Nouvelles recherches à Takht-i Sangin

Overview & Synopsis

Takht-i Sangin, south of actual Tajikistan and north of ancient Bactria, is located on the right bank of Amu Darya, on a narrow land between Teshik Tosh mountain on the west and the river on the east. The site was excavated by several expeditions who mainly concentrated on the Oxus temple and dated the foundation from 3rd c. B.C. to 2d c. A.D. A French-Tajik association (Institute of History, Archaeology and Ethnology, Sciences Academy of Tajikistan and French National Centre for Scientific Research) lead preliminary research in 2014, to try to precise the nature and the evolution of the urban area. One of the aims was to provide a supplementary bearing for the knowledge of Bactrian cities for whom it is close geographically and chronologically, like Bactra, Ai Khanum, Termez. Topographical and geophysical studies began simultaneously with a pedestrian survey and targeted archaeological excavations on two ramparts (closest to the temple).