A faience statue of a dog, conveying with realism breed qualities of Turkmen Alabai was discovered during the excavations of the medieval settlement of Dandanakan on the territory of Mary velayat by archaeologists of the National Department for Protection, Study and Restoration of Historical and Cultural Monuments.
The signs inherent in the statuette: a large head in the skull with developed cheekbones and a massive jaw, a flat forehead, widely spaced round eyes, a short neck, a powerful chest and sthenic, strong paws testify to the conservation of the breed for thousands of years. The Dandanakan statuette depicts an Alabai puppy, lying quietly, tightening paws. A fine example of small plastic was originally painted and glazed, but long centuries of stay in the earth has damaged the majolica, which preserved only partially . Before the find becomes the property of the museum, restorers of the National Department for the Protection, Study and Restoration of the Monuments of History and Culture of the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan have carefully to fix the layer that has become unusable.
It is symbolic that the figurine was discovered in the year of 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, the image of which exactly alabai was chosen, personifying steadfastness, devotion, strength and at the same time - friendliness and sincerity.
The first days of excavations on Dandanakan brought many other finds of pottery, bronze products and architectural details. Particularly the set of objects made of bronze was distinguished - fixtures-chiragi of various forms, engraved dishes, bowls, jugs and a pot, covered with intricate ornamentation and benevolent inscriptions. Dandanakan is a settlement on the western outskirts of the Murgab oasis, 60 kilometers from Ancient Merv, was first mentioned in medieval sources in the VIIIth century, but judging by archaeological materials, it was establisged much earlier. The battle in the neighborhood of Dandanakan went down in history , when on May 23, 1040, the sixteen thousand-strong Turkmen cavalry of Seljuk, under the command of brothers Togrulbek and Chagrybek, routed the thrice greater by number the strength of the Gaznevid sultan Masud.
Dandankan served as a fortress for many years , guarding the oasis of Merv from the sand, had a clear regular layout, an extensive handicraft suburb was around it . It served for centuries as an important point on the Great Silk Road, mentioned in almost all Arab and Persian medieval geographical works, describing the road from Serakhs to Merv.
In this town there were several caravanserais, one of which was discovered by the current expedition. Its ruins were cleaned, which will allow restoring the layout of the building, to clarify the time of construction and operation. In later times, when Dandanakan fell into decay, its historical name was forgotten, the settlement began to be called Dashrabat, to which, of course, the monumentality of its ruins contributed.
Planned excavations of this once important site of international caravan trade, initiated by specialists of the National Department for the Protection, Study and Restoration of Monuments, will be continued in the next field seasons.
Archaeologists met ancient images of Alabai on the territory of Turkmenistan before as well. Terracotta figures of dogs with cropped ears and tail were found in different years on Altyn-depe and Gonur-depe (second millennium BC). A huge dog can be seen on the relief of one of the Parthian rhytons found in the Old Nisa. In museum collections of Ashgabat other sculptural images of dogs of local breed are stored, created in different centuries and in different craft centers.
The signs inherent in the statuette: a large head in the skull with developed cheekbones and a massive jaw, a flat forehead, widely spaced round eyes, a short neck, a powerful chest and sthenic, strong paws testify to the conservation of the breed for thousands of years. The Dandanakan statuette depicts an Alabai puppy, lying quietly, tightening paws. A fine example of small plastic was originally painted and glazed, but long centuries of stay in the earth has damaged the majolica, which preserved only partially . Before the find becomes the property of the museum, restorers of the National Department for the Protection, Study and Restoration of the Monuments of History and Culture of the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan have carefully to fix the layer that has become unusable.
It is symbolic that the figurine was discovered in the year of 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, the image of which exactly alabai was chosen, personifying steadfastness, devotion, strength and at the same time - friendliness and sincerity.
The first days of excavations on Dandanakan brought many other finds of pottery, bronze products and architectural details. Particularly the set of objects made of bronze was distinguished - fixtures-chiragi of various forms, engraved dishes, bowls, jugs and a pot, covered with intricate ornamentation and benevolent inscriptions. Dandanakan is a settlement on the western outskirts of the Murgab oasis, 60 kilometers from Ancient Merv, was first mentioned in medieval sources in the VIIIth century, but judging by archaeological materials, it was establisged much earlier. The battle in the neighborhood of Dandanakan went down in history , when on May 23, 1040, the sixteen thousand-strong Turkmen cavalry of Seljuk, under the command of brothers Togrulbek and Chagrybek, routed the thrice greater by number the strength of the Gaznevid sultan Masud.
Dandankan served as a fortress for many years , guarding the oasis of Merv from the sand, had a clear regular layout, an extensive handicraft suburb was around it . It served for centuries as an important point on the Great Silk Road, mentioned in almost all Arab and Persian medieval geographical works, describing the road from Serakhs to Merv.
In this town there were several caravanserais, one of which was discovered by the current expedition. Its ruins were cleaned, which will allow restoring the layout of the building, to clarify the time of construction and operation. In later times, when Dandanakan fell into decay, its historical name was forgotten, the settlement began to be called Dashrabat, to which, of course, the monumentality of its ruins contributed.
Planned excavations of this once important site of international caravan trade, initiated by specialists of the National Department for the Protection, Study and Restoration of Monuments, will be continued in the next field seasons.
Archaeologists met ancient images of Alabai on the territory of Turkmenistan before as well. Terracotta figures of dogs with cropped ears and tail were found in different years on Altyn-depe and Gonur-depe (second millennium BC). A huge dog can be seen on the relief of one of the Parthian rhytons found in the Old Nisa. In museum collections of Ashgabat other sculptural images of dogs of local breed are stored, created in different centuries and in different craft centers.
