Agricultural Oases of the Sapalli Culture in the Southern Uzbekistan: a model of cultural and economic zoning
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24852/2587-6112.2026.1.19.30Keywords:
archaeological site, Bronze Age, agricultural oases, irrigation systems, Kugitang, micro-oases, Sapalli culture, Surkhandarya, Southern UzbekistanAbstract
This paper deals with the results of research and systematization of the Sapalli culture sites of the Bronze Age in Southern Uzbekistan. Based on the analysis of archival data and recent field studies, a model of cultural-economic zoning is proposed, encompassing four key agricultural oases: the Sherabad, Kugitang, Mirshadi, and Bandikhan oases. For each oasis, the characteristics of settlement patterns, economic adaptation, and the internal structure of the micro-oases are described. Special attention is given to the study of the little-explored micro-oases of the Kuhitang mountain range (Maydon, Pashkhurt, Gaz, Charbag, Zarabag, Karabag, Kampyrtepa), where both long-term settlements and specialized production complexes have been identified, including the Kattabulak salt-mining center. The work details the strategies of territory development, based on the use of local water sources and the development of artificial irrigation. The conducted analysis significantly expands the knowledge of the geographical distribution, chronology, and economic mechanisms of adaptation of the Sapalli culture bearers to the arid conditions of the Surkhandarya region.
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