Contents

Visiting the Qalas
Ayaz Qala
The Qırq Qız Qalas
Qurgashin Qala
Topraq Qala
Qızıl Qala
Akcha-Khan Qala
Pil Qala
Guldursun Qalas
Janbas Qala
Ko'y Krılgan Qala
Angka Qala
Sultan Bobo Mausoleum
Janpiq Qala
Southern Gyaur Qala
Shılpıq
Mizdarkhan
Qrantaw
Northern Gyaur Qala
Gurganj
Sultan Najam ad-Din Kubra Mausoleum
Devkesten Qala
Google Earth Coordinates



Coming Soon!

 A review of the main archaeological sites of Karakalpakstan and how to find them.

We hope to upload this new page by the middle of summer 2008. Thank you for your patience. Please check back in a few months.

To whet your appetite, enjoy these images of the magical fortresses of Ayaz Qala 1 and 2.


Ayaz Qala 1 and 2
The 4th to 3rd century BC hilltop refuge of Ayaz Qala 1 on the right
and the fortified residence of a feudal lord on the left dating from the late 7th to early 8th century AD .


The early medieval feudal fort of Ayaz Qala 2 as seen from the edge of Ayaz Qala 1.


Ayaz Qala 1 was one of a string of fortresses defending the northern borders of the ancient oasis of Khorezm from nomadic attack. One thousand years later, this must have been the centre of a thriving agricultural estate, ruled over by a powerful feudal lord from his hilltop fortified residence. To the south of these sites, on the other side of the road, is Ayaz Qala 3, a parallelogram-shaped fortified enclosure defended by a double wall with rectangular corner towers. It probably dates from the 1st or 2nd century AD, when Khorezm was on the periphery of the Kushan Empire.


Ayaz Qala 1, 2 and 3
Satellite image of the three adjacent sites: Ayaz Qala 1, 2 and 3.
Image courtesy of Google Earth.






Google Earth Coordinates

Karakalpakstan is particularly well served by Google Earth, with the exception of Shomanay and Taxta Ko'pir.

To help with the planning of your trip, the following reference points (in degrees and digital minutes) will enable you to locate each of the following places. Note that these coordinates come from Google Earth and are not GPS measurements taken on the ground:


  Google Earth Coordinates
Place Longitude North      Latitude East     
Ayaz Qala 1 42°   0.854 61°   1.746
Ayaz Qala 2 42°   0.654 61°   1.630
Ayaz Qala 3 42°   0.320 61°   1.830
Topraq Qala 1 41° 55.630 60° 49.382
Pil Qala 1 41° 42.299 60° 44.248
     


Warning about the labelling of locations in Karakalpakstan on Google Earth! Some are properly labelled, but many are erroneously or mischieviously not.







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