The Iron Gate and its environs in the Hellenistic period. Preliminary report for archaeological research in the Baysun District (South Uzbekistan), Season 2019
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The Iron Gate and its environs in the Hellenistic period. Preliminary report for archaeological research in the Baysun District (South Uzbekistan), Season 2019 Ladislav Stančo– Jan Kysela– Shapulat Shaydullaev– Tomáš Bek– Matěj Kmošek– Kahramon Toshaliyev– Petra Mrvová– Tatiana Votroubeková– Jana Matznerová ABSTRACT is report summarizes the starting points, methods and results of the archaeological research of the Czech-Uzbek team investigating the Hellenistic selements in the vicinity of Darband, in the upper reaches of the Sherabad Darya, in the Baysun District of southern Uzbekistan in season 2019. Asignificant amount of archaeological material has been obtained using asystematic surface metal detector survey and targeted excavations of alimited scope. We were able to confirm that some of these sites, such as Daganajam Tepa and perhaps also Mirzali, were inhabited only in the Hellenistic period, while in the case of the others, aselement in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC was only one of their occupation phases (Kapchigay Tepa, Darband wall). KEYWORDS Darband wall; surface survey; metal detectors; Bactria; Hellenistic period; Baysun Mountains; Kugitang Piedmonts. INTRODUCTION Resuming archaeological survey works of two previous field seasons (2017, 2018) undertaken within the framework of the project ‘On the Oxyartes’ Rock: detecting forts and refuges of the Alexander the Great period in Central Asia’, the Czech-Uzbek team aimed to explore the hitherto detected sites in the Bactro-Sogdian borderlands (in the vicinity of the famous Iron Gate of Darband) in order to obtain as much archaeological data on the Hellenistic selement in the study region as possible. At the same time, we placed an emphasis on the employment of the least destructive research methods. In this second step of the research, we launched several activities, primarily asystematic metal detector survey at the Darband wall and several other sites. Secondly, selected sites became subject to small-scale trial excavations. Moreover, by means of the surface survey we continued targeting the gaps between the already known sites. e amount of archaeological material gained during the survey is immense and it is beyond the scope of the present report to make it all public. In the following pages we summarize our aims, methods, and results in avery preliminary way, while the in-depth publications of the data and material, as well as afinal evaluation of these, will follow soon. e field season of the Czech-Uzbek expedition in 2019 lasted from September 8 to September 27 with its base situated again in aprivate house in astrategically located Darband village, from where individual research groups could easily reach all the relevant sites. STUDIA HERCYNIA XXVI/2, 91–114
92 STUDIA HERCYNIA XXVI/2 METAL DETECTOR SURVEY Since 2015, the Czech-Uzbek team started using metal detectors during both the archaeological excavations and surface surveys in the Sherabad and Baysun Districts, although on alimited scale. In the very beginning, at the sites dating from the second half of the 2nd millennium BC (Yaz Iculture) in the Pashkhurt basin, one or two devices were employed in the field with two basic goals: to gain all– or at least some– metal objects at the sites of this culture for which metal artefacts are basically unknown; and to sample selected locations in the landscape during the surface survey in order to gain significant chronologically sensitive artefacts such as coins and arrow heads.1 e obvious success of the laer approach led us to consider amore systematic use of this method. Hence, the first systematic (as opposed to the earlier sampling / random) metal detector survey was conducted from the 8th to the 24th September 2019 at the following archaeological sites: Darband wall, Daganajam Tepa (village of the same name), Mirzali at Khojay Gor (close to Loylagan village), and Kapchigay (part of Darband village) (cf. the map in Fig. 1). Typically, four metal detectors operated simultaneously under the direction of Tomáš Bek. e team members were Miroslav Kratochvíl, Jan Černý, and Marek Vinklát. e detectorists were supported by aperson operating ahand-held GPS to pinpoint the position of the detected metal objects. Apart from amore systematic and intensive survey, the methodological starting points were designed along the same lines as in 2018 (Stančo etal. forthcoming), when the survey method was based upon verified practices (Vích 2014; Boon 2013). e basic idea of the survey was to minimise the negative impact on archaeological contexts and especially to avoid entirely intact archaeological situations thus preventing their disruption. For this very reason, VLF (Very Low Frequency) metal detectors were used, which do not have alarge depth range (tens of centimetres at the most), but allow the detection of small metal objects (even in fractions of grams). e XP Deus detector with different types of coils was used for prospecting. For the location of finds, total station was used first, but this practice was soon given up since the difficult terrain made the systematic use of this device impossible. Consequently, only ahand-held GPS receiver was used, producing ameasurement error in units of meters at most. Tab.1 shows the time consumption and the yield of the finds at individual sites.2 Our aim was to distribute the man / hour effort evenly at various parts of the sites in order to compare the find density and their spatial relations to the site’stopographic features. e ‘all metal’ mode of the devices was systematically used for the prospecting in order to avoid any unwanted discrimination against some metals, especially iron. Only obviously modern items, such as bullets, cartridge cases, wires etc., were removed from the find corpus. All other objects were cleaned, conserved, measured, weighed, photographed, and also partly drawn. ey were also subject to pXRF measurements aiming to determine their elemental composition (see below). Tab.2 demonstrates the general overview of the find assemblage characteristics. Aseries of detailed publications of various classes of objects prepared in collaboration with relevant specialists will follow in the near future. 1For part of the results and description of the method prior to the systematic phase, see Stančo etal. forthcoming. 2 e basic characteristics of all the mentioned sites were recently published (Stančo 2021) some other information can be found below.
93STANČO et al. Tab.1: e amount of time and labour invested to the individual sites during the metal detector survey. Date Site Sector Devices Time spent (hours) Men/hours 08/09/19 Mirzali (Khojay Gor) whole 4 4 16 09/09/19 Darband Wall Northeastern part 1 4 8 32 10/09/19 Darband Wall Northeastern part 2 Nortwestern 4 8 32 11/09/19 Darband Wall Nortwestern 4 4 16 11/09/19 Kapchigay Tepa among the houses in the village 4 1.5 6 12/09/19 Darband Wall Central part – east 1 4 7 28 13/09/19 Daganajam Tepa Tepa 3 3 9 13/09/19 Darband Wall Central part – east 2 4 4 16 15/09/19 Darband Wall Southeast (around the fort) 3 6 18 16/09/19 Darband Wall Southeast 4 7.5 30 17/09/19 Darband Wall Southeast and south 4 8 32 18/09/19 Darband Wall South and soutwest 4 8 32 19/09/19 Kapchigay Tepa Slope above 3 3 9 19/09/19 Daganajam Tepa Tepa LeÁ river bank 4 2 8 21/09/19 Darband Wall Central part – west Around the bridge (west of DW) 4 5 20 23/09/19 Kapchigay Slope above 1 6 6 24/09/19 Mirzali (Khojay Gor) slopes 1 8 8 In total 4 sites 93 318 Tab.2: e yield of finds from the surveyed sites. Site Darband Wall Daganajam Tepa Kapchigay (tepa) Kapchigay (slope above) Mirzali In total Men / hours 256 17 10 11 24 318 N° of finds total 629 21 6 53 112 821 N°of fins in Copper alloys 518 18 5 50 94 685 Silver 29 0 0 3 4 36 Gold 2 0 0 0 0 2 Lead 52 1 1 0 12 66 Iron 25 2 0 0 2 29 Coins 365 7 2 22 55 451 Arrowheads 53 2 0 5 0 60 Finger rings 3 0 0 0 1 4
94 STUDIA HERCYNIA XXVI/2 Fig. 1: Map of the western part of the Baysun District with all the sites mentioned in the text.
95STANČO et al. TRIAL EXCAVATIONS AT THE HELLENISTIC SITES AROUND DARBAND e excavations of the 2019 campaign concentrated as arule on sites identified or confirmed as Hellenistic3 ones during earlier surveys. e aim of these digs was not to gain exhaustive information but to obtain some basic data concerning the sites’ inner chronology (number of occupation horizons, presence of preand post-Hellenistic occupation), the nature of Hellenistic occupation, and the state of preservation of archaeological structures. e principal objective was therefore to sample the highest possible number of sites in the study region with focused small-scale interventions. Among the known sites were thus selected Daganajam Tepa, Kapchigay Tepa, Kapchigay– the slope of Ketman Chapty, Mirzali at Khojay Gor, and to acertain degree also the Darband wall itself, the research on which however was approached differently (see below). All the excavations were documented by photography with some selected features and the final situation captured by a3D photogrammetric model from which precise ground plans were generated. e details on the location, topography, and preliminary interpretation are summarized in an earlier article (Stančo 2021), hence we limit ourselves here only to the description of the recent excavations and their results accompanied by the ground plans of the trenches and poery drawings. DAGANAJAM TEPA e hillock of Daganajam (or Dakhna-i-jom) Tepa overlooking the river valley of Sherabad Darya was identified as apotential Hellenistic selement during L. Stančo’ssurveys in 2018 (Stančoetal. 2019, 150–151; with the description repeated and elaborated in Stančo 2021, 69). e Hellenistic occupation was suggested by finds of characteristic poery and of Seleucid and Greco-Bactrian coins (Seleucus Ior Antiochos I, Euthydemus I, Demetrius I; see Stančo etal. forthcoming). e roughly circular summit of the hill served as achildren’scemetery until the recent past and is currently covered with thick grassy vegetation. Now the summit is widely occupied by tortoises whose deep burrows disturb the subsurface layers. All these circumstances led us to open a2×4 m trench (longer axis E-W) on the very eastern edge of the hill facing the river valley, in an area outside the densest undergrowth and devoid of traces of recent graves (Fig. 2). e excavation was carried out by one archaeologist and two workers over six working days. e first spit (top-soil) [001] was followed by asterile layer of eroded eolic deposits [002]. Already at this level ared-burnt stain [003] was visible in the E half of the trench. At adepth of amere 5 cm astraight line of reddish burnt soil [004] crossing the entire trench in the SSW-NNE direction appeared beneath it. It turned out to be the E edge of amudbrick wall. e wall divided the trench into two distinct areas. e area E of the wall was filled in with apowdery, highly eroded layer [007] in which we failed to distinguish any stratigraphy, nor did we identify aclear walking horizon. is part of the trench was interpreted as an outdoor zone while the zone W of the wall is to be considered the interior of abuilding. e laer was topped up with awind driven deposit [006] apparently resulting from the gradual filling-in of the abandoned structure. e deposit [008], underlying [006] in the entire area inside the wall and beginning at adepth of ca. 40 cm from the W edge of the trench, was clearly more 3 By the vague term ‘Hellenistic’ we understand here all selements dated according to the finds to the period from Alexander the Great to the late 2nd century BC, including the Seleucid and especially the Greco-Bactrian period.
96 STUDIA HERCYNIA XXVI/2 Fig. 2: Daganajam Tepa, satellite image of the site taken during the excavation. e trench is clearly visible (indicated by the arrow). Source: Google Earth. Fig. 3: Daganajam Tepa. e abandon horizon. Photo: J. Kysela.
97STANČO et al. heterogeneous both in colour and composition (disordered fragments of mudbricks; numerous cavities; patches of sand and small pebbles) suggesting its origin as being the eroded and disintegrated destruction of abuilding (Fig. 3). AÁer adepth of some 20–30 cm, this previously sterile deposit grew considerably richer in poery fragments. is horizon was distinguished as stratigraphic unit [009], i.e. the lowermost portion of the destruction, overlying the actual frequentation horizon. At the same depth of ca. 80 cm from the W edge of the trench there was agrey crumbly layer [014] (remains of afloor?) in the Ssection near the wall [004] (Fig. 4) and aclear concentration of sherds from asingle storage vessel nearby; mudbrick outlines were clearly visible in the W section though none of them could be outlined in order to be measured. At adepth of 92 cm (while no apparent changes appeared in the stratigraphic unit [009] in the central part of the trench), the W part could be distinguished as asolid stony layer [011] in the N and acrumbly layer [012] consisting mostly of mudbrick fragments in the central and southern part of the trench. Roughly from this level, some degree of charcoal and rubified soil and stains of awhite crust could be clearly observed, continuing to the layer [013] starting at adepth of 103 cm from the W edge (Fig. 5). Although we failed to identify the actual floor (the remains of which could be represented by the crust [014]) we can confidently assert that the horizon of [009]–[012] represents the remains of aselement horizon– possibly disturbed by elements aÁer the abandonment of the building but before the final collapse of the structures. e deposit [013] could have been the levelling layer. e wall [004] was heavily eroded– only asingle row of mudbricks was preserved. e base of the wall was built of asolid block of pakhsa with bricks preserved only along the N portion Fig. 4: Daganajam Tepa. e destruction horizon. Photo: J. Kysela.
98 STUDIA HERCYNIA XXVI/2 of the W edge. e Spart of the unearthed portion of the wall does not seem ever to have been covered with bricks and it even features patches of [014] continuing from the interior. It is therefore probable that there was adoorway in this part of the wall. e dimensions of the three (partly) preserved bricks are 23×23, 23×33/36, and 23×46 cm. eir thickness could not be stated with any confidence. Fig. 5: Daganajam Tepa. e destruction horizon. View from the north. Photo: J. Kysela. Fig. 6: Daganajam Tepa. e final plan. Photogrammetry based drawing: T. Votroubeková, J. Kysela.
99STANČO et al. Fig. 7: Daganajam Tepa, poÇery from the excavation. 1– DGJ19_01_002.002; 2– DGJ19_01_006.001; 3– DJG19_01_015_002; 4– DJG19_01_007_002; 5– DJG19_01_014_002; 6– DJG19_01_011_001; 7– DJG19_01_013_002. Drawings J. Matznerová and T. Kolmačka. In the N part of the trench, the wall covers apit [015/016] in the geological soil [017]. Whether of anthropic or natural origin (should it be anthropogenic there are no clear hints of its original function), prior to the construction of the wall, the pit was filled in with large boulders and asandy layer [019] and sealed with ahard calcareous layer containing numerous stones
106 STUDIA HERCYNIA XXVI/2 Fig. 16: Kapchigay– slope of Ketman Chapti. Trench in the foundations of the ‘tower’. Photo J. Kysela. MIRZALI KURGAN (AT KHOJAY GOR) Besides ametal detector survey, the archaeological activities at Mirzali (Stančo 2021, 73–74) in the vicinity of the Khojay Gor hamlet (which in turn forms apart of the larger village of Loylagan) included an excavation of atrial trench (Fig. 17). Apart from the questions of the Fig. 17: Mirzali Kurgan, Khojay Gor. Satellite image of the site with the location of the trench highlighted. Source: Google Earth.
107STANČO et al. site’schronology, function, and preservation, asignificant objective was also the investigation of the rampart which was apparently preserved in some parts of the site. In order to address these diverse issues, we planted a2×7 m trench in the southern part of the site, covering the entire width of the elevated ridge of the plateau assumed to be arampart as well as arepresentative portion of the site’sinner area. Moreover, it was precisely in this part of the site– close to the rampart– that an entire and intact bronze bowl was discovered during the preliminary metal detector survey. e findspot of the bowl was included in the trench in the hope of gaining further information on its original context. e trench (Fig. 18) was excavated by one archaeologist and two workers over three working days. e results proved relatively unsatisfactory: from the topsoil to the bedrock (at adepth of ca. 100 cm) the deposits turned out to be entirely mixed up and homogenised with plant roots and insect nests appearing through the entire depth of the deposits. Stratigraphic units [001–003] were distinguished only as mechanical spits based arbitrarily on the degree of soil homogenisation which was extreme even in the lowermost horizon [003]. Although elements like mudbrick fragments, charcoal, and poery were present (mainly in [003]), all the stratigraphy seems to be completely destroyed by the– for some reason extremely intense– humification processes. Fig. 18: Mirzali Kurgan, Khojay Gor. Plan and southern section of the 2019 trench. Photogrammetry based drawing: T. Votroubeková, J. Kysela. e rampart is worthy of aention. Its main body– probably built of mudbricks (of which only extremely deteriorated blobs remained)– was laid on top of abank carved of the local soÁ gypsum bedrock (Fig. 19). While the upper part– roughly stepped– has much eroded, the beer protected area at the foot of the rampart produced an impressive image of alevelled area with around niche densely covered with traces of chiselling (Fig. 20).
108 STUDIA HERCYNIA XXVI/2 Fig. 19: Mirzali Kurgan, Khojay Gor. e rampart. Photo: J. Kysela. Fig. 20: Mirzali Kurgan, Khojay Gor. Base of the rampart, detail. Photo: J. Kysela.
109STANČO et al. Fig. 21: Mirzali Kurgan, Khojay Gor. PoÇery. 1–2– finds from the excavation trench (CG2019_01_002.005–006); 3–11– surface finds. Drawings J. Matznerová and T. Kolmačka.
110 STUDIA HERCYNIA XXVI/2 e results do not much help our understanding of the site beyond what we already knew from the surface survey. We ascertained the presence of the rampart, albeit only enhancing the natural protection of the site and at least the finds from our excavation (Fig. 21) suggest that ahuman presence at the site was limited to the Hellenistic period (disregarding the numerous Medieval finds in the survey). Any closer information on the site’shistory is however extremely difficult to obtain by elementary archaeological means. Further focused archaeological excavations in different parts of the summit might contribute to our understanding of the site’schronology and function. DARBAND WALL e archaeological investigation of the Darband wall itself poses some major problems. Aseries of archaeological excavations at various parts of this large structure were carried out by aFrench-Uzbek team 20 years ago (Rapin – Khasanov – Rakhmanov 2022) and at present, we do not have any reason to resume or repeat it along similar methodological lines. As discussed above, we devoted much effort to the surface survey, mainly to the systematic metal detector survey. We also collected alarge body (ca. 300 diagnostic fragments, mostly rims) of poery material from various parts of the wall, since only asurprisingly few ceramic finds from the digs here have so far been made public. Concerning the excavations, our effort focused on one singular task only, which was the cleaning and thorough documentation of the stratigraphic section that emerged by chance as aresult of the recent construction works of the highway that connects central and southern Uzbekistan. e section is situated to the south of this new road and high above it, as the road is cut deeply into the former terrain. is spot lies at the northern end of what we consider to be the central part of the wall (Fig. 22). Our aim was to compare this new section with the one located further to the south that has already been published (Rapin – Khasanov – Rakhmanov 2022). e central part of the section that was documented was ca. 7–8 m long and more than 3 m high. Altogether, 22 stratigraphical units have been identified including four walls with the earliest phase of astone wall, which is the best preserved one, being constructed upon apakhsa substructure which itself lies on agypsum subsoil. e second stone wall might or might not be related to the first one (as its proteichisma), again built in stone. Only the third wall was built of mudbricks. Since we only cleaned the section and did not excavate it extensively, we did not gain archaeological material sufficient for the relative dating. On the other hand, we took several samples of various layers that included organic particles, such as charcoals. e radiocarbon dating of the sample is underway. e final publication of the work at the Darband wall will deal with both the results of the analyses of these section samples and quantitative, qualitative, as well as spatial analyses of the material collected on the surface. Obviously, this complex fortification structure provides arare opportunity to answer various important questions related to Greek and Yue-zhi / Kushan military control of this area. Further research, taking into account the rapid damaging of the site due to various construction activities as well as stone mining in the neighbourhood is highly recommended.
111STANČO et al. CONSERVATION, DOCUMENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF METAL FINDS In total, 831 artefacts were found by metal detectors during the 2019 autumn expedition. ese finds came from the sites of the Darband wall, Mirzali Kurgan (Khojay Gor), Kapchigay, and Daganjam Tepa. e set consists of various materials– copper alloys, lead, silver, gold, and iron (the last two materials were quite sporadic). ey had to be properly treated and documented for further evaluation. ey were gently cleaned by mechanical and in afew cases (selected silver coins) also chemical way, professionally conserved, and thoroughly documented by photography and measuring (weight and size). For this purpose, afield conservation and documentation laboratory were set up at Darband village. PROCEDURE OF CONSERVATION Because of the absence of an available permanent conservation laboratory in south Uzbekistan, afield one was set up. It consisted of restoration and documentation equipment brought from Europe (including e.g. an ultrasonic cleaner and precision hand drill/grinder with various inserts). e possibilities provided by this equipment were to some extent limited especially considering cleaning and desiccation of artefacts. Even so, it was possible to follow most of the contemporary standard conservation procedures. e objective of cleaning and conservation was to reveal the original surface of the artefacts, and to make the structural and decorative elements on the objects more legible (Fig. 23). e artefacts were documented by photography before cleaning and aÁer conservation. Soil dirt and cohesionless corrosion products were removed from the surface of the artefacts mainly by mechanical cleaning. It was done using coon balls, acuminous wooden tools, anyFig. 22: e Darband wall. Satellite image of the site with highlighted location of the trench. Source: Google Earth.
112 STUDIA HERCYNIA XXVI/2 lon brush, a steel scalpel, ultrasonic cleaning in combination with water, and scouring with various inserts mounted on aprecision hand drill/grinder (plastic, iron, and brass brushes, grindstone etc.). Selected silver coins were cleaned chemically by 5% dilution of Chelaton III in combination with mechanical cleaning by acuminous wooden tools and ultrasonic cleaning. e desiccation of artefacts was done by sunlight on ablack plate for at least two days (estimated temperature over 60 °C). e individual cleaning procedures and tools were used with respect to the artefact material and condition and in away to preserve its complex value. Non-ferrous artefacts were conserved by two layers of acrylic lacquer Paraloid B72 dissolved in acetone (5% and 10% respectively). Corrosion products of iron artefacts were stabilized by atannate solution and then also conserved by two layers of 10% solution of acrylic lacquer Paraloid B72 and one layer of microcrystalline wax Revax dissolved in gasoline. AÁer the final documentation (photography, drawing, weight and size measuring), the artefacts were stored separately in lockable plastic bags made of polyethylene. Fig. 23: A copper alloy coin before (le¢) and a¢er cleaning and conservation (right). ELEMENTAL COMPOSITION ANALYSIS e metal finds were subject to elemental composition analysis by aportable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) spectrometer Delta Professional4 fixed in afield stand. Elemental composition analysis was carried out on all non-ferrous metal finds (alloys of copper, gold, silver, and lead) discovered during the 2019 season. Atotal of 792 artefacts were analysed in 1254 analyses. Some of the artefacts with separate parts and coins (obverse and reverse) were analysed on more than one spot. Elemental composition analysis by pXRF allows for acompletely non-destructive surface analysis which provides general information about the material composition considering the base metal, alloying elements, and also admixtures. e results of surface analyses have to be cautiously evaluated in light of the fact that surface layers are noticeably altered especially by corrosion processes and by soil contamination on the surface. For this reason, some of the artefacts were sampled for more advanced analysis (ED-XRF, ICP-MS, metallography). Sampling was done either by drilling of the material from the metal core by an Fe-TiN drill with a1 mm diameter or by cuing off asmall piece of material by jigsaw or pliers. 4Rh X-ray tube, mode Analytical Plus, measurement time 30 s, collimator 8 or 3 mm, automatic evaluation of data
113STANČO et al. e set of non-ferrous finds acquired by metal detectors is very non-homogeneous in type, date, and even sites (Tab.2). erefore, its evaluation is quite complicated and the results of the material composition analysis will be published in thematically separated studies along with athorough typo-chronological evaluation of the finds. Studies on Hellenistic coins and arrowheads are currently in preparation. An evaluation of the elemental composition of the artefacts in comparison with analogical finds can provide insights into long and even short- -term trends in the metallurgy of non-ferrous materials and artefacts (especially alloying techniques and admixture signatures). It can offer an additional level of information with significant cultural, historical, and technical implications. CONCLUSION e field research of the Czech-Uzbek expedition in the Darband area of Surkhan Darya province in 2019 helped us to answer some of the important questions related to the Hellenistic set - tlement dynamics of the Bactro-Sogdian borderlands. Both asurface metal detector survey and targeted small-scale excavations brought to light alarge amount of new archaeological data. While the former contributed to the confirmation of the systematic surface metal detecting method and its significance for the spatio-temporal archaeological record of amicro-region, the laer added further hard evidence for the dating of the given sites to the Hellenistic period previously being based only upon the surface material, as well as for their general characteristics. e trial excavations at the sites of Kapchigay Tepa and Kapchigay– slope, even though providing valuable data, aested also to the low potential for further research, while the other investigated sites: Daganajam, Mirzali, and especially Darband wall seem to offer– despite some limitations– an opportunity to study rural selements or fortifications of the period in question in more detail. e informational basis for an interpretation of this micro-region grows even more, when we consider the aforementioned sites as related to both excavated forts in the area, those of Kurganzol and Uzundara. What especially remains to be evaluated is the function of both the individual sites in this cluster and of the cluster as awhole. And finally, acomposition analysis of the metal finds, as an addition to the typological assessment, is going to provide astrong basis for further studies and robust comparative material. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS e work was supported by the European Regional Development Fund-Project ‘Creativity and Adaptability as Conditions of the Success of Europe in an Interrelated World’ (No. CZ.02.1.01/ 0.0/0.0/16_019/0000734). BIBLIOGRAPHY Boon, R.-J. 2013: Metal maers. Astudy towards the application of metal detection on excavations on Dutch sand soils, clay soils and urban sites. Leiden. Rapin, C. – Khasanov, M. – Rakhmanov, Sh. 2022: e Iron Gates Wall near Derbent (Uzbekistan). From Alexander the Great to the 19th Century. In: Chr. Baumer – M. Novák – S. Rutishauser (eds.): Cultures in Contact. Central Asia as Focus of Trade, Cultural Exchange and Knowledge Transmission. Proceedings of the
114 STUDIA HERCYNIA XXVI/2 Second International Congress on Central Asian Archaeology held at the University of Bern, 13–15 February 2020. SchriÁen zur Vorderasiatischen Archäologie. Wiesbaden, 233–260. DOI: 10.13173/9783447118804.233. Stančo, L. 2021: In the shadow of the Wall. Hellenistic selement in the Baysun and Kugitang piedmonts. Studia Hercynia 25/2, 64–95. Stančo etal. forthcoming = Stančo, L.– Shaydullaev, L.– Militký, J.– Kmošek, M.– Bek, T.: New Hellenistic coin finds from the Baysun and Kugitang Piedmonts, southern Uzbekistan, season 2018. Submied to Ancient Civilizations from Scythia to Siberia. Stančoetal. 2019 = Stančo, L.– Augustinová, A.– Damašek, L.– Bek, T.– Kmošek, M.– Shaydullaev, S.– Khamidov, O.: In the footsteps of Euthydemus. Preliminary report for archaeological survey in the Baysun District (South Uzbekistan), Season 2018. Studia Hercynia 23, 141–172. Vích, D. 2014: Příspěvek kmetodice detektorové prospekce varcheologii [Acontribution to the methodology of metal detector prospecting in archaeology]. Archeologie východních Čech 7, 152–172. Ladislav Stančo Jan Kysela Matěj Kmošek Petra Mrvová Jana Matznerová Institute of Classical Archaeology Faculty of Arts, Charles University Celetná 20, Prague 1, CZ-110 00 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Shapulat Shaydullaev Kahramon Toshaliyev Termez State University 190100, 42, Fayzulla Khojaev Termez, Uzbekistan [email protected] [email protected] Tatiana Votroubeková Institute of Archaeology Slovak Academy of Sciences Department of research of eastern Slovakia Hrnčiarska 13 040 01 Košice Slovak Republic [email protected] Tomáš Bek Institute of Archaeology Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague Letenská 2, CZ-110 00, Prague 1 [email protected]