Illuminating the Black Sands : survey and settlement in the Bronze Age Murghab Delta, Turkmenistan
This thesis examines the Bronze Age settlement distribution in the Lower Murghab Delta, Turkmenistan. The delta represents a visually obstructed landscape in which the reconstruction of past archaeological patterns is extremely difficult. Drawing on concepts of distributional archaeology and 'siteless surveys', the research focuses on the distribution of surface pottery as the primary dataset in an examination of local and regional settlement distributions and their significance with respect to the proto-urban landscape of the delta. The survey data is assessed within the context of past and present landscapes, examining issues of visibility and recovery potential en route to a better understanding of the archaeological significance of the Bronze Age settlement pattern. While the central trajectory of the thesis is to address these issues, a secondary goal is to examine the nature of survey itself in the region. The field results are therefore considered in light of earlier Soviet/Russian and Italian research in the Murghab, assessing the effectiveness of that work and the research potential of intensive survey in the region. In addressing these questions, newer methodologies that incorporate spatial analysis
Markofsky, S.
Illuminating the Black Sands : survey and settlement in the Bronze Age Murghab Delta, Turkmenistan. This thesis examines the Bronze Age settlement distribution in the Lower Murghab Delta, Turkmenistan. The delta represents a visually obstructed landscape in which the reconstruction of past archaeological patterns is extremely difficult. Drawing on concepts of distributional archaeology and 'siteless surveys', the research focuses on the distribution of surface pottery as the primary dataset in an examination of local and regional settlement distributions and their significance with respect to the proto-urban landscape of the delta. The survey data is assessed within the context of past and present landscapes, examining issues of visibility and recovery potential en route to a better understanding of the archaeological significance of the Bronze Age settlement pattern. While the central trajectory of the thesis is to address these issues, a secondary goal is to examine the nature of survey itself in the region. The field results are therefore considered in light of earlier Soviet/Russian and Italian research in the Murghab, assessing the effectiveness of that work and the research potential of intensive survey in the region. In addressing these questions, newer methodologies that incorporate spatial analysis
illuminating black survey settlement bronze_age delta turkmenistan examines bronze age settlement distribution lower delta turkmenistan delta represent visually obstruct landscape reconstruction past archaeological pattern extremely_difficult drawing concept distributional archaeology survey focus distribution surface pottery primary dataset examination local_regional settlement_distribution significance respect proto urban_landscape delta survey_data assess within_context past_present landscape examine issue visibility recovery potential route well archaeological significance bronze age settlement pattern central trajectory address_issue secondary goal_examine nature survey region field therefore_consider light earlier soviet russian italian assess effectiveness work potential intensive survey region address_question new_methodology incorporate spatial_analysis