Aktepa Yunusabad

Yunusobod Oqtepa – medieval archaeological monument (5th–13th centuries). Located in the northeastern part of Tashkent, on the banks of the Oqtepa canal. Recorded in 1886 by V.P. Nalivkin. Excavations were carried out in 1940–41 by A.I. Terenojkin. In 1975 and 1977–85 the Tashkent archaeological expedition (M.S. Mershchiyev, M.I. Filanovich) studied it. The site consists of a high northern part and a flat hill-like fortified settlement and an unfortified village ruin. Its area is about 100, the highest point 21 m. The fortified hill (86–180 m) extends from north to south and is separated from the village by a deep ditch (moat). Excavations show that in the 5th century a palace platform was built on the hilltop, on which a palace was erected. It consists of a two‑storey building resembling a long and wide staircase, the lower storey covering an area of 80 × 80 m and the upper storey 50 × 50 m. In both storeys a long passage – a gallery – was constructed on the interior side, and the exterior was surrounded by a high wall. The outer wall and the roof are covered with tile‑like passages; the gallery is locally called “devg‘isht” and is made of brick blocks (70 × 70 × 70 cm) as well as long raw bricks measuring 48 × 24 × ? cm. The width of the passage ring is 2 m, height 2.3 m. The upper row of passages has vaulted round rooms at the corners, which from the outside form circular towers (mo‘la). The inner part of the square is elongated without a base, consisting of vaulted rooms that connect to the row of passages. In the early 7th century the narrow rooms were filled with earth, forming a solid platform on which buildings were erected. The corner towers of the palace were reinforced, and on its north‑west side a hill building of 22 × 22 m was constructed.

According to the preserved building fragments (late 7th century and early 8th century), the tower was also two‑storeyed, with vaulted rooms on the lower floor and the owner’s residence and guest rooms above. To the north of the tower, 10 rooms were opened, which formed a worship complex. In the eastern part of the tower, 9 long‑room houses were excavated, some of which had a wall‑mounted ladder, light windows on the rear wall, and niches preserved. The rooms, mainly storage, and the long rooms served as shelters for servants and guards.

In the fortress part adjoining the palace of Oqtapa, excavation work was also carried out, revealing the outer wall of the fortress, courtyards and built‑up areas along the wall for guards, a section of the raised road leading toward the tower, and the ruins of structures in front of the gatehouse.

During the excavation, in addition to ceramic fragments, weapons and tools made of stone, bone and metal were found, including iron knives, daggers, axes, sickles, three‑pronged arrowheads, stone projectiles, a mountain‑horned silver ring, and so on. Among the finds, a terracotta figurine of a Neronian horseman is especially noteworthy. Also recorded were silver coins of local rulers from the 5th century, 12 dirhams, and a copper coin with a Sogdian inscription. The coins, strong fire marks and other evidence indicate that the fortress was destroyed in the first quarter of the 8th century. The fortress site was re‑inhabited in the second half of the 8th century. In the 9th–12th centuries it became one of the prosperous villages of the Binkagp region. It suffered a crisis at the beginning of the 13th century.

Literature

Buryakov Yu.F., Kasmmov M.R., Rostovsev O. M., Archaeological Monuments of the Tashkent Region, T., 1973; Mukminova R.G., Filanovich M.I., Tashkent at the Crossroads of History, T., 2001; Muhammadjonov A., Ancient Tashkent, T., 2002.