In Uzbekistan found the analogue of the great wall of China
Archaeological research was built in the III century BC fortress Uzundara showed that she was a part of the fortification system of the Seleucid Empire, which protected its Northern border from the raids of nomads. Scientists called it the great Bactrian wall — similar to the much more famous and large-scale Chinese serf structure.
About it it is told in the press release of the Institute of archaeology Russian Academy of Sciences, received Indicator.Ru.
Uzundara fortress was located on the territory of ancient Bactria — States that existed on the territory of modern Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
During the construction of Uzundara — it was the end of III century BC — Bactria belonged to the Seleucid Empire, which was formed after the death of Alexander the great’s Empire.
The fortress was built in Byanski the mountains, which, as researchers found, was the natural border of the state at the time. They collected data showed that all the gorges of this mountain range, convenient for the cavalry controlled the fortress, linked together in a defensive line. She defended the state of the Seleucids from the North, the nomadic tribes of the Saks and weja. Part of this wall system was from 100 to 3000 meters in length. The unity of fortifications, says what all patients of the fortress of the same material of construction, size and stone processing.
In Uzundara fortress, the archeologists, housed a Greco-Macedonian garrison, which defended the Northern borders from attacks from the outside and confirmed the power of the Seleucid dynasty in the region. Such structures could defend themselves against the nomads, and to pass through smoke or fire signals about the attack.
It is established that the fortress consisted of the main quadrangle in a diamond shape, a triangular citadel (phylacteries), surrounded by massive double walls with an inner gallery with a width of about nine meters, and the external walls, which were fortified 13 rectangular bastions-towers, three of which were also remote.
The basis phylacteries was the Central building (the rock complex), and a room with two large cellars. One of them, with dimensions of 10 x 5 meters and a depth of 4 meters, the inside was sheathed with lead plates on the bronze nails and rivets of lead, also in the basement was waterproofed (bitumen plaster walls) and drain water. It is assumed that in this building were stored supplies of food in case of siege, as well as the ice from which the soldiers could get water in case of siege. Outside the fortress was a marketplace where local residents brought supplies to the soldiers of the garrison. Around the rock were located playgrounds and courtyards. To the walls inside the perimeter adjoined at about 12 commercial and residential premises.
During the excavations the archaeologists found few unique details of the iron helmets, plate armor, weapon, 200 coins and various fragments of pottery. Analysis of the findings led to the conclusion that the fortress existed for only about 150 years. A large number of arrowheads and spears found in one place, pointed to the fact that it was there that the fortress was stormed. And that is very appreciated at the time, the weapons remained intact, the researchers conclude, was a sign that to take him was just a nobody.
“For a hundred years Greek culture in the East remained virtually unchanged: the same forms of pottery vessels, fishing plates, bowls there are almost unchanged. Therefore, many researchers refuse the opportunity to track changes within these fifteen hundred years. We have introduced the ability to conclusively separate these one hundred and fifty years, sub-steps, and not on any kind of materials. Thus, the materials Uzundara allow us to study and reconstruct all spheres of life of the Seleucid and Greco-Bactrian fortresses”, — concluded the head of the Bactrian detachment of the Central Asian archaeological expedition IA RAS Nigora Dvurechenskaya.