Archaeologists discovered similar to the great Chinese wall structure in Uzbekistan
24.12.2018
Archaeological research constructed in the III century BC fortress Uzundara showed that it was part of the unified fortification system of the Seleucid state, which protected its northern frontier from nomad raids. Scientists named it the Great Bactrian Wall - by analogy with a much more famous and large-scale Chinese fortification. It had been described in the press release of the Institute of Archeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, received by the Indicator.Ru editorial office.
The fortress of Uzundara was located in Bactria - a state that existed on the territory of modern Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan. During the construction of Uzundara - it was the end of the III century BC - Bactria was part of the Seleucid state, which was formed after the death of the empire of Alexander the Great. The fortress was located in the Baysun Mountains, which, as scientists found out, were the natural frontier of the state in that time.
The data collected by scientists showed that all the gorges of this mountain range, convenient for cavalry, controlled by fortresses connected to a single defensive line that defended the state Seleucids from the northern nomads: Saks and Yuechzhi. The walls entering this system were from 100 to 3000 meters long. The fortresses had identical system of the structure, similar construction material and size.
In the fortress of Uzundara, according to the assumptions of archaeologists, there was a Greek-Macedonian garrison, which defended the northern borders of the state from outside attacks and confirmed the power of the Seleucid dynasty in the region. Such structures could both defend from nomads, and transmit signals using smoke or fire. It was established that the fortress consisted of a main quadrangle of a diamond shape, triangular citadel (phylacterion) surrounded by powerful double walls with an internal gallery about nine meters wide, and remote walls, which were reinforced by thirteen rectangular bastions-towers, three of which were also portable.
The basis of the phylacterion was the central building (rock complex) - a room with two volumetric basements. One of them, with dimensions of 10 by 5 meters and a depth of 4 meters, was covered inside with lead plates on bronze nails and lead rivets. Also in the basement was provided waterproofing (bitumen coating of the walls) and water flow. It is assumed that in this room, in case of a siege, were kept food supplies and ice, from which the soldiers could get water. Outside the fortress there was a marketplace where the locals brought goods, necessary for the soldiers of the garrison. Around the rock complex there were grounds and courtyards. To the fortress walls from the inside part along the perimeter about 12 rooms were adjoined.
During the excavations, archaeologists found several unique pieces of iron helmets, armor plates, weapons, about 200 coins and various fragments of ceramics. Analysis of the findings allowed to conclude that the fortress lasted only about 150 years. A large number of tips from the arrows and spears found in one place indicated that it was a place where the fortress was stormed. And what was very much appreciated at the time the weapon remained intact, was a sign that there was simply no one to take it away.
“For one and a half hundred years, Greek culture in the east remained almost unchanged: the same forms of ceramic vessels, fish plates, bowls exist in almost unchanged form. Therefore many researchers refuse to trace changes within these one and a half hundred years. For the first time, we can divide this time into sub-steps, and not on only one of materials. Thus, the materials of Uzundara allow to study and reconstruct all spheres of life of the Seleucid and Greek-Bactrian fortresses,” concluded the head of the Bactrian department of the Central Asian archaeological expedition of the Institute of Archeology, of the Russian Academy of Sciences Nigora Dvurechenskaya.