Archaeological research in Southern Kazakhstan
In 1969, preparatory work continued for the stationary excavations of ancient Otrar. An archaeological and topographic survey of the Otrar settlement itself and exploration along the left bank of the Syr Darya river's middle course within the Turkestan - Yana - Kurgan section, along the southern slope of the Karatau ridge and in the lower reaches of the Chu and Talas rivers was carried out. Burial mounds of different eras on the periphery of the Otrar oasis were also studied.
A stratigraphic excavation was laid on the Otrar site in the northern part of the central ruins. This year, the excavation cut through only the upper layers of the monument dating back to the 13th-18th centuries. Layers of the 17th-18th centuries were comparatively insignificant. The excavations unearthed the remains of residential and commercial buildings. Among them, a series of ovens related to handicraft production is interesting. They have an original system of heat-conducting channels.
Hearths are open in living quarters. Household and garbage pits, tashnau were excavated in the outbuildings. Buildings of the 17th-18th centuries were made of raw dark gray rectangular brick, while the walls of buildings of the 15th-16th centuries were built of yellow mud bricks. One of the premises, dating back to the 15th-16th centuries, was open to the north side. Its roof is flat, resting on a central wooden pillar, from which the base lined with burnt bricks has been preserved. The layer of the 15th-16th centuries collected a large collection of glazed dishes. Paintings characterize it with cobalt and manganese. Floral ornaments. Metal items were also found: iron knives, linings, nails. A treasure was found: items of horse harness, beads, remnants of fabric with sewn bronze balls.
Buildings dating back to the 12th-14th centuries were built of burnt bricks. Glazed ceramics of this time with mono- and polychrome paintings against a dark background are very peculiar. Often there are dishes with green glaze without ornament. Iron knives, pins, bronze plaques were found in the same layer. Small plastic art is represented by zoomorphic figurines, among which a horse and a ram are distinguished. Some figures are covered with glaze and paintings. The contours of the remains of a late medieval fortress wall with round protruding towers made of mud bricks were also revealed. The wall is plastered outside.
A section of an underground tunnel leading to the central part of the city was accidentally discovered on the settlement. Along the tunnel's walls, at the base, there is a double row of pottery pipes. These are the remains of the city's water supply system.
As in previous field seasons, Route-search work revealed a group of previously unknown and little-known medieval settlements. These include: on the left bank of the Syr Darya - Karatobe, Abyztobe, Kumiyan, Kelintobe, Mairamtobe, Akkurgan; on the southern slopes of Karatau - Dodben, Tortkoltobe, etc.
Of particular interest are the settlements of Mairamtobe and Kumiyan. Near the first of them are numerous remains of estates and individual buildings, preserved in the form of large and small hillocks, traces of a widely branched irrigation system - main canals, ditches, dams, water distribution and water-lifting structures that have a cruciform, T-shaped shape, etc. The fortress walls with loopholes and square towers are well preserved on the Kumiyan settlement.
It is noteworthy that many settlements existed in the late Middle Ages, indicating a significant settled agricultural life in the south of Kazakhstan.
An instrumental survey of the settlement plan of ancient Otrar was planned, and prospective aerial photography of it and other monuments of the settled agricultural culture of the Otrar oasis were carried out.