Nomadic Urbanism at Tashbulak (original) (raw)

2019, Urban Cultures of Central Asia from the Bronze Age to the Karakhanids: Learnings and conclusions from new archaeological investigations and discoveries

Archaeology from the newly discovered town of Tashbulak illustrates the development of a highland urbanism on the part of the Karakhanid (Qarakhanid) Empire, starting in the late 10th century CE. Located roughly 2,100 m asl, the architecture of Tashbulak covers 7 ha and its planning reflects urban principles common to known cities of the medieval period. From the results of our geophysical survey, we mapped major sectors of the town, including the citadel (and possible caserns), a lower town area with metallurgical workshops, and a large necropolis. Conspicuously absent at Tashbulak is a large and dense residential quarter and fortification wall, but at least one defensive tower is likely on the town’s south-eastern corner. While the planning of this highland centre was broadly in line with lowland cities, the Karakhanids adapted their construction at Tashbulak in the highlands to better align with the nomadic political structure, land tenure, economy, craft and industrial development that prevailed across Central Asia’s mountainous regions at the time. We argue that the Karakhanids innovated this unique form of highland “nomadic” urbanism, possibly to increase political integration of nomads across diverse geographic settings and to leverage a wider geographic range of demographic and economic resources fundamental to the growth and control of their empire. While still at an early stage of research at Tashbulak, we offer here a first look at nomadic highland urbanism and its relationship with the diverse institutional domains that defined the Karakhanid state.