Tillya Tepe

8. South Asia from a Central Asian perspective

“…In contrast, exotic raw materials were recovered from several Geoksyur sites (Sarianidi 1961, Khlopin 1964 suggesting an increase in raw material imports from source areas in Afghanistan and Baluchistan. Faiz Mohammad greyware has not been identified in Central Asia although it circulated in other areas of South Asia.…”

“…Excavations at the earliest sites at Kelleli (Masimov 1979), Gonur (Sarianidi 1989) and Togolok 1 (Sarianidi 1981), suggest that occupation was based upon the establishment of a complex irrigation system. The eastern foothill zone sites of Ulug and Altyn depe, the Altyn 0-3 levels, are by far the most extensive occupations and suggest a population density much higher than earlier in the third millennium.…”

15. The problem of the Aryans and the Soma: Textual-linguistic and archaeological evidence

“…In the Urals, the Early Andronovo people built strongholds in the vicinity of ore deposits. The Alakul' and Fëdorov types are relevant to the following discussion because they are attested to in southern Central Asia (Vinogradova and Kuz'mina 1986;Francfort 1989,1: 424-430): in an older and "purer" form in (Sarianidi 1975;Francfort 1989J: 426f. Cemeteries at several sites of the same Petrovska complex (Sintashta I, Uly ubai, Berlik and Satan) have produced the earliest known examples of light-wheeled horse-drawn chariots (Kuz'mina 1994).…”

“…The Avestan name of the beast, Aii, corresponds to Vedic ahi "snake, dragon", used of Indra's demonic enemy; it also reminds one of the snake or dragon motif so frequently found on the Bronze Age seals of Bactria and Margiana (Pottier 1984;Sarianidi 1986). The Avestan name of the beast, Aii, corresponds to Vedic ahi "snake, dragon", used of Indra's demonic enemy; it also reminds one of the snake or dragon motif so frequently found on the Bronze Age seals of Bactria and Margiana (Pottier 1984;Sarianidi 1986).…”

“…At Gonur-1 the ritualistic vessels also contained remains of poppy and cannabis, at Togolok-21 traces of poppy were found on stone mortars and pestles (Sarianidi 1987;Sarianidi 1990: 102ff, 203ff. Falk 1989; Nyberg in Chapter 16 of the present volume).…”