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Bustan
Ruins
Toprak-kala
This is a most impressive ruin, standing proud above the
farmland after 1700 years. It was built during the Kushan
period (2nd and 3rd century AD) and in parts has undergone
a rather horrible reconstruction by Soviet archaeologists.
In the centre of the ruin is a temple, which looks a bit
like the Fire Temple site at Tash-k'irman. Contrary to
what the Lonely Planet guide to Central Asia says there
are no rooms carved out of the rock on a hilltop, for
the simple reason that the whole structure is made out
of clay bricks.
Kizil-kala
This is a fortress, with well preserved walls, last rebuilt
just before the Mongols invaded. It dates from the 4th
and 3rd century BC, and formed part of the line of frontier
fortresses during the Kang-kiui period.
Ayaz-kala I and Ayaz-kala III
Ayaz-kala I is an imposing site. Perched high on a hill,
it has staggering views of the surrounding countryside.
Sadly one of the things we saw was a large blue lake,
the depository of the water used to wash the land before
planting and ordinary irrigation begins. Bright blue and
perfectly dead. We had lunch in the gateway area in the
company of a large and persistent beetle. This fortress
complex was built in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC, and
must have been a feather in the cap of Chorasmia. It looks
down too, on Ayaz-kala III which was constructed in the
medieval period, and which was used in the making of a
film about the life of Genghis Khan. Parts of the wall
of Ayaz-kala III have been reconstructed.
This source of this Information is the USCAP website http://www.arts.usyd.edu.au/departs/archaeology/CentralAsia/homepage.htm. |
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