Togolok 1
Togolok-1 · Togolok Temple 1 · Murghab Togolok
BMAC Bronze Age (c.2400–1600 BCE; Togolok phase 2200–1800)·BMAC (Togolok temple of Gonur)·🇹🇲 Mary Province, Murghab Inland Delta, Turkmenistan
About
About Togolok 1
Togolok 1 is the BMAC temple-fort satellite of Gonur — 140-m square enclosure with corner towers, central bastioned cult fortress and fire ritual basin. Sarianidi noted it as the 'temple of the BMAC' with animal sacrifices and haoma preparation (ephedra). The 4-m thick walls enclose altar and storage.
Why it mattersBMAC temple-fort — ritual economy and haoma hypothesis.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Haoma — ephedra residue?
Theories
- 01Ritual economy (Sarianidi)
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.2400 BCE
- Period
- BMAC Bronze Age (c.2400–1600 BCE; Togolok phase 2200–1800)
- Culture
- BMAC (Togolok temple of Gonur)
- Builders
- Gonur BMAC priests
- Purpose
- Settlement and ceremonial centre
- Abandoned
- c.1600 BCE
- Rediscovered
- 1976 (Sarianidi)
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.2200 BCE
Togolok 1 enclosure built — temple-fort
1976
Sarianidi excavates Togolok temple
On the ground
Structures & features
38.1800° N · 62.0000° E · 175 m · 3 mapped features
- Central Bastioned Temple and Fire BasintempleSquare enclosure with central temple, altar and fire basin with ash38.1802° N · 62.0001° E
- Corner Tower Circuit (4-m Wall)fortification4-m thick bastioned walls with corner towers, 140×140 m38.1805° N · 61.9996° E
- Haoma Preparation StorageindustrialStorage jars with ephedra residue — Soma/Haoma preparation38.1797° N · 62.0003° E