Oasis culture

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Approximate spread of the oasis culture (BMAC: Bactria – Margiana Archaeological Complex)
The oasis culture (BMAC) and other surrounding cultures that are generally associated with the spread of Indo-Iranian languages and emigration : the Andronowo culture , the Bactrian-Margian oasis culture and the Yaz culture . The Swat Culture , the Cemetery H Culture , the Copper Hort Culture and the PGW Culture are candidates for the Indo-Aryan migrations.

As oasis culture (also Oxus culture or Oxus civilization , after the ancient name of the Central Asian Amudarya -Flusses), a Bronze Age culture in the desert Karakum in today's Turkmenistan and parts of Afghanistan called. It probably existed between 2200 and 1700 BC. Chr. Coinciding approximately with the Indus Valley Civilization , the kingdom of Elam in Mesopotamia and the Middle Kingdom in Egypt . The disappearance of the oasis culture is not exactly understood, but was probably caused by climatic changes.

overview

The oasis culture shows an unusually high level of pottery and metal processing ( bronze , silver ) for the region and time (late 3rd to early 2nd millennium BC ). This is evidenced by finely worked stone vases decorated with geometric motifs, bronze beaked vases (possibly part of a Soma cult), silver vases, pieces of jewelry (make-up container with applicator, ivory comb, mirror), a silver needle with a sheep as its head and gold pearls.

In addition to massive stone work, finely crafted sculptures were also found. These include female, and later male, flat clay figures with beak-like noses, which were probably hung in houses. In addition, three-dimensional, clumsy-looking seated stone figures with attached stone heads and striking fur costumes, which were deposited in graves and are interpreted as mother goddesses, but also, comparable to the Egyptian Ka statues, could have functioned as soul carriers . In addition to pit graves, graves of outstanding personalities were found, which were designed as replicas of a residential building.

The (partly monumental) buildings thus suggest mathematical , geometric and astronomical knowledge. Several excavated cities with right-angled streets, thick city walls and a palace-like building in the center are evidence of this. Several cities were created in a network - there are nine in the vicinity of the Adji Kui site .

In Adji Kui were amulets found their pictures - as representations of scenes of - including the frequent Eagle Snake Motif Mesopotamian Etana were interpreted myth in graves found faience -Armreife from the Indus Valley Civilization and Syrian stamp seal with winged female deity on suggest to a panther that long-distance trade was taking place. Stamp seals for identifying property and counting stones for the accounting of goods also indicate a pronounced trading culture.

The people of the oasis culture domesticated sheep and goats , as well as domestic donkeys and especially camels . Sophisticated irrigation systems were used to supply large fields where barley , wheat and legumes were grown.

discovery

The oasis culture was discovered in the 1970s in an area that he called Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex (BMAC, after the ancient names for the regions of Bactria and Margiana ), by the Russian archaeologist Viktor Ivanovich Sarianidi . Sarianidi devoted decades of his life to researching this culture. He found important remains in the Daschly Oasis. In the south of Uzbekistan, excavations have been carried out in Jarqoʻton , one of the largest settlements of the oasis culture , since 1973 . For a few years now, the Italian archaeologist Gabriele Rossi-Osmida has been digging in Adji Kui, among other places .

In 2001 the assumption arose that the oasis culture had developed its own script . This would be around 2300 BC. BC , later than the writing in Egypt and Mesopotamia, but far earlier than in China. However, it is disputed whether it is a question of writing or pictograms .

BMAC and Indo-Iranians

Some scholars support the hypothesis that the bearers of the Oxus culture were not yet Indo-Iranians linguistically , but that there may be connections with peoples neighboring them, which in the mythological Rigveda are portrayed as defeated opponents:

“The geographic location of the BMAC… conforms, it is argued, with the historical situation of the Da (h) a and Parnoi mentioned in Greek and Latin sources, which have, in turn, been identified with the Dasas, Dasyus, and Panis of the Rig Veda who were defeated by the Vedic Arya. "

"The geographical location of the BMAC ... right of Da (h) a and Parnoi agreement mentioned in Greek and Latin sources and with the Dasas, Dasyus and Panis of the historical situation Rig Veda are identified which of the Vedic Aryans defeated were. "

- James P. Mallory

Excavated ruins are said to have similarities with complexes described in the Rig Veda , and there appears to be evidence of the Soma cult as well.

literature

  • Igor N. Chlopin: Young Bronze Age burial grounds in the Sumbar Valley, Southwest Turkmenistan (= materials for general and comparative archeology. Vol. 35). Beck, Munich 1986, ISBN 3-406-31539-9 .
  • Beate Luckow: Discover Turkmenistan: sunken desert cities on the Silk Road. Trescher, Berlin 2006, ISBN 3-89794-061-2 .
  • Viktor Sarianidi : The Art of Ancient Afghanistan. Architecture, ceramics, seals, works of art made of stone and metal. VCH, Acta Humaniora, Weinheim 1986, ISBN 3-527-17561-X .

English:

  • Fredrik T. Hiebert: Origins of the Bronze Age. Oasis Civilization in Central Asia (= American School of Prehistoric Research. Bulletin. Vol. 42). Harvard University, Cambridge MA 1994, ISBN 0-87365-545-1 .
  • Andrew Lawler: Middle Asia Takes Center Stage. In: Science . Vol. 317, No. 5838, 2007, pp. 586-590, doi : 10.1126 / science.317.5838.586 .
  • Giancarlo Ligabue, Sandro Salvatori (ed.): Bactria. An ancient oasis civilization from the sands of Afghanistan. (= Centro Studi Ricerche Ligabue. Studi e documenti. Vol. 3). Erizzio, Venice 1995, ISBN 88-7077-025-7 .
  • Gabriele Rossi-Osmida (Ed.): Margiana. Gonur-depe Necropolis. 10 years of excavations by Ligabue Study and Research Center. Il Punto Edizione, Padua 2002, ISBN 88-88386-02-5 .
  • Gabriele Rossi-Osmida: Adji Kui Oasis. III - II mill. BC. Volume 1: La Cittadella delle Statuette. The Citadel of the Figurines. Heýkelleriñ sitadeli. Il Punto Edizioni, Trebaseleghe 2007, ISBN 978-88-88386-13-3 .
  • Viktor Ivanovich Sarianidi: Togolok 21, an Indo-Iranian temple in the Karakum. In: Bulletin of the Asia Institute. New Series Vol. 4, 1990, ISSN  0890-4464 , pp. 159-165.

Documentaries

  • Marc Jampolsky: Karakum, the city of the dead in the oasis (also: Karakum. Forgotten desert cities ). Arte France , France 2001 (45 minutes; info ( memento of September 29, 2007 in the Internet Archive )).
  • Marc Jampolsky: Karakum, secrets of the black desert . Arte France , France 2004 (52 minutes; info ).

Web links

Commons : Oasis culture  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Douglas Q. Adams: Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture. Taylor & Francis, Abingdon 1997, ISBN 1-8849-6498-2 .
  2. ^ Sylvia Winkelmann, Pierre Amiet, Gabriele Rossi Osmida: Seals of the oasis. From the Ligabue collection. Il Punto Edizione for Ligabue Study and Research Center, Venice 2004, ISBN 88-88386-09-2 .
  3. ^ Sylvia Winkelmann (2008): Animali e miti nel Vicino Oriente Antico = Animals and myths in ancient Near East . Retrieved November 21, 2013 from : www.academia.edu .
  4. ↑ James P. Mallory in Douglas Q. Adams: Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture. Abingdon 1997, p. 73.