Talgar Alluvial Fan Dataset
Claudia Chang and Perry A. Tourtellotte

Comparative
Archaeology Database
University of Pittsburgh
http://www.cadb.pitt.edu
Email: cadb@pitt.edu

Survey Methodology and Preliminary Conclusions



Turgen Asi Survey 1997-1998

In July of 1997 we initiated our research in the headwaters area of the Turgen River, 60 km southeast of the Talgar Fan. The Turgen River is situated two drainages to the east of the Talgar River. The Turgen flows into the Ili River. The Asi River is a tributary of the Chilik River and flows east until it enters the Chilik and then meanders north to the Ili River. This upland area varies in elevation from 2200 m in the valleys to 2890 m at the upper plateaus. Several of the high peaks to the south have perennial snow fields with melt feeding into the Turgen River. The vegetation is characterized by alpine grasses and wildflowers, Tien Shan spruce, juniper, and a few deciduous shrubs on the north slopes and smaller protected valleys. This area is currently seasonally occupied by Kazakh shepherds with their flocks of cattle, sheep, and horses from early June until late August or early September. The economy consists of herding, hunting and also fishing; no agriculture is practiced at these elevations.

We surveyed these upper plateaus in order to test our model of prehistoric subsistence-settlement patterns. In July and August, temperatures in the mountains are 20 degrees cooler than they are on the Talgar Fan. The summer rains in the mountains make the grazing lands lush while the pastures on the fans are dry.

Our initial survey concentrated on the terraces and valleys within a 3 km radius of our base at Camp Edelweiss, an abandoned Pioneer Camp at 2240 m. Our surveys consisted of a systematic pedestrian survey across the terraces along the upper forks of the Turgen. The graves were easy to locate since they were generally slightly elevated 0.5 to 1.0 m above the surrounding surface. Surface visibility was generally poor with the exceptions of the overgrazed areas surrounding the Kazakh summer camps. Sixty-five locations were noted during this initial ten-day survey season. One terrace opposite the base camp was tested for sub-surface material. Five of these locations appear to be settlement sites and the other 60 locations are graves from the Bronze Age through the Turkic Period, as well as a few modern Kazakh graves. The settlement sites all appear to have a southeastern aspect, possibly to be exposed to the early morning sun. One of these sites, Oi Jailau #1 is a complex of stone walls and depressions covering an area of over 100 m². Numerous Saka Period sherds were collected from this site's surface.

Sub-surface testing at Oi Jailau #1 uncovered architectural features as well as ceramics, grinding stones, and animal bones. The graves were located on semi-flat, dry surfaces. The terraces adjacent to the streams were first surveyed, then upland terraces, low ridges and saddles were surveyed.

Two days of survey were spent in the headwaters of the Asi drainage. The first day included a Ural motorcycle with a sidecar in order to conduct a preliminary survey of an area prior to a more intensive survey. This survey, cut short because of a thunderstorm of four hours revealed a wealth of cultural resources along a 7 km section of an elevated terrace on the north bank of the Asi River. Numerous graves were noted, the dirt trail crossing over several Bronze Age graves. We took notes at eight locations, each having multiple graves of three to eight grave mounds. Unlike the lower constricted valleys of Turgen, Asi is a broad open valley, several kilometers wide with narrow side valleys and is enclosed by higher mountains up to 3000 m in elevation. Several Saka type kurgans have been recorded, 3 to 5 m high. In addition to the graves there were several rectangular lines of stone sticking up through the sod. These appear to be similar to house structures excavated in the early 1990s by A. N. Mariashev on high terraces along the Chilik River, 40 km to the east.

An unusual donut-shaped ring of rock rubble measured 27 m in diameter. In 1998 we discovered a cultural level of Saka Period occupation including ceramics eroding out of a terrace, 100 m from this grave. An additional day was spent in the uplands following the upper reaches of the Turgen headwaters. Local Kazakh shepherds reported a large stone (obelisk-shaped) emerging from the ground. This Turkic Period stone is surrounded by eight earlier period graves. From this high ridge, there appears to be a small valley with numerous graves 15-20 m in diameter. Several of these graves have been mapped and recorded. The result of this two day foray into the higher uplands resulted in an additional 25 locations.

In 1998 we conducted an additional 10 days of survey. Forty-eight sites were recorded on the ridges and plateaus at 2600 to 2890 m to the east and south of our base. As in the previous year, many of these locations appear to be multiple-grave complexes. One additional Saka period site was located on a terrace above a seasonal stream, again with a southeastern aspect. Two lines of stones protruding from the sod form a right-angled corner, suggesting a double-walled house structure. Several Saka period sherds were found in the back dirt of marmot burrows. Results from these two seasons of survey and test excavations indicates that the uplands were occupied from the Bronze Age to the present. Additional surveys and excavations will continue in the Turgen-Asi Area.


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