Namazga-Tepe facts for kids

Namazga-Tepe (also called Namazga-depe) is a very old archaeological site in Turkmenistan. It's about 100 kilometers (62 miles) east of the city of Aşgabat, close to the border with Iran. This site is important because it helps us understand the Bronze Age in this part of the world.

Archaeologists like Vadim Mikhailovich Masson and Viktor Sarianidi started digging here in the 1950s. Their work at Namazga-Tepe helped create a timeline for many other Bronze Age sites in Turkmenistan. This timeline is known as Namazga III-VI. Before the Namazga culture, another group called the Jeitun culture lived in this area.

Understanding the Namazga Timeline

The history of Namazga-Tepe is divided into different periods, each showing how the settlement changed over time. The Anau culture in Turkmenistan was present even before the Namazga culture.

Early Periods: Villages and Copper Age

The first period, Namazga I, lasted from about 4000 to 3500 BC. This time was similar to the Anau IB2 period.

Later, during Namazga III (around 3200–2800 BC), Namazga-Tepe was a village. This was during the Late Chalcolithic phase, which means people were starting to use copper tools.

Growing into a City

Namazga IV (about 2800–2400 BC) saw Namazga-Tepe grow into a "proto-urban" site. This means it was starting to look like an early city, but not quite a full city yet. Both Namazga III and IV belong to a time called the "Late Regionalization Era."

The biggest growth happened during Namazga V (around 2400–2000 BC). This period is sometimes called the "Integration Era" or the "urban revolution." Namazga-Tepe became a major center for making goods and was likely a government hub. It covered a huge area, about 60 hectares (148 acres). Another important site nearby, Altyndepe, was probably a second main city during this time.

However, around 1600 BC, things changed. Altyndepe was abandoned, and Namazga-Tepe became much smaller.

Later Bronze Age and New Arrivals

The final period, Namazga VI, was in the Late Bronze Age (about 1800–1500 BC). This time is part of the "Localization Era." It's thought that nomadic people, possibly from the Alekseyevka culture or Srubna culture, moved into the area during this period.

Archaeologists have also found beautiful painted pottery at Namazga-Tepe, which tells us more about the art and daily life of the people who lived there.

Here's a quick look at the timeline for this region:

• Neolithic of Jeitun type: 6200–5000 BCE
• Proto-Chalcolithic (Anau Ia): 5200–4800 BCE
• Early-Chalcolithic (Namazga I): 4800–4000 BCE
• Middle-Chalcolithic (Namazga II): 4000–3500 BCE
• Late-Chalcolithic (Namazga III): 3500–3000 BCE
• Early Bronze (Namazga IV): 3000–2500 BCE
• Middle Bronze (Namazga V): 2500–2200 BCE
• Late Bronze (Namazga VI): 2200–1500 BCE
• Early Iron (Yaz I): 1500–1100 BCE

See also

• South Turkmenistan Complex Archaeological Expedition