Jandavlattepa – sectors 7 and 20. Preliminary report of the 2004 excavation season.

Jandavlattepa – sectors 7 and 20. Preliminary report of the 2004 excavation season.

Kazim Abdullaev and Ladislav Stančo

Published in: Studia Hercynia IX

should be quoted as follows:

Abdullaev, Kazim – Stančo, Ladislav 2005: Jandavlattepa: Preliminary report of the 2004 excavation season. Studia Hercynia IX, pp.
273-275.

The season 2004 was the third year of the joint venture project of Charles University, Prague and Archaeological Institute of Academy of Sciences, Samarkand.[1] We continued with the archaeological research of Northern Bactria. Again, the archaeological excavations on the site of Jandavlattepa were extended.[2] In addition we undertook some surveys in the vicinity of Sherabad (especially Kala Mazar village). The fieldwork lasted from 8th September to 8th October 2004 and the final documentation was completed on 9-10 October 2004. We continued in the sector 7 (highest part of shakhristan), and opened a new sector on the top of the citadel (sector 20). Four archaeologists, K. Abdullaev, Sh. Shaydullaev (both Samarkand), L. Stančo and J. Halama (both Prague) and five students of archaeology L. Grmela, Š. Rückl, L. Šmahelová, K. Urbanová (all from Prague) and A. Šajdullaev (from Termez), participated in the fieldwork. The group of 35 local workers from the villages of Saitabad and Ak Kurgan assisted in the fieldwork.

Sector 20 – „The Citadel“

Only new sector, opened in this season, was that on the so-called citadel. The citadel is separate mound and highest part of the tepa. L. Stančo was a head of work in this sector; K. Urbanová participated and completed major part of documentation. The excavation here started at 16th of September. Having in mind the importance of the place and the results of our predecessors[3], we have opened three parallel trenches on the eastern edge of the top at first. Results of these digs were so interesting and successful, that six other squares have been opened subsequently in order to uncover all the eastern wall of the monumental building. Initially we opened the trenches 20C, 20D, 20E.

The works
began with removing of the subsurface layer (20C001, 20D001, 20E001) of erosive nature. In some parts of the trenches we have found layers of washed mud-bricks or their fragments (20C009, 20D004, 20E012). That was the upper part of the above mentioned wall destroyed by the erosion. The wall appeared in all three squares and when we recognised that that it is one wall, we entitled it as wall “A” (20C006c, 20D003c, 20E004c). It is constructed of the mud-bricks (40 x 40 x 15 cm) and is 1,5 m wide. It is oriented from north to south. Another wall, apparently of earlier phase of the building, was uncovered just under the former. The size of the bricks was different: 30-32 x 30-32 x 10 cm. It is called in these three squares 20C008c, 20D005c, 20E013c. The remains of this wall were used as a foundation for the construction of the younger one (“A”). The earlier wall can be observed on the eastern side of the wall “A”, it means outside the building. We found out that no other constructions were attached to the wall “A” from the western side, except the walls making with the “A” the corners of the building. The distance of the corners and thus the length of the building are almost 30 m.

The highly interesting results of the work in the first three squares encouraged us to open squares 20F, 20G, 20H further to the south. Our aim was to follow southwards the main wall “A” and to find the corner of the building as well as to examine the inner room of the building. The situation in the squares 20F and 20G was similar to the 20D. We have uncovered the upper part of the wall “A”, which is most damaged in the square 20G. The shape of the wall “A” in the square 20H is not yet clear. Apparently, there is a corner of the building. Only two squares (20E, 20F) revealed the fragments of a floor. However, floor of very poor quality: compacted limy surface mixed with potsherds.

The results of the work on the citadel allow us to presume existence of a palace-like structure on the top of the citadel with primarily representative function (not defensive).[4] The next season should bring more answers, especially to the questions connected with shape and inner disposition of the building.

Sector 7

The extensive works continued also in the sector 7 on the so-called Shakhrystan. The entire Czech group worked here. Several new squares were opened (10C, 7E, 9C, 9E). We prepare detailed report from this sector for the publication next year.

Sector 2a

The work continued also in the sector 2a, under guidance of K. Abdullaev, representing a stratigraphical trench for determining the depth of cultural layers. The main goal of this excavation was to unit archaeological complexes and studies the layers in vertical evolution from surface to verge soil.

As we noted in precedent reports the superficial layers of Jandavlattepa are dated to Kushano-Sassanian period and are confirmed by archaeological complexes including numismatic material.

Choice of this place for the statigrafical trench was reasoned by a row of ideas and we told about them in scientific literature. In season of 2004 the diggings in this section were in short time because of departure of the responsible for Princeton (USA, New Jersey) at Institute of Advanced Studies.

Last archaeological season was finished on the depth 9 m from surface of the site. The finds presented by a complex of pottery characteristic for the Greco-Bactrian period and similar to the other complexes as for the monuments of left bank of Oxus (Amudarya) – Ai Khanum as for right bank of Oxus, for example, Stary Termez, Khaitabad, also the ceramic material of Afrasiab II. The finds of the trench are studying now and they will be published completely soon
future.

Here one can give in brief the general characteristics for the pottery of lower layer of last season. The table vessels were presented by bowls, phials, cylindrical-conical goblets etc. they were painted in clear pastel colours, and made in high quality with using of potter’s wheel. The cylindrical-conical goblets have emphasized edge on the passing from conical lower part to higher part of cylindrical form. Small size phials have not usually foot their bottom are flat. Majority of ceramic forms made on the potter’s wheel. This complex one can date to second half of IV BC – III BC. It is necessary to note that this dating has a preliminary character.

During a short time the trench was deepen for one meter. As in previous seasons the soil was taken out by micro layer about 10-15 cm. The ceramic and other finds were fixed according the layers. During excavation of this year ceramic material of specific character was gathered. It is characteristic for Achaemenid period. The peculiar signs of this complex are presented by vessels with vertical form of mouth. The large form of recipient has usually a mouth emphasized by a bulge in shape of a “cuff”.

Other peculiar sign of this ceramic complex is the modelling of lower part of vessels. In lower part they have a strut (cross brace) with curve in-side that begins from cylindrical corpus and associates with bottom. The ceramic of above mentioned type is characteristic for V- first half of IV BC. Similar forms one can see in the materials of Northern Bactrian sites, in particular, in Kobadian, Kyzyltepa, Baldaytepa, Talashkan and other that are dated to Achaemenid period, namely to VI-IV
BC.

However, material that has been received from the site dose not present the complete complex of this period. Subsequent excavations will permit to receive more detailed archaeological complex of Achaemenid period on the Jandavlattepa.

[1] The project was kindly supported by the grant of the Grant Agency of the Charles Univeristy, Prague No. 292/2001/A-HN/FF.

[2] For the results of previous seasons see Abdullaev, K., Stančo, L., 2003: Djandavlattepa: Preliminary report of the 2002 excavation season. Studia Hercynia VII, 165.168; Abdullaev, K., Stančo, L., 2004: Jandavlattepa: Preliminary report of the 2003 excavation season. Studia Hercynia VIII.

[3] Uzbek-German team worked here in 1993, they were digging the probe trench in the central south-east part of the top and picture which appeared did not help to understand the situation.

[4] See for example the plan of the palace-like
structure of Balalyktepe (Albaum, L. I. 1960: Balaliktepa. Taškent, ris. 43) and other similar structures, see Annaev, T. D. 1988: Rannesrednjevjekovyje poselenija severnovo Tocharistana. Taškent, ris. 28; as well as the homestead Čopantepa (part of the Babatepa site, 11 km from Sherabad to the East), Nemceva, N. B. : Rannesrednjevjekovaja usadba i zamok u gorodišča Babatepe na juge Uzbekistana.
In: Antyčnyje i rannesrednevjekovyje drevnosti južnovo Uzbekistana, 132-151.