Altyn-Depe

Altyndepe

Turkmenistan · Ahal

SettlementUnknown
Approximate period5,000 BCE — 1,900 BCEChalcolithic and Bronze Age See on the map ↓

In brief

With layers extending from the 5th millennium to the early 2nd millennium BCE, the site is an important center of early urbanization in southern Turkmenistan. Excavations have documented specialized production areas, houses, defensive structures and a monumental cult complex.

What was found?

  • 1Gold bull's head

    This is one of the precious objects found in a grave associated with the religious building complex. It demonstrates the use of gold in objects depicting animals and in elite grave furnishings.

  • 2Gold wolf's head

    This is a gold animal head found in the same burial context. Together with the bull's head, it documents the variety of precious objects placed in the grave.

  • 3Flint arrowheads

    The arrowheads found in Bronze Age layers have been studied in terms of form and use. They demonstrate the role of stoneworking in the production of tools and weapons during this period.

  • 4Terracotta female figurines

    Some of the flat, stylized figurines bear incised signs. According to researchers, these signs may be symbols of different goddesses; the interpretation is uncertain.

  • 5Silver and bronze seals

    Seals bearing cross-shaped arrangements and animal figures were found. They demonstrate metalworking and the symbolic imagery used.

What does it point to?

Household and grave furnishings at Altıntepe indicate marked differences in wealth within the community. According to researchers, groups of craftspeople, wealthy households and elites can be distinguished; the religious building complex is also an important part of this settlement organization.

What did it teach us?

  1. Revealed social differentiation through dwellings and grave goods.
  2. Uncovered a monumental religious building complex that included a stepped tower.
  3. Showed that stoneworking, terracotta production and metalworking developed together at the same Bronze Age center.

Images

Altyn Tepe (Golden Hill) Female Figurines 3rd-2nd millennia BCE Terracotta (1)
Bruce Allardice · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Altyndepe, Turkmenistan
Limin Huan · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Record

Culture
Namazga cultural sphere of southern Turkmenistan
Team / historical
Vadim M. Masson; South Turkmenistan and Karakum archaeological expeditions
Coordinates
36.8579°, 60.4324°

Sources

  1. persee.fr
  2. old.archeo.ru
  3. en.unesco.org
  4. en.wikipedia.org
  5. Encyclopaedia Iranica — Altin Tepe

Nearby excavations


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12.000

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