Altyn-Depe — North Craft Quarter (Mary)
Altyn N Quarter
Bronze Age to Classical (3000 BCE–500 CE)·Bronze Age urban·🇹🇲 Mary Province, Altyn-Depe, Turkmenistan
About
About Altyn-Depe — North Craft Quarter (Mary)
Altyn-Depe — North Craft Quarter (Mary) in Mary Province, Altyn-Depe, Turkmenistan is a Bronze Age to Classical (3000 BCE–500 CE) ancient city attributed to Bronze Age urban. Systematic survey and coring document stratified deposits. The site includes a principal platform and ancillary settlement. Dimensions city wall circuit 1.2 km; area 18 ha; area 11.2 ha. Excavation partially-excavated; condition submerged. Peer-reviewed reports and georeferenced plans available.
Why it mattersKey Bronze Age urban ancient-city with stratified sequence and landscape setting at 260 m elevation.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology and phasing
- 02Construction technique
Theories
- 01Ritual landscape model
- 02Elite residence hypothesis
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 2500 BCE
- Period
- Bronze Age to Classical (3000 BCE–500 CE)
- Culture
- Bronze Age urban
- Purpose
- Urban centre with palace and temple precinct
- Rediscovered
- 1966
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 2500 BCE
Initial construction / foundation
c. 891 BCE
Major refurbishment / second phase
1927
Modern rediscovery and excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
36.3600° N · 62.0500° E · 260 m · 4 mapped features
Principal Monument
structurePrincipal Monument at Altyn-Depe — North Craft Quarter (Mary) — structure with stratified deposits
36.3604° N · 62.0514° EAncillary Complex
complexAncillary Complex at Altyn-Depe — North Craft Quarter (Mary) — complex with stratified deposits
36.3595° N · 62.0482° EOutlier Feature
outlierOutlier Feature at Altyn-Depe — North Craft Quarter (Mary) — outlier with stratified deposits
36.3618° N · 62.0481° EReservoir/Cistern
hydraulicReservoir/Cistern at Altyn-Depe — North Craft Quarter (Mary) — hydraulic with stratified deposits
36.3586° N · 62.0514° E