The Pashkurt Valley, situated in southwestern Uzbekistan along the Kugitang Mountains and the Amu Darya River, has emerged as a critical area for understanding settlement organization and water management in Central Asia. Since 2017, the French-Uzbek Mission (MAFBAP) has undertaken extensive multidisciplinary investigations at key sites, including Burgut Kurgan, Boyqushtepa, Kayrit Tepa, Kamyshtepa, Gaza Kutan, and Kuduk Bulak. From the outset, it became evident that the region’s complex irrigation systems—previously dated primarily to the Soviet and contemporary periods—may have originated in much earlier phases.
As part of the MAFBAP project, systematic investigations of the hydrological network linking these sites began in 2019. The research methodology has since been expanded to integrate remote sensing analyses, targeted excavations, and Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating of canal sediments. Preliminary results reveal a multifaceted hydrological landscape, shaped by a combination of natural river systems, springs, and engineered irrigation structures, including karez (qanat) networks. More than 284 traces of karez were identified, underscoring their central role in sustaining regional settlements. Canal excavations at Burgut Kurgan area document a stratified canal sequence, indicative of repeated reuse over extended periods since the Bronze Age.
These findings offer novel insights into the interaction between natural and engineered water systems and the spatial and organizational dynamics of Iron Age settlements in Central Asia. They also highlight the importance of integrating hydrological and archaeological approaches to reconstruct past landscapes, providing a robust framework for examining long-term settlement strategies and resource management in arid environments.

First Author: Roberto Arciero

Co-Authors: Johanna Lhuillier, Ulugbek Shapulatov

Keywords:
Pashkurt Valley
Iron Age
Water Management
Hydraulic
Uzbekistan
Central Asia