Irrigation development in
Ancient Khorezm
The construction of large irrigation
systems played the decisive role in the development
of town civilization and the high farming culture
of ancient Khorezm. Creation of complicated irrigation
systems was possible under strong centralized state
power and the wide use of forced labor.
Ancient Khorezmian civilization flourished from the
fourth century B.C. to the third century A.D. The
Khorezmian state freed itself from the Akheminid yoke
in the second part of the fourth century B.C. It developed
farming, town handicrafts, and trade as its economy
grew. On the right bank of the Amu-Darya, the Koi-krilgan-kala
and Djanbaskala canals were constructed, from which
many arks, provided water to the surrounding fields.
In the fourth century B.C. the area of irrigated land
in the low reaches of the Amu-Darya and the Sir-Darya
was approximately 3.5 million hectares. Millet, wheat,
barley, watermelons, melons, gourds, and industrial
crops were grown. Apricots, plums, peaches, grape,
pomegranate were also grown in gardens.
In the reaches of the canals and tributaries of the
Amu-Darya, many settlements and fortified towns were
built, with powerful walls and complex labyrinthine
gates. These centers of trade, handicraft, and culture
included Djanbaskala and Bazarkala on the left bank
of the Amu-Darya, - the fortified towns of Khazarasp,
Sadvara, Djigirbent, Khiva, Kaparis and the cult center
Elkaras.
An important site from this period is Koi-Krilgan-kala,
which was probably a temple or burial complex. It
consists of a round central two-storied building with
arched passages, surrounded by an outside wall with
nine towers. The area surrounding the wall features
domestic dwellings. In some of them, rows of large
vessels (khums) for keeping products and have the
collar and the cut of dresses, cuffs of the wide trousers,
and sides of the skullcaps.
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