Pottery production on the territory of the ancient Syrdarya delta in the age of antiquity: new data

The results of several years of excavations at the settlement of Babish-Mulla 7, on the territory of the ancient delta of the Syr Darya, where the agricultural Chirikrabat archaeological culture was widespread in the second half of the I millennium BC. Babish-Mullah 7 is a large pottery production center of the III–II centuries BC, which supplied ceramics to the population of a large agricultural oasis. Two-tier ceramic roasting furnaces of two types have been opened in the settlement. Rectangular bugles of the 1st type have no analogies in terms of design features on the territory Central Asia. Next to the furnaces, production facilities where dishes were made were excavated. Babish-Mulla settlement 7, which is the largest and most studied pottery production center not only on the territory of the lower Syrdarya, but also within the entire Southern Aral Sea region, is located on the eastern bank of the dry riverbed of the Zhanadarya River 5 km south of Babish-Mulla settlement 1 The total area of the settlement is approximately 1.6 hectares – 450×350 m. In any case, it is traces of buildings and ruins of roasting furnaces clearly visible on the surface of modern takyr are marked on this site. A 15 m wide reservoir channel was brought to the settlement from the west. Coastal dumps are still clearly visible on the surface of Takyr. In 2019 , in the northern part settlements, to the south of the Estate, excavations of another industrial complex have begun, where the roasting furnace No. 7 has been completely excavated and part of a large monumental building next to it has been uncovered. In addition, two ceramic roasting furnaces have been completely excavated on the territory of the settlement and the collapse of another destroyed furnace has been cleared. All of them are located at some distance from residential and industrial premises. Thus, seven roasting furnaces, pottery workshops and, partially, a residential building - Estate were excavated on the territory of Babish–Mulla settlement 7 for five field seasons. The materials obtained during the excavations open almost a new page in the history of ceramic production in the South. The Aral Sea region. Studies of the Babish-Mullah settlement 7 unequivocally give every reason to believe that a large specialized pottery production located in the nearest district of the capital center – Babish–Mullah settlement successfully functioned on the territory of the Lower Syr Darya in the era of antiquity – III-II centuries BC. The monument can be qualified as a specialized craft settlement.