Abstract
Archaeological landscape of Central Asia, defined predominantly by tell-sites (tepas), led archaeologists to be biased in favour of extensive surface survey. However, so far very rare systematic application of intensive survey methodology opens up new horizons for further assessment of the local cultural landscape.
Proposed poster presents aims and methodology of the currently starting project adopting such an approach in the hinterland area of Khaytabad Tepa (Surkhan Darya province, Uzbekistan), presumably a microregional centre occupied in varying degrees continuously from the Achaemenid period (Late Iron Age) until the Middle Ages. The systematic archaeological survey intends to clarify in general the relation between tepas and adjacent territory stretching between these well-defined sites, to which only limited attention has been paid up to now, and to define general trends of settlement development in the middle Surkhan Darya basin.
In order to fulfil these goals, application of multifunctional geographical information system comprising topographic, environmental and cultural datasets is necessary. The terrain part of survey will operate in three modes reflecting different scales of investigation of a culturally and physically diverse landscape: systematic tepa (on-site) mode walked along the lines, intensive (off site) mode in the fields and gardens walked in grid and extensive mode.
Along with the general goals, two possible working hypotheses are to be tested: 1) A presence of satellite-settlements (or foci of activity) around the major tepa already proven in case of neighbouring comparable oases for the Late Iron Age. 2) Model of gradual settlement development in the Kushan period with the centre in Khaytabad Tepa outlined by preceding survey conducted in the Soviet era. Since the postponed first survey season is scheduled for the Autumn of 2021, the poster presentation is motivated by intention of improving the project methodology and opening it to further suggestions.