Devkesen
 | This article, Devkesen, has recently been created via the Articles for creation process. Please check to see if the reviewer has accidentally left this template after accepting the draft and take appropriate action as necessary.
Reviewer tools: Inform author |
42°17′15″N 58°23′56″E / 42.28750°N 58.39889°E Dev-Kesken or Vazir is an archaeological site in the Dashoguz region of northern Turkmenistan, 62 km west of Koneurgench.[1][2][3]
Location
It is located at the edges of a 30 km-long escarpment, on the southern tip of the Ustyurt Plateau.[1]
History
The site appears to have been settled around 4th century BCE.[1] It corresponds to the medieval settlement of Vazir; in 1558, English traveler Anthony Jenkinson had visited the town and spoken favorably of the local melon produce.[1]
Vazir was abandoned shortly afterward with Jenkinson having noted the rivers to be failing.[1]
Site
The sides of the city facing the plateau are walled.[1] Within the city, lie the ruins of three mausolea —dating to 15th century— and a mosque.[1] A citadel with corrugated walls overlooks the escarpment.[1]
Tourism
The site was a tourism mainstay till c. 2003, when Turkmen Army started prohibiting visitors on the ground that the access-road passed through Uzbek territory.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Brummell, Paul (2005). Turkmenistan. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 180. ISBN 978-1-84162-144-9.
- ^ Mayers, Kit (2016-11-07). The First English Explorer: The life of Anthony Jenkinson (1529-1611) and his adventures on the route to the Orient. Troubador Publishing Ltd. pp. 106–107. ISBN 978-1-78589-228-8.
- ^ Ephrat, Daphna; Wolper, Ethel Sara; Pinto, Paulo G. (2020-12-07). Saintly Spheres and Islamic Landscapes: Emplacements of Spiritual Power across Time and Place. BRILL. p. 205. ISBN 978-90-04-44427-0.
 | This article relating to archaeology in Asia is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This Turkmenistan-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
Category:Archaeological sites in Turkmenistan Category:Daşoguz Region Category:4th century BC in Turkmenistan