Designing the Foothills: Prehistoric Irrigation, Fields, and Rural Settlement at Ravat, South-western Kyrgyzstan
| Autoři | |
|---|---|
| Rok publikování | 2026 |
| Druh | Recenzovaný odborný článek |
| Časopis / Zdroj | INTERDISCIPLINARIA ARCHAEOLOGICA-NATURAL SCIENCES IN ARCHAEOLOGY |
| Fakulta / Pracoviště MU | |
| Citace | |
| www | web |
| Doi | https://doi.org/10.24916/iansa.2026.1.7 |
| Klíčová slova | terraced fields; water management; mountainous environment; climate changes; subsistence strategies |
| Přiložené soubory | |
| Popis | The prehistoric agricultural landscape of Ravat in south-western Kyrgyzstan represents one of the most exceptionally preserved field systems and rural settlements known from Central Asia. The landscape comprises a tepe with structural remains, an extensive system of terraced fields, a hierarchically organised network of irrigation channels, and clusters of small homestead units. Based on surface archaeological evidence, the complex has its origins and major development phase broadly attributed to the period in between 4th century BC and 4th century AD, corresponding to the existence of the Davan Kingdom. While this era defines the primary layout of the landscape, recent data indicate that the area was later re-integrated into the regional agricultural economy, particularly through the re-use and modification of the system during the period of the Kokand Khanate. Fieldwork combining satellite imagery, low-altitude drone documentation, along with ground observations, demonstrate that the entire landscape has remained virtually untouched by later agricultural or construction activities. As such, Ravat now stands as a core reference locality around which a new research initiative in Central Asian landscape archaeology is being developed. Thus, the site functions as a model case for examining the interplay between ancient agricultural engineering, hydrology, settlement organisation, and long-term socio-environmental change, among the foothills of the northern Ferghana region. This initiative aligns with the emerging activities of the newly established Central Asian Research Society (CARS), an international platform dedicated to advancing archaeological, environmental, and historical research across the region. |