Since ancient times, Central Asia and neighboring Iran have been affected by profound climate changes. The consequent radical transformations of the territory by human beings to survive have strongly endangered the delicate ecosystem of these geographical areas, often with catastrophic effects. During the 2nd millennium BCE, urbanization extensively modified and deeply influenced the local environment of vast water systems, from Helmand in Iranian Sistan to Murghab in prehistoric Margiana, and Karakul to the west of Bukhara region. A specific aspect of this phenomenon deserves to be taken into consideration, i.e. the resulting settlement pattern after the "distribution" of territories between GKC (Greater Khorasan Civilization) and Andronovo-related populations in the alluvial fan of the Murghab River (southern Turkmenistan) and the fossil system of Makhan-darya (western Uzbekistan). In particular, how the spatial interaction (intra/off-site) between these two cultures has been deeply influenced by the difficult adaptation of the techniques, known at that time, to the exploitation of water and primary resources.

First Author: Barbara Cerasetti

Keywords:
Asia
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
Murghab
Karakul
GKC