Devkesen: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
|||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{coord|42|17|15|N|58|23|56|E|type:landmark|display=title}} |
{{coord|42|17|15|N|58|23|56|E|type:landmark|display=title}} |
||
'''Dev-Kesken''' (Russian: {{lang|ru|Девкесен}}; Turkmen: {{lang|tk|Döwkesen}}){{efn|The name is also transliterated as Davkesen, Devkesen, Devkesken, Devkisken etc.}} is an [[archaeological site]] in the [[Daşoguz Province|Dashoguz]] region of northern [[Turkmenistan]], 62 km west of [[Koneurgench]].<ref name=":052">{{Cite book|last=Brummell|first=Paul|title=Turkmenistan|publisher=Bradt Travel Guides|year=2005|isbn=978-1-84162-144-9|pages=180|language=en|author-link=Paul Brummell}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Bregel|first=Yuri|url=|title=An Historical Atlas of Central Asia|date=2003-01-01|publisher=Brill|isbn=978-90-474-0121-6|series=Handbook of Oriental Studies: Section 8 Uralic & Central Asian Studies (9)|pages=5|language=en|chapter=Major Archeological Sites|chapter-url=https://brill.com/view/book/9789047401216/B9789047401216_s006.xml}}</ref> |
'''Dev-Kesken''' (also: '''Devkesen'''; Russian: {{lang|ru|Девкесен}}; Turkmen: {{lang|tk|Döwkesen}}){{efn|The name is also transliterated as Davkesen, Devkesen, Devkesken, Devkisken etc.}} is an [[archaeological site]] in the [[Daşoguz Province|Dashoguz]] region of northern [[Turkmenistan]], 62 km west of [[Koneurgench]].<ref name=":052">{{Cite book|last=Brummell|first=Paul|title=Turkmenistan|publisher=Bradt Travel Guides|year=2005|isbn=978-1-84162-144-9|pages=180|language=en|author-link=Paul Brummell}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Bregel|first=Yuri|url=|title=An Historical Atlas of Central Asia|date=2003-01-01|publisher=Brill|isbn=978-90-474-0121-6|series=Handbook of Oriental Studies: Section 8 Uralic & Central Asian Studies (9)|pages=5|language=en|chapter=Major Archeological Sites|chapter-url=https://brill.com/view/book/9789047401216/B9789047401216_s006.xml}}</ref> |
||
== Location == |
== Location == |
||
It is located at the edges of a 30 km-long escarpment, on the southern tip of the [[Ustyurt Plateau]].<ref name=":052" /> |
It is located at the edges of a 30 km-long [[escarpment]], on the southern tip of the [[Ustyurt Plateau]].<ref name=":052" /> |
||
== History == |
== History == |
||
| Line 9: | Line 9: | ||
== Site == |
== Site == |
||
The sides of the city facing the plateau are walled.<ref name=":052" /> Within the city, lie the ruins of three mausolea —dating to 15th century— and a mosque.<ref name=":052" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Ephrat |first=Daphna |title=Saintly Spheres and Islamic Landscapes: Emplacements of Spiritual Power across Time and Place |last2=Wolper |first2=Ethel Sara |last3=Pinto |first3=Paulo G. |date=2020-12-07 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-44427-0 |pages=205 |language=en}}</ref> A citadel with corrugated walls overlooks the escarpment.<ref name=":052" /> |
The sides of the city facing the plateau are walled.<ref name=":052" /> Within the city, lie the ruins of three [[Mausoleum|mausolea]] —dating to 15th century— and a [[mosque]].<ref name=":052" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Ephrat |first=Daphna |title=Saintly Spheres and Islamic Landscapes: Emplacements of Spiritual Power across Time and Place |last2=Wolper |first2=Ethel Sara |last3=Pinto |first3=Paulo G. |date=2020-12-07 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-44427-0 |pages=205 |language=en}}</ref> A citadel with corrugated walls overlooks the escarpment.<ref name=":052" /> |
||
Devkesen is a huge [[rectangle]] of stone walls with numerous towers and a complex gate structure. Around the fortress there was a deep ditch carved into the slope. At the foot of the “upper city” there is located, close to the rock, the second rectangle of the “lower city”, surrounded by walls, dating back to the late [[Middle Ages]]. To the south-west of both cities lies the third rectangle - the layout of an extensive late medieval park. The ancient, well-preserved [[Fortification|fortifications]] here were widely used as the basis for the medieval defensive system. The fortress rises picturesquely above the 30-meter cliff of Ustyurt Plateau, crowned with the magnificent outlines of a mighty adobe [[citadel]] tower and a row of late medieval mausoleums stretched along it.<ref name=":03">{{Cite web|url=http://turklib.ru/general_history/putevoditel_po_arheologo-arhitekturnym_pamyatnikam_tashauzskoi_oblasti.html|title=Путеводитель по археолого-архитектурным памятникам Ташаузской области|author=Х.Юсупов|date=1989|location=Ашхабад|publisher=Туркменистан|access-date=2022-01-24|archive-date=2022-01-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123073257/http://turklib.ru/general_history/putevoditel_po_arheologo-arhitekturnym_pamyatnikam_tashauzskoi_oblasti.html|deadlink=no}}</ref> |
|||
In the late Middle Ages, a reloigious-memorial [[Architectural ensemble|ensemble]] was formed in Devkesen, from which a mosque and 3 mausoleums remained, the names of which have not been preserved. The main mausoleum has a high [[Portal (architecture)|portal]] on the main [[Façade|facade]] and vaulted niches on the rest, covered with a [[dome]] on top. The other two mausoleums were built using the same design and compositional techniques. All three mausoleums were built parallel to the fortress wall. The almost completely destroyed building of the mosque during its existence had a courtyard surrounded by arched galleries on pillars; the walls and pillars were made of stone, while the domes and arches were made of baked brick. The [[Interior design|decor]] on these monuments has not been preserved<ref>{{Cite web|lang=ru|url=https://turkmenportal.com/catalog/1142|title=Городище Девкесен (Вазир)|author=turkmenportal|website=Туркменистан, интернет портал о культурной, деловой и развлекательной жизни в Туркменистане|access-date=2022-01-24|archive-date=2022-01-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124053226/https://turkmenportal.com/catalog/1142|deadlink=no}}</ref>. Devkesen is one of the most picturesque monuments of medieval [[Khwarazm|Khorezm]] architecture. |
|||
=== Tourism === |
=== Tourism === |
||
Revision as of 05:06, 5 November 2023
42°17′15″N 58°23′56″E / 42.28750°N 58.39889°E Dev-Kesken (also: Devkesen; Russian: Девкесен; Turkmen: Döwkesen)[a] is an archaeological site in the Dashoguz region of northern Turkmenistan, 62 km west of Koneurgench.[1][2]
Location
It is located at the edges of a 30 km-long escarpment, on the southern tip of the Ustyurt Plateau.[1]
History
The site appears to have been settled around 4th century BCE.[1] It corresponds to the medieval settlement of Vazir; in 1558, English traveler Anthony Jenkinson had visited the town and spoken favorably of the local melon produce.[1] Jenkinson already noted the rivers to be drying and Vazir would be abandoned soon.[1][3]
Site
The sides of the city facing the plateau are walled.[1] Within the city, lie the ruins of three mausolea —dating to 15th century— and a mosque.[1][4] A citadel with corrugated walls overlooks the escarpment.[1]
Devkesen is a huge rectangle of stone walls with numerous towers and a complex gate structure. Around the fortress there was a deep ditch carved into the slope. At the foot of the “upper city” there is located, close to the rock, the second rectangle of the “lower city”, surrounded by walls, dating back to the late Middle Ages. To the south-west of both cities lies the third rectangle - the layout of an extensive late medieval park. The ancient, well-preserved fortifications here were widely used as the basis for the medieval defensive system. The fortress rises picturesquely above the 30-meter cliff of Ustyurt Plateau, crowned with the magnificent outlines of a mighty adobe citadel tower and a row of late medieval mausoleums stretched along it.[5]
In the late Middle Ages, a reloigious-memorial ensemble was formed in Devkesen, from which a mosque and 3 mausoleums remained, the names of which have not been preserved. The main mausoleum has a high portal on the main facade and vaulted niches on the rest, covered with a dome on top. The other two mausoleums were built using the same design and compositional techniques. All three mausoleums were built parallel to the fortress wall. The almost completely destroyed building of the mosque during its existence had a courtyard surrounded by arched galleries on pillars; the walls and pillars were made of stone, while the domes and arches were made of baked brick. The decor on these monuments has not been preserved[6]. Devkesen is one of the most picturesque monuments of medieval Khorezm architecture.
Tourism
The site was a tourism mainstay till c. 2003, when Turkmen Army started prohibiting visitors on the ground that the access-road passed through Uzbek territory.[1]
Notes
- ^ The name is also transliterated as Davkesen, Devkesen, Devkesken, Devkisken etc.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Brummell, Paul (2005). Turkmenistan. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 180. ISBN 978-1-84162-144-9.
- ^ Bregel, Yuri (2003-01-01). "Major Archeological Sites". An Historical Atlas of Central Asia. Handbook of Oriental Studies: Section 8 Uralic & Central Asian Studies (9). Brill. p. 5. ISBN 978-90-474-0121-6.
- ^ Mayers, Kit (2016-11-07). The First English Explorer: The life of Anthony Jenkinson (1529-1611) and his adventures on the route to the Orient. Troubador Publishing Ltd. pp. 106–107. ISBN 978-1-78589-228-8.
- ^ Ephrat, Daphna; Wolper, Ethel Sara; Pinto, Paulo G. (2020-12-07). Saintly Spheres and Islamic Landscapes: Emplacements of Spiritual Power across Time and Place. BRILL. p. 205. ISBN 978-90-04-44427-0.
- ^ Х.Юсупов (1989). "Путеводитель по археолого-архитектурным памятникам Ташаузской области". Ашхабад: Туркменистан. Archived from the original on 2022-01-23. Retrieved 2022-01-24.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadlink=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ turkmenportal. "Городище Девкесен (Вазир)". Туркменистан, интернет портал о культурной, деловой и развлекательной жизни в Туркменистане (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2022-01-24. Retrieved 2022-01-24.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadlink=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)
 | This article relating to archaeology in Asia is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This Turkmenistan-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |