilization, but rather accepted, developed, and spread it to other regions.

New Hellenistic Coin Finds from the Baysun and Kugitang Piedmonts, Southern Uzbekistan (season 2018)

Abstract The article presents assemblage of Seleucid and Greco-Bactrian coins found by the Czech-Uzbek archaeological expedition in the frame of a sampling metal detector survey in the upper reaches of Sherabad Darya, from the sites of the Darband Wall, Daganajam, Kurganzol and Iskandar Tepa in 2018. Sixteen specimens, of both silver and copper alloys, which were determined including a very rare Seleukos I (?) coin are assessed not only from the numismatic and historical point of view, but also analysed in terms of elemental composition.

ERT, GPR, and magnetic surveying: the case study of Khayrabadtepa settlement (Southern Uzbekistan)

The use of geophysical methods has become an integral part of the work at all stages of archaeological research. Geophysics contribute to the efficient and rapid detection of buried objects. One of the effective methods for mapping archaeological sites is the magnetic survey that reveals anomalies associated with the residual magnetization of such objects. To study the deep structure of complex objects in conditions of variable relief, the method of electrical tomography (ERT) has been well recommended. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) measurements delineate buried structures in soil strata. Geophysical work was carried out within the boundaries of the settlement of Khayrabadtepa, which is a monument of the Kushan period in the territory of Northern Bactria. The settlement is located 1 km southwest of the city of Angor, 30 km northwest of the city of Termez.

The structure of the incidence of acute intestinal infections in children of the Southern Aral Sea region and bioimmune correction of intestinal microbiocenosis in shigellosis

BACKGROUND: The microbiome of the gastrointestinal tract ensures colonization resistance of the intestinal epithelium, produces enzymes, and participates in nutrient metabolism. Changes in its composition lead to pathological conditions of the intestines.AIM: To determine the structure of the incidence of acute intestinal infections in children living in the Southern Aral Sea region and to characterize the effect of bioimmune correction of changes in the intestinal microbiome in children with shigellosis.
 MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the period from 06.07.2020 to 05.10.2020, 179 children with intestinal infections aged 2 to 7 years living in an environmentally unfavorable zone of Southern Uzbekistan were examined. The children were divided into two groups: the first (32 children) received basic therapy (pathogenetic therapy, antibiotic therapy, diet), the second (11 children) received basic therapy with bioimmune correction with bifidobacteria bifidum (bifidumbacterin PL) and thymus peptides of sheep embryos and newborn lambs (immunomodulin). To characterize the microbiome, the material was screened on differential diagnostic media, identifying obligate, facultative and opportunistic microflora. To assess the statistical significance of differences between data groups, the Student's t test was used, taking p ≤0.05 as a significant level.
 RESULTS: Shigellosis was diagnosed in 43 sick children (24% of those examined), escherichiosis was diagnosed in 34 (19%), salmonellosis was diagnosed in 30 (16.3%), and diarrhea of other bacterial etiology was diagnosed in 23 (13%) patients. In all variants, changes in the intestinal microbiome were detected. Etiotropic therapy led to an improvement in the general condition of patients, but did not affect dysbiotic changes in the intestines and did not contribute to the restoration of the microbiome. Bioimmune correction of dysbiosis in shigellosis in 11 patients using preparations of bifidobacteria bifidum and fetal thymic peptides led to the restoration of intestinal microflora to normal values: the number of lactose-negative E. coli significantly decreased by more than 5 orders of magnitude (p=0.037), fungi of the genus Candida (p=0.030) and enterococci (p=0.019) by 3 orders of magnitude, and staphylococci by 2 orders of magnitude (p=0.048).
 CONCLUSION: The use of preparations of bifidobacteria bifidum and fetal thymus peptides as bioimmunocorrectors is a promising therapeutic strategy for shigellosis in children.

Kakhramontepa in Southern Uzbekistan

The paper presents a brief overview of the excavation results from the early medieval, 4th–5th-century AD fortress of Kakhramontepa in southern Uzbekistan, with a wide range of analogies from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Nearby burial groups were also surveyed, some of which belong to the same period. Based on the joint evaluation of the fortress, the find material, the structure of the burials, and written sources, the entire complex could be attributed to the Kidarites, one of the enigmatic peoples known from historical sources and difficult to identify in the archaeological record.

Naked Plumage of the Mountains of Southern Uzbekistan

the article describes the composition of species and distribution of bare slime flying in the southern regions of Uzbekistan, in particular in the Surkhon-Sherabad Valley and the surrounding mountains.

Preliminary results on the chemical components of Lagerstroemia indica L. in the conditions of southern Uzbekistan

The article talks about the widespread use in medicine and veterinary medicine of many herbal preparations that affect the immune systemAn organism experiencing the effects of adverse factors needs support and protection from the harmful effects of the environment. Therefore, the problem of developing and using various productivity stimulants and general reinforcements is still relevant. Practice has shown that many tools that relieve or prevent stress and immune deficiency conditions simultaneously improve health and increase body activity. It is known that plant raw materials and biologically active substances obtained from them are widely used in almost all sectors of the national economy. Based on this, naturalization of consumed food and medicinal products is one of today’s requirements. This requires increasing the raw materials of food, medicinal and aromatic plants and developing natural medicines and new types of food products from them.

Monitoring of dynamic state of pasture plant cover in Kashkadarya Basin

This article gives information about the ecological situation in the areas where scientific research has been conducted in recent times. In particular, the state of desertification of the foothill pastures of the Kashkadarya region of Southern Uzbekistan is highlighted. Also, information about the cases of ephemeris and ephemeroids not completing the vegetation process as a result of grazing cattle in the pasture, and the representatives of the weeds spread in the pastures were shown. The wide spread of weed seeds, the presence of indicator species in the territories where they appear, and their levels of occurrence are also highlighted in the work. The dependence of germination levels on the pastures of the Kashkadarya basin on climatic factors and the long duration of drought was analyzed. From this point of view, it is very important to determine the rules, norms and standards for the use of pastures, their reproduction and restoration. Restrictions and bans on the use of pastures, arbitrary use of pastures, prevention and eradication of vegetation are relevant today. The main goal is to conduct an inventory of pastures, carry out geobotanical inspection of pastures, monitor pastures, use pastures, and conduct scientific and financial activities for their reproduction.

Adaptive Dynamics of Settlement Models in the Urban Landscape of Termez (Uzbekistan) from c. 300 BCE to c. 1400 CE

The archaeological site of Ancient Termez is located in southern Uzbekistan. Despite the arid environment, the city benefited from its strategic position near two rivers, the Amu Darya and the Surkhan Darya. Its significance was mainly related to the expansion of trade routes connecting Eurasia. The city comprises several enclosures that attest long-term human-environment interactions. In order to identify the adaptive dynamics of the settlement models during an extended chronology covering the period from c. 300 BCE to c. 1220 CE (Greco-Bactrian/Yuezhi, Kushan, Kushano-Sasanian, and Islamic periods), a multidisciplinary study has been carried out, which includes: (1) archaeological excavations in several areas of the urban complex; (2) pedestrian surveying inside some enclosures and in the urban periphery; (3) an aerial survey based on high-resolution satellite imagery; (4) AMS dating of charcoal and bone samples; (5) archaeobotanical investigation through anthracological analysis; (6) zooarchaeological studies. The results point to variations in the development of the inhabited spaces, in which abandonment and occupation took place. The zooarchaeological and archaeobotanical data demonstrate the exploitation of natural resources in different environments (i.e., arid areas and irrigated land) and a certain evolution during the period considered.

Results of the introduction of tree plants into South Uzbekistan from the North America

The article presents the results of the introduction of woody plants into South Uzbekistan from North America. It is noted that 43 species of woody plants were tested from the Atlantic-North American region. In particular, 1 species were tested from the Appalachian province of this region. Thirty-eight species have been introduced from the province of the Atlantic Lowland, of which 26 are also found in the Appalachian province. The flora of the province of the Atlantic Lowland is much younger than the flora of the Appalachian Province and contains fewer relict and endemic taxa, which is explained by the geological youth of the lowland itself. From both provinces of this area, the vast majority of species are very promising and promising. From the Rocky Mountains, only 3 species have been tested. Although they are endemic to this province, under our conditions they have proved to be quite resilient. They belong to the hemixerophytes. Of the 3 provinces of the Madreana region, 9 species were tested, 6 of them were introduced from the California province. Most of the tested species of this area turned out to be resistant in the conditions of Southern Uzbekistan.

Biomorphological features of hybrid daylilies in the conditions of Southern Uzbekistan

The article presents the results of studies of the biomorphological features of promising daylily varieties (‘Carnival Song’, ‘Celebration Song, ‘Coral Beauty, ‘Matinata, ‘Soft Jazz’) in the conditions of the Karshi oasis. Significant differences in indicators were identified. In varieties ‘Heiloon Lace’ and ‘Red Velor, the number of flowers formed in the inflorescence and the diameter of the flower are larger (10.1 ± 0.6 and 11.0 ± 0.4, respectively), while in other varieties this figure is relatively less. In varieties ‘Heiloon Lace’ and ‘Red Velor, the number of buds formed on the rhizomes was less (0.85 ± 0.26 and 1.14 ± 0.14, respectively), while in varieties ‘Banbury Contrast’ and ‘Nile Crane’, which developed fewer flowers (respectively 6.1 ± 0.3 and 8.2 ± 0.4), by the end of the growing season more buds were formed. From this, it is concluded that hybrid lilies with the highest number of flowers have the lowest vegetative reproduction rate.

Антропоморфные изображения периода Яз-I

Two groups of unusual objects from contexts of the Early Iron Age Yaz-I period at the site of Maydatepa, southern Uzbekistan, are presented. The first group is interpreted as abstract anthropomorphic figurines. They are small rod-shaped clay objects (fired and unfired), with plastic noses and impressed eyes, sometimes with sparse additional ornaments. The second group is a collective find (and one separate individual object) from a closed pit context from the same site. The collective find consists of five, partly fragmentary, stele-like roughly hewn limestone objects, some of which have a marked off head. In view of the abstract clay objects, these small stelae can also be interpreted as anthropomorphic representations. The individual stone object is a stalagmite, which was brought intentionally to the site. Because of the natural grooved erosion at the top, which may represent hair, this object is included here. The entire collection contradicts the presumed lack of figurative art in the Early Iron Age Yaz-I communities, but it is also radically different from the preceding art of the Bronze Age.

Forecasting of prospective areas for prospecting in Southern Uzbekistan

Forecasting of prospective areas for prospecting in Southern Uzbekistan

Geoecological monitoring of the “Mustaqillikning 25 уilligi” gas field

The article analyzes an unified system of results of state geoecological monitoring at a gas field in southern Uzbekistan, highlights problematic geoecological aspects in the exploration and development of gas fields of this system, and explores the legal basis for the activities of subjects of the state environmental monitoring system. The necessity of changing and supplementing the legislation is indicated for more effective management of nature and ensuring geoecological safety with the help of the Geoenvironmental monitoring system. The necessity of creating a regional system of geoecological monitoring is substantiated and equipped with modern software for online monitoring of the state of the environment in Surkhandarya region.

Suillus granulatus (L.) Roussel as a new macrofungus for southern Uzbekistan

This article provides information about the macrofungus Suillus granulatus (L) Roussel which was new one for South Uzbekistan. The identified macrofungus was found near the trees of Pinus eldarica Medw. The hymenium layer, basidiosporous basidia layer, spores and spores form small bodies (subfusiform) in the inner part of the spores in the shape of a drop.

Regional distribution and ecological-phytocenotic description of dominant plants of Southern Uzbekistan

This article analyzes the results of the research conducted by scientists in the study of plants of the region. Taking into account the laws of the distribution of plants in the regions, the dominant plants of the desert, hill, mountain and pasture regions of South Uzbekistan are given an ecological and phytocenotic description. In particular, the results of the expedition conducted to study the plants distributed in each region, and the results of experimental research are highlighted. According to it, information on the Latin name of plants, ecological status, distribution according to soil types, dominance characteristics, communities is provided. The formation of vegetation cover specific to the climate of each region was analyzed. In particular, dryness (lack of moisture) and high temperature for the desert determine unfavorable climatic conditions for plant life. Here, the shortness of the growing season of plants, mainly due to the lack of precipitation, early drying of the soil, often determines the summer and winter dormancy of two dormant periods in the seasonal development of plants. Despite the fact that desert conditions are unfavorable for plants, it is possible to observe their diversity during the seasonal vegetation period. Adir is located between a barren desert and a mesothermal mountain, and according to the living conditions of the plants, the stage part is arid, and the upper part is close to the mountain.

Paleolithic occupation of arid Central Asia in the Middle Pleistocene.

Central Asia is positioned at a crossroads linking several zones important to hominin dispersal during the Middle Pleistocene. However, the scarcity of stratified and dated archaeological material and paleoclimate records makes it difficult to understand dispersal and occupation dynamics during this time period, especially in arid zones. Here we compile and analyze paleoclimatic and archaeological data from Pleistocene Central Asia, including examination of a new layer-counted speleothem-based multiproxy record of hydrological changes in southern Uzbekistan at the end of MIS 11. Our findings indicate that Lower Palaeolithic sites in the steppe, semi-arid, and desert zones of Central Asia may have served as key areas for the dispersal of hominins into Eurasia during the Middle Pleistocene. In agreement with previous studies, we find that bifaces occur across these zones at higher latitudes and in lower altitudes relative to the other Paleolithic assemblages. We argue that arid Central Asia would have been intermittently habitable during the Middle Pleistocene when long warm interglacial phases coincided with periods when the Caspian Sea was experiencing consistently high water levels, resulting in greater moisture availability and more temperate conditions in otherwise arid regions. During periodic intervals in the Middle Pleistocene, the local environment of arid Central Asia was likely a favorable habitat for paleolithic hominins and was frequented by Lower Paleolithic toolmakers producing bifaces.

Archaeometric investigations of the Molali pottery complex (Bronze Age, Uzbekistan): New data on technology and exchanges at the end of the Oxus Civilization

The recent excavations at the site of Molali, located in southern Uzbekistan and dated to the mid-second millennium BCE, offer new insights into the definition of the Final Bronze Age pottery complex in southern Uzbekistan and the technological and stylistic links between the potting traditions of the various cultural groups at this period. An archaeometric study has been conducted in order to characterize the various wares, investigate the compositional variability of the ceramic assemblage, and determine the provenance of the raw materials. The results from a combination of techniques (Wavelength Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence, X-Ray Diffraction, and thin section Optical Microscopy) allowed us to identify a local pottery production of wheel-made fine ware and to determine the local/regional origin of the handmade, coarse, shell-tempered ware. Exchange relationships with ‘steppe’ populations have been confirmed; they involved not only vessels (coarse rock-tempered pots) but also pottery traditions (specific ‘steppe’-like decorations on pots of regional origin). Although not numerous, they are nonetheless evidence of large-scale connections between the settlements in the Surkhan Darya valley and other peripheral cultures and areas in the mid-second millennium BCE. The diversity of fabrics (use of various raw materials and different technological processes) is also discussed regarding the choices made for intrinsic material properties required for specific functions, highlighting the strong expertise and management acquired by the potters for the production of diverse ceramic functional categories.

Early Medieval coarse wares from northern Bactria-Tokharistan. Archaeological and archaeometric characterization

The paper focuses on the archaeological contextualization and archaeometric characterization of Early Medieval coarse wares from the town of Khosijat Tepe and the castle of Balalyk Tepe (southern Uzbekistan), located in ancient northern Bactria-Tokharistan. From the 5th to the 8th centuries CE, this territory was marked by the successive arrival of nomadic tribes (Chionites/Kidarites and Hephthalites) which interacted with the Kushano-Sasanian population and contributed to the development of regional traditions and specific cultural characteristics. The study of ceramic artifacts is fundamental to ascertaining these processes, but the research conducted to date on this issue is very limited. Thus, we aim, first, to examine the morphological and technological features of some cooking wares, storage jars, and common wares, proposing a functional and morphological classification. Second, we want to detect the changes introduced by the nomadic tribes and evaluate the extent of these changes through a comparison with coeval ceramics from nearby sites. Optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray fluorescence were performed on 16 specimens to evaluate the provenance and to determine the manufacturing processes (choice and working of raw materials, shaping methods, surface treatments, and firing regime). The results of the investigation revealed that all the vessels analyzed are local/regional products; however, the procurement and processing of the raw materials vary considerably depending on provenance and function. The appearance of new shapes and decorations, which have parallels in several settlements of northern Bactria, bears witness to the spread of nomadic traditions at the regional level.

Islamic ancient Termez: An active and long-established ceramic manufacturing centre along the silk road

This paper presents the most recent comprehensive archaeological investigation at ancient Termez, a large site located in southern Uzbekistan along the Amu Darya river. The Joint Uzbek-Spanish team has worked there since 2006. After a first phase of investigation up to 2012, the campaigns restarted in 2018. The paper concentrates on the pottery manufacturing centres related to the Islamic period, located outside the rabad (suburbs) to the north-west and in the shahristan (lower town). Besides accurately investigating the structures and the stratigraphy of each context, ceramic vessels have been collected during surveys and excavations and a selection of them is presented in this paper to give a broad overview of the wares produced and circulating at Termez. First of all, the finding of several pottery workshops unquestionably proves that the city was a very active manufacturing centre for a long period of time. Moreover, the study demonstrates that a large variety of glazed and unglazed items were locally produced, such as fine tableware, storage and kitchen vessels, but also sphero-conical vessels. Their forms and decorations largely conform to the Central Asian Islamic ceramic horizon. The ceramics collected have been dated between the 8th/9th and the 16th/17th century CE.