Abstract
Old Qahqa (Kunja Qaahqa) is among the largest ancient fortresses of Southern Turkmenistan. It drew the attention of many well-known researchers and even was an excavation site, but due to different circumstances there is still no detailed information on this monument. In this article an attempt is made to change the situation partly. The early settlement in this territory appeared probably during the Achaemenid period. But the fortress, which the part was dated by scholars to the Parthian time, is surely dated to the Early Sassanid period. In the Middle Ages there were some more attempts of its restoration. It was used by the famous military leader Timur in 1382 under the siege of Qalat Fortress.
Keywords
History, archeology, Central Asia, Turkmenistan, Etek, Sasanian architecture, Isidore bey Charax
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