The Role of Catastrophic Floods Generated by Collapse of Natural Dams Since the Neolithic in the Oases of Bukhara and Qaraqöl: Preliminary Results

Authors

  • Eric Fouache University Paris Sorbonne Abu Dhabi, UMR 8185 ENEC, UAE
  • Rocco Rante Louvre Museum, Paris and ArScan, UMR 7041
  • Djamal Mirzaakhmedov Archaeological Institute of Samarkand, Ouzbekistan
  • Rachid Ragala University Paris Sorbonne Abu Dhabi, UMR 8557, CAMS-CNRS-EHESS, UAE
  • Malvina Dupays Aix Marseille Université AMU-CNRS, CEREGE UMR 7330
  • Claude Vella Aix Marseille Université AMU-CNRS, CEREGE UMR 7330
  • Jules Fleury Aix Marseille Université AMU-CNRS, CEREGE UMR 7330
  • Valerie Andrieu-Ponnel Aix Marseille Université, IMBE CNRS, IRD, Avignon Université, Europôle Méditerranéen de l'Arbois, BP 80, 13 545 Aix-en-Provence Cedex 4
  • Antoine Zink Centre de restauration et de recherche des musées de France, Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication
  • Elisa Porto Centre de restauration et de recherche des musées de France, Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication
  • Frédérique Brunet CNRS, ArScan UMR 7041
  • Lucie Cez CNRS, ArScan UMR 7041

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15273/ijge.2016.03.015

Keywords:

geoarchaeology, fluvial geomorphology, geohazard, OSL dating, tributary migration, Uzbekistan

Abstract

The history of the civilizations of the oases of Bukhara and Qaraqöl (south-eastern Uzbekistan) since the Neolithic in relation to environmental changes is studied by the French/Uzbekistan Archaeological Mission in Bukhara1 following pioneering Russian studies2. Using a methodology tested in Afghanistan, the geoarchaeological side of the program focused on the drawing of a regional geomorphological map then on the identification, mapping and dating of the paleochannels of the river Zerafshan. We established the chronology of several generations of fluvial channels in relation to archaeological settlements of different eras (Early Neolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age and Islamic period) and with optically stimulated luminescence dating of alluvial deposits. Based on preliminary results of these OSL dates we propose and discuss a regional environmental reconstruction. We hypothesize that the main cause of avulsion could be catastrophic floods generated by collapse of natural dams in the upper part of the Zerafshan River.

Downloads

Issue

Section

Technical Notes