Research of the irrigation detachment

The irrigation detachment of the South-Kazakhstan complex archaeological expedition of the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR carried out an archaeological and topographic study of the medieval irrigation systems of the Otrar oasis.

The routes cover the areas of Otrar, Pshakshi, Kuyruk, Altyn, Kuyuk-Mardan and Oksus. During field surveys, topographic (eye and instrumental) surveys of the identified medieval canals, collection of lifting archaeological material, leveling, measurements and excavations of canal beds were carried out. As a result, extensive irrigation systems that functioned in various historical epochs were revealed.

Irrigation canals have a branched configuration and include all the constituent elements of the irrigation system. The main channels extending directly from the riverbeds of the Arys and Syr Darya rivers allow us to speak about the presence of developed gravity irrigation in the Middle Ages.

Archaeological and topographic study of the preserved canals interpretation of available aerial photographs of individual irrigation units made it possible to draw up a working scheme of irrigation systems and give their preliminary dating.

Extensive ceramic material obtained during excavations of canal beds, and in combination with lifting material, as well as taking into account the lifetime of cities and settlements located on canal routes, making it possible to date the evolutionary development of the ancient irrigation systems of Otrar and satellite cities from 7th to 18th centuries. As for the irrigation systems on the left bank of the Syr Darya in the area of ​​the Oksus hillock, in terms of the shape and size of the canals, they completely repeat the systems of the Otrar oasis. Studies of these channels have shown that their life dates back to the 7th-14th centuries.

Field studies also make it possible to raise and resolve issues related to the main stages in the development of hydraulic structures, identify the relationship between individual parts and links of irrigation systems, and determine the relationship between the idle and working parts of canals.