Namazga-Tepe
Namazga-depe · Namozgoh · Namazga Depe
Namazga I–VI 4000–1800 BCE (Chalcolithic to Bronze Age)·Anau–Namazga oasis civilization (Pre-BMAC Kopet)·🇹🇲 Ahal Province, 100 km east of Ashgabat near Tejen oasis, border hills with Iran (Kaka District, Tejen River fan), Turkmenistan
About
About Namazga-Tepe
Bronze Age mega-tell and type-site for Namazga chronology (c.4000–1800 BCE) near the Tejen River fan 100 km east of Ashgabat — 50 ha tepe (largest in Turkmenistan) with 30 m stratigraphy (Namazga I–VI) excavated 1951–70s by Masson, Sarianidi and Khlopin. Namazga VI (2500–1900 BCE) is a proto-urban oasis city 70 ha with mudbrick walls, pottery kilns producing Namazga polychrome (black-red), seal workshops (compartmented seals), copper metallurgy and early lapis. The VI layer shows grid-like quarters, irrigation canals and public buildings proving Kopet oasis proto-urbanism parallel to Early Harappan and Mesopotamian Jemdet Nasr, before shift to Murghab (Merv) after 1800 BCE desiccation.
Why it mattersChronological backbone of Bronze Age Turkmenistan (Namazga I–VI) — proves Kopet oasis proto-urban independent of Mesopotamia; largest tell in Turkmenistan, precursor to BMAC Murghab (Gonur).
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why Namazga VI abandoned 1800 BCE — 4.2ka event vs Tejen shift?
Theories
- 01Kopet oasis civilization as northern Mesopotamian parallel before Murghab (Masson)
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.4000 BCE Namazga I village; city 2500–1800 BCE Namazga V–VI
- Period
- Namazga I–VI 4000–1800 BCE (Chalcolithic to Bronze Age)
- Culture
- Anau–Namazga oasis civilization (Pre-BMAC Kopet)
- Builders
- Kopet oasis urbanists (Namazga farmers)
- Purpose
- Largest Kopet oasis proto-city controlling Tejen fan irrigation and lapis trade
- Abandoned
- c.1800 BCE (Tejen desiccation, shift to Murghab delta)
- Rediscovered
- 1951–70s South Turkmenistan Expedition (Masson etc.)
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.4000–2800 BCE
Namazga I–III villages with polychrome pottery, copper
c.2500–1800 BCE
Namazga V–VI 70 ha walled town with seals and kilns
1951–70s
Masson defines Namazga I–VI chronology backbone for Turkmenistan Bronze Age
On the ground
Structures & features
37.3728° N · 59.5569° E · 250 m · 2 mapped features
Namazga VI Walled Town
citadelProto-urban walled quarter 70 ha with mudbrick wall and kiln workshops (2500–1800 BCE)
37.3730° N · 59.5572° EStratigraphic Tepe Edge (I–V)
tell30 m tell profile showing Namazga I–V polychrome sequence below VI on southern slope
37.3725° N · 59.5567° E