The results of new research on the medieval urban sites of Aspara and Sharuashylyk in 2021–2023

Abstract

The article summarizes the results of a comprehensive study of the late medieval urban culture of South Kazakhstan on the example of such town-sites as Aspara in the middle reaches of the Shu river and Sharuashylyk in the delta of the Talas river in 2021–2023. First of all, on the basis of written data and folklore sources on the historical geography of the region, the macrotoponyms “Zhetysu” and “Semirechye” were studied, the extended geographical interpretation of which appeared in Soviet times as a result of incorrect word usage, suggested the inclusion of the Shu-Talas interfluve as “South-Western Zhetysu / Semirechye. In fact, this region belongs to South Kazakhstan and cannot be considered as part of Zhetysu or Semirechye. Excavations at the citadel of Aspara town-site (excavation area 2 and 2a) uncovered a site of urban development of the 13th –14th centuries: the complex of residential and outbuildings on the construction remains of the previous Karakhanid period. From different building horizons, five radiocarbon dates were obtained, which correlate with artifact assemblages of the 11th – 12th centuries and 13th – the end of the 14th century. From the surface of the town-site and the excavation area, a collection of coins of various issues was obtained: the Turkic-Sogdian coin of the 8th century, the Karakhanids, the Samanids, the late Tang, the Northern Sun, the Chagataids and Emir Timur, as well as a small coin of the Kokand coinage. Excavations have been carried out for the first time at Sharuashylyk town-site. From stratigraphic trench 1 and excavation area 1 and 1a, a large collection of ceramic pottery (hand-made painted and decorated with a stamp, glazed easel), as well as three radiocarbon dates within the third quarter of the 14th century – the first quarter of the 15th century were obtained. In excavation area 1 and trench 2, glazed ceramics of the 12th – early 13th centuries were found, which is consistent with the finds of coins of the Western Karakhanid coinage at the town-site. New data determine the time of existence of Sharuashylyk ancient settlement in the interval of the 12th – early 15th centuries.