Thread by @SeshatDatabank

A Bronze Age figurine of a bird of prey. Faience, gold, plaster (modern). BMAC (Bactria–Margiana Archaeological Complex). Late 3rd -mid 2nd millenium BC. Found: the royal necropolis at Gonur Depe, Turkmenistan. Turkmenistan State Museum, Ashgabat © Herlinde Koelbl.

Serene Oxus Lady also known as Ligabue Venus. Green steatite, cream calcite. BMAC (Bactria–Margiana Archaeological Complex). Late 3rd -mid 2nd millenium BC. @ligabuefoundation #Seshat

The Bactria–Margiana Archaeological Complex (BMAC)= Oxus civilization, is a Bronze Age civilization of Central Asia, dated to ca 2300–1700 BC, located in N Afghanistan, E Turkmenistan, S Uzbekistan and W Tajikistan. The Amu Darya (Oxus River) runs through the region. #Seshat

Aerial view of the BMAC city of Gonur Tepe, Turkmenistan. Enclosed by a wall and covering an area of 28 hectares, the city’s street plan was divided into different areas, including a residential area, an artisan area and a number of cemeteries. #Seshat

At the heart of Gonur was a square palace complex, fortified by walls with defensive towers. The palace measures 150 metres by 140 metres.
Reconstructed area of the Palace, ‘audience halls’. Gonur Tepe, Turkmenistan #Seshat

The people of Gonur buried their dead in elaborate graves filled with fine jewelry, weapons, wheeled carts, and animal sacrifices. Reconstruction of Tomb 3900 at the royal necropolis. Gonur Tepe, Turkmenistan #Seshat

The so-called “royal tombs” – burial chambers were decorated with exquisite mosaics. Gonur Tepe, Turkmenistan
Mosaic fragments. National Museum of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat #Seshat

Luxurious necklace with gold, lapis lazuli and turquoise beads. Found: Grave 3230, "Royal Necropolis", Gonur Tepe. Late 3rd -mid 2nd millenium BC. National Museum of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat #Seshat

"Scarface". Figurine of a monster with human face and serpentine-scaled body. The scar across its face and the two holes pierced into its lips indicate that it was reduced to silence and its power was controlled. Late 3rd -mid 2nd millenium BC. BMAC @metmuseum #Seshat

Ornamental pin depicting a Bactrian camel. 18–15th C BC. Gonur Tepe. National Museum of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat. Camels were domesticated within the BMAC. A model of a cart drawn by a camel of c. 2200 BC was found at Altyn Tepe, Turkmenistan.
Copper alloy camel @metmuseum #Seshat

A team of Iranian and Italian archaeologists discovered traces of BMAC in northeastern Iran - at the site of Chalo near the town of Sankhast in North Khorasan Province payvand.com/news/13/nov/11…