Gonur-Depe 1 (Margiana, Turkmenistan): The Middle Bronze Age Graveyard. Preliminary report on the 1994 excavation campaign

33 Pages·3.402 MB·English

by  Salvatori S.

GONUR-DEPE 1 (MARGIANA, TURKMENISTAN): THE MIDDLE BRONZE AGE
GRAVEYARD. PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE 1994 EXCAVATION CAMPAIGN.
SANDRO SALVATORI
The third joined excavation campaign of the evidence from the previous campaign (Salvatori
"CentroStudi e Ricerche Ligabue" and the Ministry 1994)and can be assumed for the entire graveyard.
of Culture of the Republic of Turkmenistan at the The three small trenches (on the whole: 135 m2l
large graveyard which stretches to the west of the described above (Fig. 5) have been opened not far
protohistoric site of Gonur-depe 1 (Fig.I), has been from the southern edge ofthe graveyard in an area
carried out between August 24th and October 8th morphologically marked by a low artificial mound
1994 (1). spotted by small furnaces possibly used in faience
The main aimsofthis field season were: items production as seems to be pointed out by the
1)the location of thegraveyard southern edge; presence of amorphous burned materials ilnd
2)tocheckonalargerbasethescaleofthelooting artefacts (Fig. 23). Just below the loose anthropic
practice we have found particularly limiting our depositofthefurnaces areawelocated several looted
previousexcavation seasons; graves (Tab. 1:1). Such a stratigraphic evidence not
3) the search for data helping in determining the only helps to date the graveyard systematic pillage
date ofthat almostsystematic grave pillage. duringtheNamazgaVIperiodbutitisanadditional
To address the above mentioned goals we have argument to an earlier, Namazga V, dating of the
opened six excavation trenches: graveyard,aspreviouslysuggestedonthebaseofthe
a) two large areas (A2 and A 3) to the east and grave furniture (Salvatori 1993; 1994). In the three
southofthemain1993(A1)trench respectively(Figs. small trenches we located only two undisturbed
2·3). graves, a catacomb(G.500)and a simple pitone(C.
b)threesmall trenches(Area SOD: SODA= 10x6m; SOl). The latter was a small, round shaped low pit
sooe
5008 = 5x5.50 m; = 10x5m) at ca. 250 m to the with the poorly preserved bones of a new-born
Southeast of the main extensive operation (Fig. 4). inside.
These trenches were opened to study the Finally a long trench opened at ca. 50 m to the
sao,
stratigraphic relationship, if any, of the graveyard south of operation at the edge of a takir
area with some production fire installations (small formation, allowed to fix there the southern edgeof
furnaces)on thetopofalowartificialmound covered the graveyard. Thesouthern limit correspondswith
by a large amount of pottery sherds datable to the the course of a palaeochannel, well detectable on
LateBronzeAge (Namazga VI). aerial photographs, which flowed between the two
c) A long and narrow northeast~southwest mounds of Conur 1 (Gonur North and South)
oriented strip located ca. 50 m to the south of the (Cremaschi 1994: Fig. 6).
small trenchesdescribed above, toward theedge of Totest inan ultimateway thegraveyard potential
thetakirformation whichstretchesaway tothewest so heavily affected by the ancient cultural
oftheConur 1South settlement. Such a trench was disturbances, wedug29gravesofdifferenttypology:
opened toverifythesouthernedgeofthegraveyard. 20catacombgraves-9ofwhich intactand 11 looted
The two larger operation at point a), as referred - and 9 simple pit graves all looted with the
above, are southern and eastern extensions of the exception ofCrave501.
main1993trench.Theycoverasurfaceof435and 700
ml respectively (Figs. 2-3). We located here some 92 GRAVECATALOGUE
graves, mostly looted in antiquity as proved by the
easily detectable presence of the secondary, looting GRAVE 82
pit generally placed inside the perimeter of the Looted catacombgrave
original dromos of catacomb graves. Only eight Dromos orientation: north-south
graveswerefound intact, representingca.10%ofthe The secondary pit WilS placed outside the
total. Sucha percent figure islargely confirmingthe perimeter of the drOll/OS. No remnants of grave
6 SANDROSALVATORI [RdA 19
fumiture norofhtunanboneshavebeen found in the GRAVE89
grave filling, but we have to single out that the Undisturbed catacomb grave (Fig. 6).
secondary pit was not excavated. Droll/OSorientation: northwest-southeast.
Thechamberwassealedbyasingleunfired mud
brick (em 40 x20 x15; the usual mud-brick size). A
GRAVE84 ca. 6yearsold child waslying crouched on the right
Looted catacomb grave side. The right arm was flexed and the hand was
Dramas orientation: north-south. placed under the right parietal. The left arm was
Very few fragments ofhuman bones and a single flexed at45°. The bonesturned out to be verybadly
pottery vessel were found in the pit filling. preservedbeingverybrittle.Thegravefurniturewas
1-Pearshaped beaker.Buffware, light red inside. made up by a single pottery beaker placed to the
Cream slip. Wheel made. H. em ]5;0 at the mouth north close to the inhumed's head.
em 8.4; 0 atthebaseem 5.3; 0 max. em 11.5(Fig. 9). 1-Subcylindricalbeakeronaflatbase.Thesurface
and breaking colour was green due to overfiring.
GRAVE8? Wheel made. H.em12.7;0at themouthem8;0 the
Looted catacombgrave (Fig. 6). baseem 4.4 (Fig. 10).
Dramas orientation: northwest-::;outheast
The chamber dosing was made by an unfired GRAVE 91
mud-brickundisturbed wall. The looting pit, placed Looted catacomb grave.
inside thedramas perimeter, waslowered to a level Dromos orientation: north-south.
below the wall base, than entering the chamber The secondary pit, dug in the dromos perimeter,
without interfering with thedosing wall. We found caused thealmostcompletedestructionofthe mud
only the legs of the inhumed, a very sturdy male brick chamber closing wall. The looters were
adult. Bones from two human skulls were found apparentlydisturbedduringtheirworkbecausethey
scattered inthefillingofthepittogetherwith several left in the grave some metal and stone objects
post cranial fragmentary bones. The same pit was togetherwith theunvalued potteryvessels. In facton
alsoutilisedby thelooterstoexplorethechamberof the border between the droll/OS and the chamber, to
the close Grave 88 and that's why we found bones the north, an alabaster vessel, a bronze
pertaining to two individuals mixed together. Five compartmented seal, a miniature jar and another
pots havebeen found ill situ in the northern section alabasterobjecthavebeen recovered. Inthepitfilling
of the chamber not attained by the secondary pit. severalsherds,somecomplete potsand thousand of
1- Ovoid jar with high cylindrical neck and faience beadswere scattered. Very few human bone
Slightly everted rim. Cream ware. Flat base; string fragments have been collected in the secondary
detachment;slightlyrisen foot. Wheel made. H. em filling.
25.3; 0 at the mouthem 9.3; 0 max. em 21; 0 at the 1- Bell shaped cup on high flari.ng foot. Vertical
base em 7.7 (Fig. 9). rim. Cream to light red ware; cream slip. Wheel
2- High biconical beaker on solid flaring foot. made. Fragmentary. H. cm 19; 0 at the mouth cm
Cream ware; cream slip. Wheel made. H. cm 24; 0 19.5;0 at the base em 6.7 (Fig. 10).
at the mouth em 10.7; 0 max. em 15; 0 at the base 2· Truncated conical bowl with vertical, concave
em 7(Fig. 9). rim. Very low foot. Lightred ware;creamslip. Wheel
3-Truncated conicalbowlonflaring foot; vertical, made.Stringdetachment. Fragmentary. H.cm 9.2;0
slightly concave neck. Light red ware with light at the mouth em 19.6;0 at the base em 5.4 (Fig. 10).
creamwash. Wheelmade. H.em JO.7;0 atthemouth 3- Biconical beaker on low sub cylindrical foot.
em 17.5;0 at the baseem 5,5 (Fig. 9). Cream ware; creamslip. Wheel made. H.cm 13.9;0
4- Idem. Propershape warped in baking. Surface at the mouth em 7.5; 0 max. cm 10.9;0 at thebase
polished by meansof a stick tool. H. em 9; 0 at the em 5 (Fig. 10).
mouth em 17.5;0 at the base em 4.8 (Fig. 9). 4- Biconical beaker on slightly risen foot. Cream
5-Truncated conical bowl on lowsubcylindrical ware; cream slip. Wheel made. Fragmentary. H. em
foot, vertical concave neck; rounded rim. Green 13.6;0 atthemouthem8.8;0 max.em12.9;0 atthe
colourduetooverfiring.Tracesofa lightcreamslip. baseem 5 (Fig. 10).
Wheel made. H. em 5.6; 0 at the mouth em J8; 0 at 5- Globular miniature jar with constricted neck
the base em 3.5 (Fig. 9). andevertedrim. Lightredware; whitishinternaland
1995J GONUR-DEPE 1(MARCIANA, TURKMENISTAN) 7
external wash. Wheel made. H. cm 5.7; 0 at the warped rim.Green colourduetooverfiring.Theslip
mouth cm 4.2; 0 max. cm 6.2; 0 at the base cm 3.5 also turned to a greenish colour. Wheel made and
(F;g.10). moulded base. H.cm18.5;0 atthemouth[warped];
o
6-Sub cylindrical vesselwith concaveprofileand max. cm 21.5; 0 at the base cm 11.7(Fig. 11).
everted rim. Slightly convex inside bottom. 4- Bell shaped bowl, formerly on high foot.
Fragmentary. Variegated alabaster. H. em 11.3;0 at Cream ware, cream slip. Burnished external surfa~.
themouth cm 16;0 attheneckcm 12;0 at thebase Wheelmade.H.cm[12];0 atthemouthcm17.7(Fig.
cm16(Fig. 10;Tab.1:2). 11).
7- Truncated conical object (sceptre head ?).
Conical hole at the base. Fragmentary. Variegated GRAVE 404
alabaster. H. cm3;0 max. cm 5; 0 min. cm0.6(Fig. Looted catacombgrave
10). Dramas orientation: north-south.
8- Biconical spindle-whorl or bead. Variegated A single secondary pit served to pillage two
alabaster. Bipolar hole. No wear traces were visible contiguous catacombs (G. 404 and G. 405). Several
atthehole extremities. H. cm 1.8; 0 max. cm 2.8; 0 pot fragments have been found scattered in the pit
ofthehole cm 0.6 (Fig. 10). filling and it is problematic to assign them to a
9-Bronzecomparhnented and ajoure,stampseal. specific grave. Itseems possible that the Grave 405
Geometrical motive (star-shaped). Rectangular chamberhasbeendisturbedbytheexcavationofthe
suspension loopon theback.0 cm3.1;thocm 0.6;h. grave 404 dramas. Several human bone fragments
ofthe suspension loop cm 1.5(Fig. 10;Tab. 1:3). were scattered in the filling.
10-Several hundredsofcylindrical faience beads 1- Hemispherical basin with lower sand-blasted
of various colours (light-blue, dark brown and concave section. Slightly everted and externally
green) plusfew tens ofdiscoid faience and gypsum thickened rim. Cream ware, greenish surface.
beads (Tab. 1:4). Moulded and wheel made. H. cm 19.5; 0 at the
mouth cm 34.5; 0 at the base cm14(Fig. 12).
GRAVE 94 2- Biconical beaker with slightly everted rim.
Looted catacomb grave. Cream ware.Wheelmade.Detachmenttechniquenot
Dromos orientation: northwest-southeast determinable. H. cm 16; 0 at the mouth cm 10; 0
Thesecondarypitwasplaced outsidethelimitsof max. cm 13.2;0 at thebase cm 5.2 (Fig. 12).
thedromos, totheSouthwest, livingundisturbed the 3- Lower halfofa biconical beaker. Cream ware;
unfired mud-brick wall dosing the chamber. The greenish surface. Wheel made. Knife detachment.
mud-bricks, vertically set, were well flanked each [not drown)
otherand madea homogeneous wall in front of the 4- High sub cylindrical stand with flaring base
chamber. The secondary pit entered the chamber possibly from a bell shaped bowl. Red ware. Wheel
from the Southwest without reaching the northern made. [not drown]
portion where some pottery vessels have been 5- Fragment from a truncated conical bowl with
found in situ. Not a single fragment ofhumanbone vertical, slightlyconcaverim. Cream ware; greenish
wasthere recovered. surfaces. Wheel made. [not drown]
1- Biconical jar with lower concave and upper 6- Fragments from a truncated conical bowl with
convex profile. Cream were, cream slip. Wheel vertical, slightly concave rim. Green colour due to
made and moulded base. Intentional breaking of a overfiring. Wheel made. [notdrown]
rimsection.H.cm27;0 atthemouthcm13.4;0 max. 7-Twonotcontiguousfragments from abonehair
cm 26.5;0 at the base cm 13.5(Fig. 11). pin. [not drown]
2-Ovoidjaronlowringfoot. Highsubcylindrical
neck with slightly everted rim. Shoulder/neck GRAVE405
junctionmarkedbymeansofasticktool.Creamware Looted catacomb grave
and cream slip. Wheel made. String detachment. DrOll/OS orientation: north-south
Fragmentaryattherim. H. cm23;0 atthemouthcm Cf. Grave 404
9.5; 0 max. cm 18.8; 0 at the base cm 8.7 (Fig. 11).
GRAVE 410
3- Biconical jar with lower concave and upper Looted catacomb grave
convex profile. Low concave neck and everted Dromos orientation: north-south
8 SANDROSALVATORI [RdA19
Only halfof thedramos havebeen excavated. GRAVE417
1-Biconical beakeron low, slightly flaring footand Undisturbed catacombgrave (Fig. 7).
everted rim. Light red ware; lightgreen slip. Wheel Dromos orientation: north-south
made.Stringdetachment. H.em14.5;0 atthemouth Chamber sealed by an unfired mud-brick wall.
em11.8;0 max.em14;12'atthebaseem5.4 (Fig. 12). The inhumed,anadult female, waslyingontheback
2- Lowersectionofasubcylindricalbeaker.Cream with legscrouched onthe right. Thegrave furniture
ware. Wheel made. String detachment. [not drown] was placed to the north and northeast of the
inhumed head.
GRAVE 412 1- Biconical jar on sub cylindrical foot. Cream
Undisturbed catacomb grave (Fig. 6). ware;greenishsurfaces. Wheel made. Polishedbase.
Dromasorientation: northwest-southeast H. em 22.5; 0 at the mouth em 11;0 max. em 14;0
Thechamberwassealedbyan unfired mud-brick al thebaseem 6.5 (Fig. 14).
wall. The inhumed, asub adult, was lyingcrouched 2- Biconkal beakeron subcylindrical foot. Cream
on the left side. The human bones were very badly ware;creamstip. Wheelmade.Stringdetachment.H.
preserved because in a matrix of a very hardly em 11.5;0 at the mouth em7.4;0 max. em 9.4;0 at
packed mud deposit. The only furniture was a the baseem. 4.6(Fig. 14).
potterybeakerplacedatthenorth-westerncornerof 3- Miniaturesubcylindricaljaronlarge, flat base.
the drOll/OS. Concave neck and everted rim. Cream ware; cream
1- Biconical beaker on low sub cylindrical foot. slip. Wheel made. String detachment. H. em 8.3; 0
Lightred ware; cream slip. Wheel made. H. em11.5; at the mouth em 5; 0 max. cm 8.3; 0 at the base em
\21atthemouth em8.3;0 max.em11.5;\21atthebase 6.4 (Fig. 14).
cm 4.3 (Fig. 12). 4- Miniature small jar with everted rim. Cream
ware. Hand made. H. em 5; 0 at the mouth em 3.6;
o
GRAVE414 max. cm 5; 0 at the base em 3.5 (Fig. 14).
Undisturbed catacomb grave (Fig. 7). 5· Biconical spindle-whorl with cylindrical
Dramas orientation: northwest-southeast piercinghole. Calcite.H.em1;0 em2.3;0 ofthehole
Chamber sealed by an unfired mud-brick wall. em 0.6 (Fig. 14).
The inhumed, an adult male, was lyingon the right 6- Hairpin with zigzag incised decoration at one
side.Thehumanboneswerecompletely included in end. Bone. L. em13; 0 max. cm 0.5 (Fig. 14).
a termitarium. The grave furniture - four pottery
vessels - was placed to the north of the inhumed GRAVE 419
head.Attheinhumed neckan alabastercigar-shaped Undisturbed catacomb grave (Fig. 8).
bead has been recovered. Droll/OS orientation: northwest-southeast
1- Biconical bottle on low conical foot. Slightly Chamber sealed by a mud-brick wall. The
everted rim. Cream ware; cream slip. Wheel made. inhumed, a female (?)of8 to 10yearsold, was lying
H. cm 25.5; 0 at the mouth em 10.7; \21 max. ern 13; crouched on the right side. The grave furniture was
o
at the base em 6.4 (Fig. 12). placed at the north of the inhumed head.
2- Bieonical beaker on low conical foot. Cream 1- Sub globular jar with concave, sand-blasted
ware; cream slip. Wheel made. H. em 17; \21 at the lower section. High everted neck. !=ream ware;
mouth ern 8.8; 0 max. em 12.6; 0 at the base em 6 whitishslip. Wh(.'C1made.Mouldedandwheelmade.
(Fig. 12). H. em 21; [H. ofthe lower moulded sectionem 4.4J;
o
3- Truncated conical bowl with sub vertical, atthemouthem9.7; 0 max. em18.6;0 atthebase
slightlyconcaverimandslightly risenflatfoot. Light em 7.5 (Fig. 15).
red ware; cream slip. Wheel made. String 2- Ovoid jar with rounded shoulder. High sub
detachment. H. ern8.4;0 atthemouthem 21.7;0 at cylindrical neck and slightly everted rim. Slightly
the base em 5 (Fig. 12). risen flat base. Light green ware; cream slip. Wheel
made.Stringdetachment.H. em20.3;0 atthemouth
4-Idem.H em 7.5;0 atthe mouthem23;\21atthe em 9.5; 0 max. em 17;0 at the base em 5.2 (Fig. 15).
base em 4.8 (Fig. 12). 3-Biconkalbeakeronalow foot. Greencolourdue
5- Cigar-shaped bead. Variegated alabaster. to overfiring. Worn away surface. Wheel made. H.
Bipolar hole. L. em 4; 0 max. em 1; 0 min. em 0.6; em 14.5; 0 at the mouth cm 9.2; 0 max. cm 14.2;0
o
of the hole em0.4 (Fig. 12). at the base em 4.7 (Fig. 15).
1995] GONUR-DEPE1(MARGIANA,TURKMENISTAN) 9
GRAVE427 3- Wall fragment from a globular small jar.
Undisturbed catacombgrave (Fig. 6). Burnished grey ware. Hand made. (not drown]
DrolllOs orientation: northwest-southeast 4- Fragments from a high cylindrical beakerwith
Chambersealed bya mud-brickwall. Notracesof everted (45") rim. Cream ware; cream slip. Wheel
human bones were recogniS<lble in spite of the fact made. Inot drown)
thatthechamber wallsand thedramas deposit were s..Fragmentfrom adipped rimbowl.Cream ware;
undisturbed. The grave furniture, three bowls and cream slip. Wheel made. [notdrown]
twobeakers, wasplacedinthecentreofthechamber. 6- Fragments from two truncated conical bowls
Along thechamber'ssouthernedge wehave found with vertical, concave rim. Cream ware; cream slip.
four flint transverse arrowheads. Inot drownJ
1-Truncated conical bowl on low sub cyLindrical
foot;vertical,sLighUyinvertedconcaverim. Lightred GRAVE429
ware;creamslip.Wheel made.Stringdetachment.H Looted catacombgrave
em8.5;/2) at the mouth em16.5;0 max. cm 17;0 at Dramas orientation: northwest-southeast
thebaseem 4.5 (Fig. 16). Secondary pit dug inside the dramas perimeter.
2-Idem.Cream ware;creamslip.Wheelmade. H. Several humanbonefragments werescatteredinthe
em8; /2) at the mouth em 18; 0 max. em 18.6; '" at pit filling.
thebase em 4.9 (Fig. 16). 1-Truncatedconicalbowl onlowcylindrical foot;
3-ldem. H.em8.3;0 atthemouthem20.6;0 max. vertical, slighUyconcaverim. Light red ware;cream
on21.2;'" at the baseon 5.4 (Fig. 16). internal surface;external whitish slip. Wheel made.
4- Biconical beaker on low sub cylindrical foot. String detachment. H. em 8.8; 0 at the mouth an
Slightlyeverted rim.Creamware;creamslip.Wheel 20.3; 0 at the baseem 4.5 (Fig. 17).
made. String detachment. H. em 14; 0 at the oval
shaped mouth em 8/8.5; 0 max. em 11.2; I2l at the GRAVE430
baseem 5.4 (Fig. 16). Looted catacombgrave
5- Idem. H. em 15.5;0 at theoval-shaped mouth Dramasorientation: northwest-southeast
on8.4/8.8;0 max.em12.5;0 at thebaseem5.1 (Fig. Secondary pitduginsidethedramosperimeter. No
16). humanbonesandonlyasinglefragmentary pottery
6-Transverse trapezoidal arrowhead with baked vessel havebeen recovered in the deposit.
edges.Blond flint. H.em1.7;L.em 1.3;thoem0.2(Fig. 1- Biconical beaker on low conkal (oot. Green
16). colourduetooverfiring. Fragmentary.Wheel made.
7- Idem. Brown reddish flint. H. cm 2; L. cm 1.8; H. cm 17.2;0 at the mouth cm 10.2; I2l max. cm 14;
tn.
em 0.3 (Fig. 16). I2l at the base em 5.6 (Fig. 17).
8- Idem. Darkgreen flint. H. em 2.4; L. COl 1.6; tho
em0.5 (Fig. 16). GRAVE 431
9- Idem. Darkgreen flint. H. em 2.6; L. em 1.9; tho Looted catacomb grave
em0.4 (F;g. 16). Dramos orientation: northwest-southeast
Large drOll/OS with theevidence oftwo secondary
GRAVE 428 pits, onetothesouth,theothertothenorthwest.The
Looted catacomb grave southern pitseems older than the other, it was very
Dromos orientation: northwest-southeast deep and reached thegravechamber. Its filling was
Secondary pitplaced inside thedramas perimeter. madebyalternatinglayersofgreysand and mud. In
Nohumanboneshavebeen recovered. Potteryvessel the filling some of the long bones of an adult
fragments have been collected in the secondary pit individualhavebeen found and twocompletemud
filling. brickspertainingtothechamberdosing.Thesecond,
1- Ovoid small jar with rounded shoulder; sub north-western, pit was filled with a rubified sand
cylindrical neck with concave profile and everted cup. It had only a vertical chimney. At its base we
rim. Lightredware;whitishslip.Wheelmade.String meetwithabadlypreserved humanskullapparently
detachment. H. em 9.3; 0 at the mouth cm 6.4; 0 not ill situ. Several pottery fragments and complete
max. cm 10.2;0 at the base cm 4.8 (Fig. 17). vesselshavebeencollected in thenorthernhalfofthe
2- Grey burnished ware sherd. Indetenninable dramas disturbed deposit.
vessel shape. Hand made.lnot drown] 1-Largeovoid jarwith lowersectionconcaveand
SANDROSALVATORI lRdA19
sand-blasted. Low sub cylindrical, concave neck; several fragments; itwasfound crushed and warped
everted and extemally thickened rim. Cream ware; by the earthen deposit. H. em 15.1; 0 at the mouth
creamslip. Fragmentary. Moulded and wheel made cm 8; 0 max. em 11.6;0 at thebaseem4.7(Fig. 19).
after rollsbuilding. H. cm34;0 atthe mouth em12; 4- Idem. Green colour due to overfiring. Wheel
o
max. em 30.2;0 at the base em 13.S(Fig. 18). made. H.cm14.3;lZlatthemouthcmS.5;0 max. em
2- Truncated conical basin with lower section 12.2;0 at the base em 4.3 (Fig. 19).
concaveandsand-blasted.Thickened rim. Light red 5- Bell shaped bowl on high conical foot. Green
ware; cream slip. Moulded and wheel made after colourdue tooverfiring. Wheel made. H.em16.5;0
rollsbuilding. H. em 17.7; 0 at the mouth em 30; 0 at the mouth cm 16.3;0 at thebase cm 5.6 (Fig. 20).
at the baseem11.6(Fig. 18). 6- Truncatedconical bowl onslightly flaring foot.
3-Highsubcylindrical beakerwith flaringeverted Vertical concave rim. Light red ware; cream slip.
(45°) rim. Light red ware; cream slip. Wheel made. Wheel made. Stringdetachment. H.cm 8.8;0 at the
String detachment. Fragmentary at the rim. Some mouth em 17.7;0 at the base em 4.5 (Fig. 20).
impressed signs on the base. H. em 22.5; 0 at the 7- Idem.Vertical,slightlyconcaveandeverted rim.
mouth em 10.3;0 at thebaseem 7.S (Fig. 18). Wheel made.Stringdetachment. H.em7.2; 0 at the
4- ConicaJ foot possibly pertaining to a bowl on mouth em 17.2;0 at the base cm 4.4 (Fig. 20).
stand. Fragmentary. Light red ware. Wheel made. 8- Idem. H. cm 7.7; 0 at the mOllth em 18.3;0 at
{not drown] the base em5 (Fig. 20).
5- Fragments from atruncated conical bowl with 9- Ring-shaped bead. Faience. H.em0.5;0 em0.8
vertical,concaverim.Creamware.Wheelmade. [not (Fig. 20).
drown] 10- Spherical bead. Faience. H. cm 0.9; 0 em 1.1
6- Idem. [not drown] (Fig. 20).
7- Splinter of bronze lamina from an 11- Spheric.11 bead. Faience. H. cm 0.8; 0 em 0.9
indeterminableobject. [not drown] (Fig. 20).
12-Spherical bead. Faience. H. em 0.8; 0 em 0.9.
GRAVE 432
Undisturbed catacombgrave
Dromos orientation: Northwest-southeast GRAVE500
Thechamberwasstillonly partiallyclosed byfew Undisturbed catacomb grave (Fig. 8).
residual mud-bricks. Other mud bricks have been DrOIllOS orientation: Northwest-Southeast
found inside the chamber, perhaps as consequence Chambersealed by anunfired mud-brickwall.To
ofafall duetosomekind ofdisturbanceordynamic thesouth-westerncornerthedromoswascutlhrough
collapse. We didn't noticed any disturbance in the by thegraveS03drOll/OS, livingthechamberofgrave
dromosdeposit,otherthan normal pedogenesis,and SOD undisturbed. The inhumed, a female adult, was
in the chamber walls. In the northern sector of the lyingcrouchedon therightside.Thegravefurniture
chambereightpotteryvessel wererecovered lyingill was made from three pottery vessels placed to the
sitll, while from the southernmost bowl four north of the deceased's head. The skeletal remains
spherical faience beads were likely rolling out. No werefound inaverygoodstateofpreservation lying
tracesofhuman bones have been recorded. in asandy deposit.
1- Pear-shaped bottle with constricted neck and 1-Biconicalbeakeron lowcylindricalfoot; vertical
everted rim. Low conical foot. Light green ware; rim. Cre<lm ware; greenish slip. Polished external
greenish slip. Wheelmade. Knifedetachment.H.em surface. Wheel made. H. em16.2;0 atthemouth em
26.5; 0 at the mouth em 5; 0 at the neck em 2.5; 0 8.8; 0 max. em 12;0 at the base em 4.7 (Fig. 21).
Inax. 15.2;0 at thebase em 6.6 (Fig. 19). 2- Truncated conical bowl on low risen foot.
2- Ovoid small jar with flat base; high and Vertical, concave rim. Cream ware; whitish slip.
constricted sub cylindrical neck with everted rim. Wheel made. Stringdetachment. H.cm 6.4;0 at the
Lightredware;lightcreamslip. Wheel made.String mouth cm 17.3;0 at thebase em 4.5 (Fig. 21).
detachment. H.em17.5;0 at the mouthem3.7;0 at 3- Hemispheric bowl on high sub cylindrical
the neck cm 2.7; 0 max. em 15;0 at the baseem5.7 applied foot broken before the placing in thegrave.
(Fig. 19). Slightlyeverted rim. Cream ware; whiteslip. Wheel
3- Biconical beaker. Cream ware; whitish slip. made. H. [em I1J;0 atthemouthem18;0 ofthefoot
Wheel made.Stringdetachment. Reassembled from body em 3.5 (Fig. 21).
1995] GONUR-DEPE1(MARGJANA,TURKMENISTAN) 11
GRAVE CHANNEL 7 characterised this kind ofgraves (d. Salvatori 1993;
Wearehere following thenumberingassigned to 1994).
thematerialscollected in thechannel dug in 1992to
the west of the excavation area A (Salvatori 1993). COMMENTS
Traces of a catacomb grave have been recognised
alongthechannel thanksto thepresenceof residual Withthe1994excavationseasonwegathered what
mud-bricks badly disturbed by a recent (1994) we think to be a consistentbodyof data concerning
enlargementof the channel. the three main questions we should like to answer.
1-Pear-shaped beaker on a low ring base. Cream We can now assume, with a good margin of
ware; light green slip. Wheel made. String confidence, that grave pillage concerned the entire
detachment. H. em 14.5; 0 at the mouth em. 9.2; 0 graveyard and had a systematic character. Future
max. em 10.8;0 at thebase em 6(Fig. 22). work shall be planned taking on account that 90%,
2-Biconicaljarwithconcaveupperprofileand low and perhaps something more, of the graveyard has
fool. Inverted cone shaped neck. Cream to light red beenviolated.On theothersidewehavetopointout
ware;whiteslip.Wh{.>('1made.Stringdetachment. H. that looted graves too can contribute to the
em15;0 at the mouth em12;0 max. em 17.5; 0 at knowledge of the Middle Bronze Age Margiana
thebase em 7 (Fig. 22). material assemblage. In fact, robbers were not
3- Sub cylindrical jar with applied tubular interested in pottery vessels as shown by the
pouring. Concave neck and everted rim. Concave numerous robbed graves which gave back
lowerprofile. Lightred ware;whitishslip. Moulded fragmentary orcomplete vessels, some timelived in
and wheel made. H. em 21; 0 at the mouth em 10; situ.
o
max. em 17.8;0 atthe base em 9 (Fig. 22). More puzzling is to give an explanation to this
4-Truncated conical bowl on high subcylindrical almost systematic grave profanation. An important
mncavefool. Vertical.slightlyconcaverim. Red ware; result has been reached by operation 500 with
cream slip. Polished external surface. Wheel made. referencetotheproblemofsuchaviolationdate, now
H.em24;0 at themouth em24.3; 0 max. em 25; 0 fixed to the beginning of the Late Bronze Age.
atthebaseem 8.4 (Fig. 23). Nevertheless it ishard todecide ifthatpractice was
5- Biconical jar with convex profile. Constricted only a treasure hunting activity or a culturally
neckwith everted rim. Light red ware; whitish slip. oriented one. Anyhoweven ifitcouldbe thought as
Wheel made. H. em 17.5; 0 at the mouth em 4; 0 anenvironmentpurification practicesomeobserved
max. em 18.7; 0 at the base em5.7 (Fig. 23). recurring behaviours need to be explained. First of
6- Rim and waU fragments from a truncated all thehighly selective grave furniture removal. Itis
conical bowl with vertica\' concave rim. Light red clear from the excavated sample that profaners
ware. Wheel made. [not drown1 regarded pottery vessels as unvalued items. In fact
wehaveoften found pottery vesselsstillon placeor
discarded after removing. On theotherhand, metal
AreaSOO and stone objects are never lived in the profaned
From the archaeological deposit linked with the graves except the case ofGrave 91. This leads us to
small furnaces described in the first section of this think that a good motive for grave profanation was
paper. the desire to seize on the precious metals (golden,
1-Sub cylindrical bowl with concave profile and silver and bronze objects have been recovered in
low cylindrical foot. Light red ware; red burnished undisturbed graves during the 1993 excavation
externalslip. Wheelmade.Stringdetachment. H.em campaign) and valuable semiprecious stones. It is
9.8;0 atthemouthem10.7;0 max. em12.8;0 atthe interesting to note that many stone columns have
base em 7.2 (Fig. 23). been found in the Central Building at Togolok 21
2-Discoidbeadwithdenticulateedge.Faience.Th. (NMZ VI context). Among a number of complete
em0.5;0 em 1.9(Fig. 23). examples, several were cut and broken in an area
Amongtheeightsimplepitgravesexcavated this which could have been a stone cutting workshop
ycar(Graves43,402,422,423,424,425,426,501)only (Sarianidi1990,Tab. LXXXIX;Hiebert1994a,p.381).
one(G.501)was found undisturbed. As anticipated It is than possible that objects from Middle Bronze
above the poorly preserved remains of a new-born Age cemeteries were used mainly as row materials
wercrecovered inside, belowthereddish cup which during the following Namazga VI period.
12 SANDROSALVATORI [RdA19
From a more general point of view, it is IV:2 room 22). Cylindrical alabClster vessels with
ascertained that burying practices from one period everted rim are well represented among the robbed
totheotherdidn'tchanged asmuchasa Zoroastrian graves of Bactria (Pottier 1984: Figs. 26:203-204;
hypothesis would like. The Namazga VI people 27:205; Tabs. XXV:203; XXVI:207). As for the
settling theGonurSouth fortified town buried their Margiana specimens, Bactria vessels show the
dead on the topofthe Gonur North ffiOlmd both in presence of a quite distinctive trait like the internal
simplepitgravesand more formally builtstructures convex or umbilicate bottom. Such a trait is again
as mud-brick lined chambers (Sarianidi 1990). This presenton a low sub cylindrical alClbaster pot from
isinstrongcontrastwithpmcticesinvolvingtheopen the Namazga IV Grave 843-845 at Altyn depe
air exposure ofthe dead. (Kircho 1988, Fig. 4:7). Though typical of a central
Moreover we noticed an unpatterned behaviour Asiatic production, it is known on Mesopotamian
as to the human bones. In fact we recorded a range imported specimens dating from Early Dynastic III
of situations from the complete lacking of residual totheAkkCldianpost-smgonid period.Thisisthecase
bones tothe presenceof largeskeletal portionsboth of at1 ED III pot from Ur (Heinz 1989, fig. 11)and of
ill situ and discarded in the fill of robber pits. Such similar vessel also from Ur bearing dedicatory
an unpatterned behaviour seems to me hardly inscriptions of Rimush and Naram-Sin qualifying
consistent also with the environment purification them as from the booty of their military campaigns
hypothesis. Nevertheless a complete survey of the to theeClst (Potts1991 Figs. 1, 6, 11).
available literature on the several Central Asia While the umbilicateorconvex bottom isentirely
pillaged graveyards ofthe III and II millennium BC unknown to the Sistanian production ClS shown by
is highly recommendable to understand the theShahr-iSokhtaand GardanRegmateriClls(Garla
phenomenon in its proper setting. 1979; 1981;Fairservis1961, Fig. 29) it is known on a
Finally some of the objects recovered during the possibly imported cupon high sland from Shahdad
1994 campaign deserve more comments. First ofall (Hakemi n.d.) and on a subcylindrical pot from the
a
the bronze compartmented seal from Grave 91 EDITlb"Vase laCachette" atSUSCl(Amiet1986,Fig.
which, as those from the 1993 c<lmpaign (Salvatori 96:7and p.125).Tojudgefrom theevidenceathand
1994) fits well in the series of geometrical thiS very distinctive trait seems to be confined to a
compartmet1ted seals from Badria and M<lfgiana central Asiatic production centre possibly active
(Ligabue& Salvatori1988,Tabs.49-57;Sarianidi1977, between 2500 and 2150 BC, a time range which can
Figs.48·49;10.1990,Tab. XXXVI)welldatabletothe beassumed<ISwell for thealabastercylindrical pots
Middle Bronze Age (Salvatori 1995). Together with witheverted rim (Casanova1991: n. 57at p.39).The
this seal, a cylindrical alabaster vessel with everted assumed life span of the type covers the terminal
rim wasfound. The typeis well attested in the Near NamazgCl IV and the NamazgCl V periods of the
and Middle East during the Hlrd millennium BC Turkmenistan piedmont belt and it is in full
(Casanova 1991:Type IVc1, pgs. 39-40 and n. 57 ). accordance with the first C14 determinCltion wecan
Since now very few specimens, mainly rim produce from the Gonur graveymd. The chClfcoal
fragments, are known from Bronze Age Margiana sampled comes from the deposit of the simple pit
sites as Kelleli (Masimov 1979, Fig. 12:14), Togolok Grave 4 and has a laboratory date (GX·2064S) of
15(Sarianidi1990,Tab. XXVII:2),Togolok1(Ibidem, 3880±9Sbp or cal. 2400-2334 Be. The latter date is
Tab. XXVII:1)and GonurSouth (Hiebert1994b, Fig. Cllso consistent with the emerging picture of the
9.10:7). Livingasidethesurface findings, itseemsthat Margiana Middle Bronze Age as <l cultur<ll period
the production of the type have to be dated to the paralleling, in chronological termstoo, theNamazga
Middle Bronze Age, the only exception being the V period of southern Turkmenistan piedmont
fragments Hiebert assign to a GonurSouth context. (SalvCltorin.d.). Iffutureresearcheswillconfirmsuch
Nevertheless an alabaster vessel production is well a hypothesis wecould re<lch a clearer perception of
attested from Margiana MiddleBronzeAgecontexts thevery importantcultural developmentsinteresting
as documented by the twin vessel from the Gonur the whole Middle East from mid JIJ millennium BC
Graveyard (Salvatori 1993, Figs. 9, 12:G.C.2/12), of onwards.
a cylindrical bowl on high stand from the
contemporary graveyard at TClktCl Bazar
(Udeumuradov1993,Fig.34)andofaasimilarvessel Soprilltelldwza per; Bell;Ambielltali
from the Gonur North palace (Sarianidi 1990, Tab. eArchi/ettollicidel Veneto Oriell/ale- Vellezia
1995J GONUR-DEPE1(MARGIANA,TURKMENISTAN) 13
Noles The Italian Mission has beensupported by a grant from the
ItalianMinistryforForeignAffairsand by theCentroShtdie
1)Withtheauthorthefollowing peopletook part in the1994 RicerchcUgabueofVenice.
campaign of the "Centro Studi e Ricerche Ligabue" Italian I wish to thank the Minister of Culture of the Republic of
Mission: Dr. Donatella Usai (Istituto Universitario Orientale Turkmenistan and Prof. A.1. Gubaev, Vice-Minister and
di Napoli), archaeologist and designer; Mr. Gabriele Rossi GeneralDirectoroftheAntiquities,for theirconstantand life
Osmida (Centro Studi e Ricerche Ligabue- Venezia) saving support offered to the mission during the present
responsible for logistics; Prof. M(lrilt Durdiev, Turkmenistan c.lmpaign.
MinistryofCulture represent.ltive.
ABBREVIATIONS
AA.VV. 1994:AA.vV.,ArchaeologicalMap oftheMurgab Della, Mittelmesopotamien als Inschriftentdiger der
Reportill Progress, September1994, Rome. Fruhdynastischen Zeit, BaM20:197-224.
AMIH1986:P.AMIET,L'agedesecha71gesill/er-iranie71s.3500-1700 HIEBERT1994a:F.T.HIEBERT,Productionevidencefortheorigins
owut],-C.,Paris. oftheOxusCivilization,Allliquity,68 (259):372-87.
CASAl'OVt\ 1991: M. CASANOVA, La vaisel/e d'alba/re de HIEBERT 1994b: F.T HIEBERT, Origins ofIhe Brollze Age Oasis
Mesopo/um;e,d'Iralletd'Asirrell/raleauxlileetlIemillrfllairesav. Civiliza/ion ill Cell/ral Asia, (American School of Prehistoric
I.·C., Paris. Research Bulletin42), Cambridge.
CI,\KLA1979:R OAR!.A,TheManufilcturcofAlabasterVessels KIRCHO1988: L.U. KIRCHO,TheBeginningoftheEarlyBronze
atShahr-iSokhta and Mundigak in the3rd Millennium BC: Age in Southern Turkmenia on the Uasis of Altyn-depc
AProblemofCultural Identity, Jranica, pp. 319-35. Materials, Eastand Wes138: 33-64.
OARLA 1981: R CIARLA, A Preliminary Analysis of the KOSHELENKO & ToSJ (cds.), n.d.: GA. KOSHELENKO, M. TosJ
Manufacture of Alabaster Vessels ilt Shahr-i Sokhta and (eds.),TheArcllaeologicalMapofIheMurgliab Delta. Preliminary
Mundigak in the 3rd Millennium B.C., In: H. Hartel (ed.), Reports1990-95, Rome.
1981:45·63.
LiCABlJE & SALVA'lDRI 1989: G. LJCMlUE, S. SALVATORI (MS.),
CRfM,\5CHI1994: M. CREMASCHI, Geoarchaeological Research BattrianaUllaall/iCl/civiltildelleOtIsidallesabbiedel/'Afganis/an,
intheMurghabDelta. Preliminary Resultsofthe1993 Field Venezia.
season.In:AA.VV. 1994:69-78.
MASIMOV 1979: 1.5. MI\SIMOV, lzuchenie pomatnikov cpokhi
FAIRSERVIS1961: W.A. FAIRSERVIS, Archaeological Studies in tire bronzi nizovii Murgaba, SA, (1):111-31.
xislullBasil!ofSouth-WestemAfghal/islallal/dEasternIrall, New
1'00ilER.1984: M.-H. POTrlER,Materiel Flimfrairedela BaclriaTlc
York.
MiridicwaicderAgede Brollze, Paris.
Hartel(cd.)1981:H.Hartel(cd.),SO/ail AsianArchlleology1979,
POTTS1989:T.E Pom,ForeignStoneVesselsoftheLateThird
Berlin,
Millennium B.C. from southern Mesopotamia: their Origins
HAKEMIs.d.:A.HAKEMI,TheGraveyardofShahdad: Excavations and MechanismsofExchange, Iraq, U:123-164.
ofaBronzcAgeBurialGroundaltheEdgeoftheLutDesert,Rome
SALVATORI1993:S.SALVATORi,TheDiscoveryoftheGraveyard
(inpress).
of Gonur-depe 1 (Murghab Delta, Turkmenistan): 1992
HEINZ 1989: M. HEINZ, Die Steingefassc aus Sud- und CampaignPreliminaryReport,RdA,XVII:5·13.
14 SANDROSALVATORI (RdA19
SALVATORI1994:S.SALVA'JORl,Exc.'lvationsattheNamazgaVLate Age.In: Koshclcnko&:Tosi(cds.). n.d. (inpreparation)
Graveyard of Conur 1 (Murghab Delta, Turkmenistiln).
SARlANIDII9n:V.I.$arianidi,Dre/mitumltdtl'/$iA!gllllislrma,
PreliminaryReportonthe1993fieldseason.RdA.XVlU:14-39.
Moskva.
SAlVATOKI 1995: S. SALVATOltI, Protohistoric Margiana: on a
SARlII.NIOl 1990: V.I. Sarianidi, Dmmosli slranii Mflrgush,
recent contribution. (Review of: "IASCCA (International
Ashkabad.
Association for the Study of the Cultures of Central Asia)
InformationBulletin19,(Moscow)1993).RdAXLX(lhisissue). UOEUMURAOOV 1993: V.N. UOEUMURAIX)V, Altyn-dept i
M/lrghiana; svyazi,khnmologiya,proiskhozhdenic,Ashgabat.
SALVATORIn.d.:S.SALVA1'QIU,l1\cMurghabDeltaintheBronze