Archaeological research at Gonur Depe to continue in spring 2027
Amul Info ·
Archaeological excavations at Gonur Depe are scheduled to resume in spring 2027. During the September–October 2026 expedition, researchers uncovered nearly 160 artefacts, including 27 ceramic items. One of the notable discoveries was a complex of five consecutive burials. Turkmen and Russian…
The next stage of archaeological research at Gonur Depe, one of the renowned monuments of the ancient country of Margush located in Turkmenistan, will continue in spring 2027. This was announced in the findings of an expedition conducted jointly by specialists from the Directorate for the Protection, Study and Restoration of Historical and Cultural Monuments of Turkmenistan, the Ancient Merv State Historical and Cultural Reserve, and Russian experts.
The third and final stage of this year's excavations at Gonur Depe took place in September and October. Alongside specialists from relevant Turkmen institutions, the work involved researchers from the N.N. Miklukho-Maklai Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Institute for the History of Material Culture.
Several valuable artefacts were uncovered during the latest field season. The most significant discovery was a burial complex consisting of five graves arranged one after another, identified for the first time. Built successively in different periods, the graves contained the remains of two adults and one child. The largest number of grave goods was found in the child's burial.
According to Nadezhda Dubova, Doctor of Historical Sciences and head of the expedition, this year's research was successful. A total of nearly 160 artefacts were discovered during the excavations, including 27 ceramic vessels. Among the particularly interesting finds are a rare bronze agricultural tool, as well as cutting and carving tools used in woodworking.
After the fieldwork was completed, the study of objects discovered in the territory of the ancient country of Margush continued at the History and Local Lore Museum of Mary Region and the State Museum of the State Cultural Centre of Turkmenistan in Ashgabat.
The main objective of the research is to compile a catalogue of all artefacts discovered in the delta of the ancient Murghab River. The first issue of the catalogue, an electronic publication entitled Large Stone Objects of Margiana, was released in 2021. The publication notes that the Margush monuments constitute one of the most significant and extensively studied complexes of the Bactria–Margiana Archaeological Complex.
The first issue of the catalogue's first section brings together information on three types of stone objects characteristic of the Bactria–Margiana Archaeological Complex: small columns, discs and staffs. Examples of these artefacts are kept in museums in Turkmenistan and Russia. The publication also provides a brief overview of the ancient country of Margush. This work marks the beginning of a series of books dedicated to artefacts discovered in the territory of a country known as Mouru in the Avesta, Margush in the Behistun inscription, and Margiana in the works of ancient authors.
During the field seasons of 2024 and 2026, particular attention was paid to the study of ceramic objects, as pottery is an important source of information for identifying the characteristics of archaeological complexes. The number of ceramic objects found in archaeologically intact condition and held in the aforementioned museums exceeds tens of thousands.
Each artefact is registered according to a special procedure, photographed and documented through drawings. The expedition's future plans also include producing digital 3D models of valuable finds, followed by the creation of plastic replicas.
Another important area of the research involves restoration work. At the Museum of Fine Arts of Turkmenistan in Ashgabat, work continued on the study and restoration of the unique mosaics from Gonur Depe, with the participation of Galina Veresoska, an artist-restorer from Russia's State Research Institute for Restoration (GOSNIIR). The specialist examined the mosaics, which consist of thousands of fragments, in detail, reinforced individual pieces and gradually reassembled them. These efforts made it possible to stabilise the condition of the valuable artefacts and prevent further deterioration.
The joint work of Turkmen and Russian researchers contributes to preserving the invaluable cultural heritage of the ancient country of Margush and strengthening scientific and friendly ties between the two countries. Archaeological excavations at Gonur Depe are scheduled to resume in spring 2027.