 Ruins of Toprak-Kala | |
  Toprak-Kala Shown within West and Central Asia Show map of West and Central Asia Toprak-Kala Toprak-Kala (Uzbekistan) Show map of Uzbekistan | |
| Alternative name | Toprak-Kala |
|---|---|
| Location | Karakalpakstan,Uzbekistan |
| Coordinates | 41°55′37.9″N60°49′19.8″E / 41.927194°N 60.822167°E /41.927194; 60.822167 |
| Type | Settlement |
| History | |
| Periods | Parthian,Sasanian |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1938 |
| Condition | Ruined |
Toprak-Kala, in modernKarakalpakstan,Uzbekistan, was an ancient palace city and the capital of inChorasmia in the 2nd/3rd century CE, where wall paintings, coins and archives were discovered.[1][2] Its history covers a period from the 1st to the 5th century CE.[1] It is part of the "Fifty fortresses oasis" in modern-dayUzbekistan.[1]
Toprak-Kala appears to have been built byArtav (Artabanos), ruler ofKhwarezm, in the 1st or 2nd century CE.[3][4] The establishment of Toprak-Kala probably followed the abandonment ofAkchakhan-Kala, 14 km to the southwest.[5]
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The ruins of the city were explored by theChorasmian Expedition under the guidance ofSergey Tolstov in 1938.[1] The date of the palace has been determined by the discovery of coins of theKushan Empire rulersVima Kadphises andKanishka, as well as coins of the Khwarazmian king Artav (Artabanus).[6] Wall paintings representingZoroastrian deities were discovered in the Palace.[1]
Toprak-kala and the whole of Chorasmia seem to have been under the control of theKushan Empire for some time during the 2nd century CE, as coins ofVima Kadphises andKanishka were found, interrupting a series of coins of Chorasmian rulers before and after them.[7][8] Others have analysed the coinage evidence as indicating that the Kushan did not control Khwarezm.[9][10]
Severalhigh-reliefs of standing figures drapped in robes ofHellenistic style, which are thought to derive from the style of theGreco-Buddhist art ofGandhara, reflecting the influence of theKushan Empire, were discovered in the ruins of Toprak-Kala.[5] This abundant sculptural work may also have been accomplished by artisans from nearbyBactria, where a Hellenistic tradition remained active since the time of theGreco-Bactrian kingdom.[5] The statues are now located in theHermitage Museum inSaint-Petersburg.[5]
Sergey Tolstov drew a reconstruction of the ancient city.[11]
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The small fortress ofKyzyl-Kala, also "Qyzyl Qala" ("Red fortress") is located nearby, 1 km to the west, and was also built in the 1st-4th century CE, possibly as a fortified defense for the site of Toprak-Kala (41°55′48″N60°47′03″E / 41.930031°N 60.784109°E /41.930031; 60.784109).
Kyzyl-Kala was once restored in the 12th century CE. It has also been the subject of a modern renovation program, with the objective of showing what a fortress looked like originally.
Toprak-Kala is somewhat related to another archaeological site 30 km to the southeast,Koi Krylgan Kala, another major component of the "Fifty fortresses oasis".[1] Another related site isAyaz-Kala.
The location of the Chorasmian capital was changed to Kyat (modernBeruniy), at the time of theAfrighid dynasty sometime after 305 CE, but the town of Toprak-Kala continued to prosper until the 6th century CE.[7]
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