Research of the Khorezm expedition in the lower reaches of the Syr Darya
The Khorezm expedition continued comprehensive research in the lower reaches of the Syr Darya, in which archaeologists and geographers (USSR Academy of Sciences), soil scientists (Institute of Soil Science of the Kazakh SSR Academy of Sciences) take part. Work has begun in connection with transferring the runoff of Siberian rivers to the Aral Sea basin. Their purpose is to build an archaeological and geomorphological map of the area of operation of the future canal and identify areas suitable for new development.
The works covered the southern part of the lower reaches of the Syr Darya, mainly the old Inkardarya and some parts of Zhanadarya rivers. The earliest of the monuments discovered here are the Late Bronze Age sites on Inkardarya. One of the sites, Tas I, gave a curious ceramic complex, represented by Zamaraevo type ceramics and fragments of hums with a corrugated surface and whitish lining, similar to the Tagisken ones. It should be emphasized that the finds of the primitive era in the surveyed area are very fragmentary and crushed. This is primarily due to the fact that the entire area in ancient and medieval times was actively developed for agriculture.
In the area of the small fortified Balandy town, a manor of the 4th-2nd centuries – Sengir-kala was discovered. It was square in plan (32 * 32 m), oriented by angles to the countries of the world. Its center is occupied by an inner courtyard; along the inner perimeter of the walls there are one and two rows of rooms. It is possible that the building was two-storied. In the north-western row, the premises of the lower floor (for economic purposes) have been preserved. Among the finds: ceramics of the Chirikrabat type and a bronze three-bladed hollow arrowhead of the Prokhorov type.
Numerous medieval settlements on Zhanadarya (the outlying lands of Khorezm) are represented by clusters of houses (20 or more), remnants of iron and pottery production, a highly developed irrigation network and clearly visible targets on the ground.
A whole group of medieval settlements has been surveyed in the Murzaly tract. Actually, the Murzaly settlement has an area of 600 * 700 m and consists of at least 30 houses preserved in the form of swollen mounds up to 1.5 m high with a clearly visible layout on the surface. The irrigation network and fields are well preserved. Houses 8 and 10 have been excavated at the settlement. In house 8, four rooms with sufas and hearths were opened, one of which is of the tandoor type. It was decorated from the inside with a wavy ornament. Bins and large storage pits up to 1.5 m deep were found in the house. A courtyard adjoined the house. House 10 consisted of five rooms with sufas and hearths of various types, bins. An outbuilding adjoined it from the northwest, in which, apparently, cattle were kept. Ceramics with turquoise watering, blue painting and red-glazed watering dishes date the Murzaly settlement from the 12th-13th centuries.
A settlement of the 15th-16th centuries, consisting of more than 15 houses, with a well-marked internal layout, was surveyed on one of the channels of the Inkardarya. Some of the houses have more than 20 rooms. The remains of fields and canals are clearly visible near the settlement.