Jeitun
Djeitun · Jeytun · Jeýtun · Jeitun Neolithic
Neolithic (c.6200–5000 BCE; Pre-Pottery to Early Ceramic Neolithic)·Jeitun culture (Kopet Dag Neolithic, precursor to Anau–Namazga)·🇹🇲 Ahal Province, Kopet Dag Piedmont, Turkmenistan
About
About Jeitun
Jeitun at Kopet Dag north piedmont is the type-site of Jeitun culture (c.6200–5000 BCE) — earliest farming village in Central Asia with mudbrick pisé houses, domesticated barley–wheat and goat/sheep, and beginning of Kopet Dag oasis tradition leading to Anau–Namazga. Masson excavations revealed agglutinated rectangular houses with plastered hearths, grain bins and early irrigation traces. Precursor to BMAC.
Why it mattersEarliest farming village in Central Asia — Jeitun culture type-site, origin of Kopet Dag oasis.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Dry farming vs early irrigation at 6000 BCE?
Theories
- 01Oasis model of origins (Harris, Masson)
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.6200 BCE
- Period
- Neolithic (c.6200–5000 BCE; Pre-Pottery to Early Ceramic Neolithic)
- Culture
- Jeitun culture (Kopet Dag Neolithic, precursor to Anau–Namazga)
- Builders
- Jeitun early farmers
- Purpose
- Settlement and ceremonial centre
- Abandoned
- c.5000 BCE
- Rediscovered
- 1950s (Vadim Masson)
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.6200 BCE
Jeitun farming village founded — earliest Central Asian farmers
c.5000 BCE
Absorbed into Anau IA culture
1950s
Vadim Masson defines Jeitun culture; type-site excavated
On the ground
Structures & features
37.9500° N · 58.2000° E · 250 m · 3 mapped features
- Northern Pisé House Cluster (Jeitun Village)settlementAgglutinated pisé houses with plastered hearths, central hearths and grain storage bins37.9502° N · 58.2001° E
- Southern Early Fields Trace (Barley Phytoliths)agriculturalField system trace with barley phytoliths and sickle gloss outside village37.9497° N · 58.2002° E
- Masson Type-Site Trench Stratigraphystratigraphy1950s Masson deep trench with Jeitun ware ceramic sequence and C14 dates37.9504° N · 58.1997° E
Gallery