Archaeological excavation of a presumed Buddhist building and of a Sogdian and karakhanid citadel
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Starting point
The site of Novopokrovka II lies at the eastern edge of Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, in the valley of the Chu River. Its surface is about 14'000 m2. The site was already preliminary explored by P.N. Kozhemjako in 1953.1 He noted two cultural strata and dated the lower one into the 8 th /9 th century A.D., the upper one between the 10 th and 12 th century A.D. In 1965 and 1966 several smaller Buddhist objects were found near the site, among them a stone relief in the Gandhara style, the head of a Buddha made out of clay as well as bronze figures.2 Based on these findings one can assume that Novopokrovka II consists of a Buddhist building, possibly a monastery.
Relevance
The valley of the Chu River was previously a stronghold of Buddhist religiousness, for some Buddhist shrines and monasteries have been discovered near Novopokrovka; among them two temples in Ak-Beshim from the 6 th /7 th century A.D. and two shrines in Krasnaja Retchka from the 8 th /9 th century. The existence of several Buddhist shrines in the Chu Valley isn't unexpected since one of the routes of the Silk Road linking China with Byzantium and Rome passed here. Between the 7 th and 9 th century Western Turks, China, Arabs, and Karluks were fighting for the political rule over the Chu Valley.
Goals
The planed excavation shall identify the cultural strata and explore if a Buddhist shrine may be detected. The work will start from the outer walls of the site so that also some knowledge may be gained concerning the city's fortifications.
Excavations 2004: Brief report
The excavations were conducted from August 20 th till October 2 nd . Since the centre of the target area has been disturbed by (now again demolished) constructions during the middle of the 20 th century, the excavations concentrated on the well kept south-eastern city walls. Here an economic complex was excavated which immediately borders to the external city wall; it was probably the bazaar, the market place which consisted of several rooms. There, several ovens and waste deposits were found. Based on ceramic and numismatic finds, the complex can be dated to the 11 th century A.D. Most interesting and very rare are two fragments from large vessels called chum which were used to store grain or vine, for both upper vessel parts carry each an inscription of which one has already been identified as Sogdian. The excavation revealed that the city walls were built in two phases: In the first, mashed clay called pachsa was used, in the second one air dried bricks. An exact dating of the city walls is not yet possible. Also a part of a corner tower dating from the first construction period was found.
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The Evening paper of Bishkek, September 27 th 2004, excerpts:
" The secrets of the hill in Novopokrovka.
Virtually everybody knows the small hill on the right side of the road Bishkek-Tokmak when leaving Bishkek. Here stood previously the arts centre of Novopokrovka which has disappeared. But now archaeological excavations have started there with great success.
The excavation's leader Philip Rott, a lecturer at the Russian-Kyrgyz Slavic University Philip Rott comments as follows: Kyrgyzstan is a Klondike for archaeologists. In the valley of the Chu [where, among else, Bishkek and Novopokrovka are located] more than twenty medieval cities and more than fifty settlements are known. But only the ruins of three to four cities remain; the others were changed into waste deposits, cemeteries or even military compounds. Formerly, an art centre was built on Novopokrovka, but the floor quickly started to sink. Therefore it was torn down. We have now started to work there. We are supported by the Swiss Society for the Exploration of EurAsia. Apart from the chums , the archaeologists found in the south-eastern part of the hill strong fortifications. New and interesting discoveries are expected in the future."
Continuation of the project
During the winter 2004/05, the finds like ten cases of ceramics, coins and the likely two Sogdian inscriptions will be further analyzed. The excavation of the fortification and of the economic complex outside the walls will continue in 2005.
 Start of the excavations, in the foreground Ph. Rott. |
 Fragment of a Chum with a Sogdian inscription |
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1 Kozhemjako, P.N.: Rannesrednevekovje goroda i poselenija Tschujskoi doliny. Frunze 1959.
2 Staviskij B. J.: Sud'by buddhisma v Srednei Asii. Moskva 1998. p. 130ff.
Excavation 2005: Brief Report
Summary
The excavation resumed in August/September 2005. The work continued at the south-eastern city wall where the excavation started in 2004. In rooms 1 and 4 (see plan) the lower strata were excavated, which belong to the Karakhanid period, 11 th century A.D. In room 4 a large clay vessel was found; a second large clay oven in room 9; the latter was surely a kitchen.
Excavations were continued around the corner tower found in 2004, which belongs to an older horizon and which was probably destroyed prior to the construction of the Karakhanid complex. No traces of fire were found. Two rubbish pits were found with shards. The bottom of the ground has not yet been reached.
The north-western part of the excavation revealed an older than Karakhanid horizon, pottery vessels with more archaic shapes and two Turkish coins with Sogdian inscriptions. Such coins were used as off the 8 th till the 11 th century AD. The coins are presently analyzed. In this section at least two rooms (10, 11) were identified. |
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Plan Novopokrovka II |
Two Buddhist figures found 1965/66 . |
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The second pot in situ |
The excavation seen from the south |
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| Plate found in 2005 | Jar found in 2005 |
Continuation of the project
Project team
Philipp Rott. Graduate in science of culture
University of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Email: philipp.rott@firemail.de
Valery Kolchenko. Graduate in history
Scientific collaborator at the Academy of Science
Department of archaeology
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Asan Torgoew
Scientific collaborator of the Institute of Art
Department of Siberia
St. Petersburg, Russia
PD. Dr. Dr. Wassilios Klein
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität, Bonn, Germany
Email: wassilios.klein@t-online.de
Preliminary Report on the Excavation on Novopokrovka II in the Year 2006
by Philipp Rott
In 2006 work on the Settlement Novopokrovka II was continued. Space 9 was completely uncovered (see Plan in the report of 2005). Along the western wall Tandyr 2 (oven) with two reservoirs for storing ashes and wood were excavated. This Tandyr is of the same construction as Tandyr 1, which was uncovered in 2004 in this space. (Photo 1)
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| Photo 1. Space 9 of the „Karakhanid Complex“. View from N.E. Tandyr 2 | Photo 2 Room 11. Filling (Stratigraphic situation). . |
In the earlier, pre- Karakhanid complex within the city wall the excavation of rooms 10-12 was continued. The stratigraphic situation in rooms 11 and 12 is the same. The buried site was covered with a thick layer of clay in the lower parts of the rooms, which means that a significant time span existed between this complex, most likely from the Sogdian period, and the complex that was uncovered outside the city wall, the „ Karakhanid complex“. (Photo 2). Between the epoch of the „Sogdian“ settlement and the Karakhanid complex the location was therefore presumably uninhabited.
Room 11 is almost completely uncovered. The north wall of bricks is late, i.e. not built from the ground level up, but from one of the levels of the pre- Karakhanid covering layers. The southern wall is built of Pachsa (stamped clay). The east walls of rooms 10-12 are parts of the city wall. On the ground (level) three rubbish (refuse) pits were excavated.
South of Room 10, Room 11 was uncovered. This room was set in the corner of the city wall, so that the eastern and southern walls are parts of the city walls. In 2006, the post-Sogdian intermediate layer in this room was first removed. Room 12 is north of Room 11. (Photo 3).
In the covering rubble of the three rooms and in the ground layer, pottery was found that in principle has different forms from that in the „ Karakhanid complex“(Photo 4). But with the absence of additional coins in Room 11 (in the year 2005, two coins dating from the Turkish period with Sogdian inscriptions were found there) or of other datable artifacts, as yet no accurate dating of this complex is possible. By relative chronology, and judging from the characteristics of the pottery, it is classified as belonging to the so-called „Sogdian“ Phase of the Culture of the Chu Valley.
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| Photo 3 Room 12, Ground Level, Remnants of the Broken Chums (big clay vessel). | Photo 4. Room 11, N. E. Corner, View from the West, Ground Level, a Ceramic Vessel. |
West of the rooms described above in the upper layer, partially sunk into the intermediate layer, further city structures were uncovered. One of these rooms was partially excavated. Its walls (north and east) were built with brick. The relative chronology and the characteristics of the pottery indicate that this structure is synchronic with the „Karakhanid complex“. This
group of rooms as well was built only after the earlier „Sogdian“ settlement had been left by its inhabitants. The architectonic relationship between these rooms and the complex outside the city wall is not yet clarified.
In the rooms of the „ Karakhanid “ complex outside the city wall, further digging (Photo 5) and several surveys (drill-holes) were done to ascertain, whether earlier building periods were present here as well. The result is approximately the same in all cases – there are no building structures beneath the Karakhanid floors, that were excavated in 2004-2005. The excavated rooms of the complex were erected on the rubble outside the city wall.
Work was also done in the section of the city wall. Topsoil was reached almost everywhere here. It was established that there is a natural terrace, on which the settlement was built. The wall of the earlier complex, i.e. settlement, was built of Pachsa. Later it was repaired repeatedly with additional brickwork. After the settlement had been abandoned for some time, the wall was heavily overbuilt in the „Karakhanid“ period.
In the eastern part of the section, another building structure was found (Photo 6), of which the total excavation was impossible in 2006. It is a brick wall, placed diagonally to the city wall. Found material in this structure is minor; it must be classified as belonging to the „Karakhanid“ period.
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| Photo 5. Room 2, Filling of the Sufa, a Floor Hearth. | Photo 6. Building Structure in the Eastern Part of the City Wall Profile. |
During the excavation, ceramic complexes were found that came predominantly from the rubbish pits. Among the metal findings several bronze buckles can be recognized. In the upper layer of the settlement, an important Fals, i.e. a coin from the Karakhanid period, was found of a type (Uzgend, 421), which was unknown until today. This is why this finding is of special importance for numismatics, a relevant publication is in preparation.
Finally, the large concrete slab from the 1950's, which covered the city center and rendered any archaeological work in this area impossible, was removed with the help of a bulldozer. (Photo 7)
On December 21, 2006, an Exhibition about the findings up to now and the knowledge of Novopokrovka II gained from them will be opened in the National Museum in Bishkek. This exhibition is also in recognition of Project Novopokrovka II and of the archaeological work that was accomplished. (Photo 8)
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| Photo 7. Removal of the Concrete Slab from the 1950's in the City Center. |
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| Photo 8. At the opening ceremony of the exhibition on Novopokrovka II, National Museum of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek. F.l.t.r: Dr. Tabaldiew, Dr. Abetekow, Dr. Chargynow, Dr. Kamyschew and the two leading archaeologists at Novopokrovka II, Valery Kolchenko and Philipp Rott. |
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Plan for 2007
Since the Karakhanid structures outside and along the city wall were extensively explored and sufficient Karakhanid material was obtained, the archaeological work from 2007 on will clearly be concentrated in the direction of the city center. Work in the city center is now possible, thanks to the removal of the concrete slab.
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Brief Report about the Excavation on Novopokrovka II, Kyrgyzstan in 2007
2007 Campaign
Philipp Rott, Excavation Leader
The archeological operations during the excavation campaign of 2007 (Object „Excavation 1“) were concentrated on the early layers of the Karachanidi complex outside the city wall, as these related to the original fortification structures, and partial aspects of the fortification had not yet been finally clarified. This measure was indicated, because the excavation area was to be filled in again.
As a result, it can be established for the excavation season of 2007 that the level between the living- and economic complex outside the city walls and the area of excavation showed fill (a filling-in of a cavity with foreign materials) that can be considered a consequence of the destruction of the city wall and the fortification buildings.
This fill had been covered with a layer of stone that marks a certain event in the life of the settlement. This hard layer of varied massiveness consists of a combination of fine clay, river pebbles, small bone splinters and ceramic fragments. It can be assumed that this mixture resulted from an inflow of water. Whether this can be attributed to an occurrence of flooding cannot yet be determined at the present state of evaluations. Photo 1 and 2 show the stratigraphic situation under the layer of stone.
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| Photo 1: Stratigraphic Situation and Refuse Pit. | Photo 2: Stratigraphic Situation and Refuse Pit |
Under the fill layer the surface of the platform is recognizable as well. Up to now, it could not be clarified, whether the settlement had been built on an artificially-constructed (man-made) clay platform, or whether the surface of the platform represents a natural terrace. The analysis of a removed sample is yet to be completed.
The examination of the fill layer produced important results for the understanding of the existence of the settlement during the Karachanidic period.
Above all, it was the numerous waste pits (more than 30!) and their stratigraphic situation that led to the following conclusions. The excavated area was used as waste dump at the beginning of the second settlement phase. The waste pits form rows, as recognizable on the plan, which points to a regular structure (planned installations). The waste pits have various forms, sizes and fillings. Several of them had been dug into the clay platform, others intersect, as can be seen on Photo 3.An interesting fact can be pointed out. In many waste pits, skeletons of dogs were found in complete anatomical order. A cult connection is not established. On Photo 4 an example of this can be seen.
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| Photo 3: Waste Pit. | Photo 4: Skeleton of a Dog. |
In one of the pits, a piece of a water pipe (Kubur) was found. (Photo 5).
Extremely interesting is the discovery of a pottery shard in one of the waste pits. It concerns a jug, the handle of which is decorated with a terracotta ornamentation. (Photo 6). The decoration represents a frontal view of a male lutenist. Up to the present, only two examples for comparison are known from this region. One of them was put in context with Buddhism by A.N. Bernstam, which remains still open. Distant analogies exist with East-Turkestan and Middle Asia. A publication by the excavation leader will be prepared for the summer of 2008.
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| Photo 5: Water Pipe (Kubur). | Photo 6: Jug with Terracotta Decoration |
As to the building activities in this region, it can already be assumed today that the settlement continued to spread, and the area of the waste dumps was covered by a residential- and commercial complex.
During the excavation campaign of 2007, the settlement was topographically completely documented.
For the excavation campaign of 2008, a continuation of the archaeological work is planned with the goal of examining the relationship between the two settlement phases. The research studies will be concentrated on the Sogdian layer. For this purpose, the data and materials obtained in 2007 will provide a solid foundation. |
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Photos © by Philipp Rott, Christoph Baume |
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Report about the Excavations at Novopokrovka II 2008
During the excavation campaign of 2008, primary attention was devoted to further investigations of the rooms that were uncovered in 2007 within the city wall, belonging to the earlier building level I (the so-called Sogdian Phase). In addition, three new areas (1-3), i. e., squares (5 x 5 m) were laid out, of which predominantly the upper layers were examined here. |
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| Fig.1. Overview of the excavation of 2008. View from the east. |
The examination of the rooms that are situated on the east side along the city wall, resulted in the partial uncovering of Room 10. The function of this room at the corner of the city wall remained as yet unclear, so that further excavations will be necessary.
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| Fig. 2. Room 10 and 9. View from the north |
In Room 12, only partially excavated as well, a sunken pit (no.24) was discovered, which contained a ceramic complex, unique to the Cu-valley. Besides early vessel shapes – big chums and vessels that functioned as kettles - there is also a recognizable goblet, which without a doubt represents a unique example for this region. Also rare is the fragment of a so-called smoke vessel with a zigzag-formed rim.
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| Fig. 3. The goblet from refuse pit 24. |
Fig.4. Fragment of a so-called smoke vessel. . |
The coin discoveries in 2005, and the relative chronological facts allow the building level (Rooms 10 – 12) to be dated into the 8 th century.
It is the task of the next excavation campaign to completely uncover the above-named rooms and to determine their functions.
In areas 1 – 3, predominantly the upper layers were uncovered, which were intersected by numerous pits, whereby the culture layer was heavily damaged. It is problematic, moreover, that the upper layers were removed, and/or destroyed during the building of the culture house in the 1950s, and therefore, it remains unclear, from where or from which level the refuse pits were dug.
The stratigraphic situation is as follows: under the modern layer is a layer that was intersected by later refuse pits. The material from the pits reveals neither a chronological nor a cultural sequence, since it is not very representative.
Under this layer is building level IIa, which can be correlated with the Karachanid phase. The building structures here represent the rooms, the functions of which are unclear. Remnants of a bronze foundry found within them, as well as their provisional character, indicate that they might have been work shops.
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| Fig. 5. The building structures of Level II. In the foreground a platform of clay bricks is visible. |
Fig. 6. Building structures of Level II, i.e., rooms 13 – 15 in the foreground. |
The rooms, or more specifically their floors, cover the massive layer, which marks the deterioration of the settlement. It has an heterogeneous structure. In this layer, clay shards and animal bones are found. Noticeable here is a large number of fragments of so-called stands, which are roughly made.
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| Fig. 7. North wall of Room 14. Structure of the erected wall. The wall covers the destroyed layer. |
Fig.8. Fragment of a so-called stand in situ |
This layer is intersected with refuse pits as well, which further intersect the lower layers. The refuse pits were dug from different levels, i.e. under layers, and contain ceramics and animal bones.
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| Fig. 9. Level 2. The stratigraphic situation. The destroyed layer covers Level IIb. |
Fig. 10. Building structures of Level Ib. |
Underneath, building structures were uncovered, which cover over the fillings of rooms from the so-called Sogdian building level (Level I). They represent Level Ib. The poor condition of these structures does not allow for proposals of reconstruction. Level Ib was only partially excavated during the Campaign of 2008.
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| Fig. 11. The settling of the wall can be seen. |
The excavations of 2008 have shown that between Building Level I, i.e., Ib and II, there was a period of deterioration. In terms of stratigraphy, this period corresponds with the time between the 8 th and 10 th centuries. Historically, this period can be correlated with the invasion of the Karluks. Whether this really had a great effect on the development of city culture in the region is still debatable and can only be answered, when a further number of settlements is excavated over a large area. What led to the deterioration in the settlement territory of Novopokrovka II in this time frame, or what was responsible for it, is still unclear.
Furthermore, the question remains, which function the settlement had originally. To examine the existing chronological observations, i.e., to ascertain the original function of the settlement, as well as to answer further questions about the development of the settlement, it was decided to open two new areas (squares) in the central part of the settlement during the campaign of 2009.
Fig.12. Excavation team 2008.
Report on the Excavation of the Novopokrovka II
Settlement 2009
Philipp Rott
In 2009, work was performed at two locations: Excavation I on the southeast
corner of the settlement, where work has been done since 2004, and Excavation
II in the central part of the settlement. The second instance deals
with two squares measuring 2.5 x 2.5 meters. (Maps 1 and 2)
Excavation I.
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| Fig. 1. View from the south. Rooms
13 and 15. The structure of the wall to the north is visible. |
Room 15.
In 2009, this room was further excavated. It was discovered that its
east wall was built of clay bricks (1,5). It covers the deterioration
layer, which is characteristic for the entire area. The north wall is
leaning against the east wall. The floor in this room was not found,
its destruction can be explained through the soft structure of the deterioration
layer.
The north wall is built of clay bricks, with measurements of 50 x 24
x 9 cm.
Through the uncovering of the deterioration layer, a row of refuse pits
was found.
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| Fig. 2. Rooms 13-15. Refuse pits 1-3/2009 |
Fig. 3. Overview of the
area excavated in 2009. Room 16 is in the foreground |
To the north, a further room (Room 16), i.e. its southern wall, was
uncovered. Its correlation to Rooms 13-14 is still unclear. In the deterioration
layer of this area, a row of refuse pits was uncovered that reaches
down to the lower layers. Out of Refuse Pit 24/2008, which was completely
uncovered in 2009, a number of heavily corroded coins of the Tyrgesh-type
(most of the coins have a diameter of up to 1 cm) were brought out.
(Fig. 4) In addition to the coins, remnants of bronze casting (wire,
etc.) were found in this pit. Almost all of the refuse pits that can
be correlated with the deterioration layer, contain fragments of ceramics
and animal bones.
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| Fig. 4. Tyrgesh-type coins |
Room 12.
In 2009, Room 12 was completely uncovered. The following results were
obtained.
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| Fig.5. Room 12. View from the south. |
Fig.6. Room 12. View from
above. |
The north wall of this room was built of bricks. Additional walls belong
to the beginning period of this complex, i.e. to the earlier horizon
on this settlement, therefore to the 6th-7th cent. A.D. They were built
of pachsa. Along the south and west walls, there are sufas. These sufas
indicate they functioned as residences, which could have changed, however,
in the course of time. It was discovered that they were built after
a certain model. This concerns a special technique, in which the front
wall consists of clay bricks that are laid cross-wise.The maximum height
of the sufas is 38 cm.
The wall in the centre of this room formally divides it into two smaller
rooms: 12 a and b. It was built from clay bricks and belongs to a later
building period than the pachsa walls. Its maximum height is still 80
cm, its thickness – 50 cm. Its central section was destroyed by
a later refuse pit 15/2009. It covers the sufa, which is located along
the western wall.
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| Fig.7. Fragment of a vessel on the
sufa of Room 12. |
In the north wall of the room is a passage to the north that leads
along the eastern wall. To the west, this room connects with Room 16a,
which is only marked by a passage. This passage also runs along the
southern wall. The entire concept, i.e. function of this room remains
unclear, not least because of its destruction by later refuse pits.
This question can therefore only be solved, after Room 16, which is
situated west of it, is excavated.
Excavation II.
Excavation II is located in the central part of the settlement. A square
of 5 x 5 meters was outlined in squares of 2,5 x 2,5 m. These were named
1a, 1b, 1c, 1d. In 2009, squares 1a and 1d were examined. East of these
squares, two additional squares were outlined. These were named 2a and
2c. Square 2c was excavated.
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| Fig.8. The two squares of excavation
II investigated in 2009 |
In square 1d, two building periods were identified. Here we are dealing
with the upper structures, severely damaged by a house of culture built
in the 1950s, the correlations of which have remained unclear. One can
only speak of a wall, built of clay bricks and running in a north-south
direction with a small deviation. The height of this wall is 10 cm,
the thickness – 12 cm. The length of the bricks is 40 cm. Because
of this wall, one can speak of two rooms, Room 1 and 2. Additional constructions
that could be connected to this wall, were not determined.
The fill in both rooms is relatively crumbly, with fragments of ceramics,
clay bricks, as well as animal bones and pieces of coal.
In Room 1, a very good floor was uncovered. On this floor, a Karachanid
coin was found, which dates this building period in the Karachanid period.
Very good flooring was also uncovered in Room 2. The ceramic complex
is very poor.
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| Fig.8. Square 1d. The wall between
Rooms 1 and 2 covers a destroyed tandoor (oven). View from the east. |
Fig.9. Square 1d. The wall
between Rooms 1 and 2 covers a destroyed tandoor I and an ash
reservoir to the north of it; a salt line marks its outer limits.
View from above. |
Included in the lower building period (second building period) are additional structures: a room which functioned as a kitchen (Room 3). It contains a tandoor and a floor oven with an ash reservoir, the upper parts of which were destroyed through later building work, so that only their lower parts were found intact. The tandoor has a diameter of 64 cm, its height is 30 cm. In the fill of the tandoor, remains of a water jug were found.
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| Fig. 10. Character of the tandoor walls. |
The floor oven has an opening towards the west. The measurements: north-south
– 27 cm, heigth – 20 cm. North of the oven is a reservoir,
which was used for ash. A similar kitchen room was discovered in 2004
near Room 9.
The floor of this room has a tilt towards the north.
Beneath this floor lies a very soft fill with many ceramic fragments,
which can indicate a refuse area in this location. Among the latter
are chums and other ceramic forms. The fill is a spongy loam with pieces
of the tandoor wall and pieces of coal.
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| Fig. 11. Square 1d. Room 3. View from
the east. |
In Square 1a, a row of refuse pits was uncovered, which had been deepened
by the upper layer. Additional work, i.e. examinations of lower layers
on this level are planned for 2010.
The most important results of the season are the following:
A large room (Room 12), belonging to the original period of the complex
within the city walls, i.e. the earlier horizon, was completely uncovered.
The function of this room is not yet totally clear, since it is not
known, how this room can be correlated with others next to it. To clarify
this is one of the goals for Season 2010. Through the excavation of
a number of additional rooms (Rooms 10, 11) along the eastern city wall,
it will be made clear, how this important area, which was connected
to the fortification, can be viewed. Unique ist the ceramic complex
that stems from this horizon. For the Chu-Valley, this may be the richest,
closed complex containing forms that indicate relatively distinct relationships
with the Syr-Darya region. In Sogd, the ceramic forms obtained here
do not find any clear parallels. Practically for the first time with
regard to the Chu-Valley, we can thus speak of an earlier building technique.
The find from Refuse Pit 24/2008 can point to a local coin production,
which can be confirmed by a further examination of the coins.
Work at Excavation II has shown that the cultural layer in the central
part of the settlement is intact, inspite of the now-torn-down culture
house from the Soviet period. A later layer, belonging to the Karachanid
period, was for the most part uncovered. In 2010, the lower layers,
which might be connected to an assumed Buddhist complex, will be examined.
The results that were achieved in Excavation II confirmed, that the
entire area of the settlement was used as a living area in Karachanid
times.
The accomplishments of this season again have had great resonance in
the local and international press. In the major newspapers, half- and
full-page reports were featured. In addition, there are a number of
publications in the Internet.
Scientific publications will follow. In the series „Materials
and Investigations in the Archaeology of Kyrgyzstan) (starting in 2010),
the publication of yearly excavation reports is planned.
The results of the excavations were presented in a lecture at the Institute
for Religious Science in Bern, November 2009. A lecture on the results
of the excavations on Novoprokrovka at the DAI German Archaeological
Institute) is planned for 2010.
In addition, the settlement was recorded as part of the summer school
program of DAAD. (Human-Environment-Interaction on the Silk Roads: An
Interdisciplinary Summer School August 2 – 18, 2009.
| http://www.uni-tuebingen.de/ETHNOLOGIE/praktika/sommerschule.html |
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| Map 1: Total site |
Map 2: Total site |
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| Plan 3: Excavation I |
Plan 4: Room 12.5 |
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| Plan 5: Excavation II |
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