Sanjar-Shah Excavations 2022

Michael Shenkar, Sharof Kurbanov, Abdurahmon Pulotov and Firuz Aminov

with an Appendix by Maria Gervais

 

This season the excavations were continued in Area VI where we completed the investigations of the pottery kiln first excavated in 2019. However, our main efforts were concentrated on the Palace situated in the western part of the site (Areas VII-VIII) expanding the area to the southwest. We have investigated five rooms (12-17) that were probably part of the huge, rectangular Throne Room of the Palace (Figs. 1-4). Fourteen fragments of wall painting were uncovered in the fill of Rooms 12, 13 and 15. They were excavated by the restorer specialist from the State Hermitage Museum, Maria Gervais assisted by Manuchehr Rahimov from the National Museum of Antiquities, Dushanbe.  

 

Area VI

Limited investigations were conducted in this area in order to complete the excavations of the pottery kiln, which was partly excavated in 2019 (Fig. 5). It is located in Room 11 at a distance of 1.9 m to the west, and 2.3 m to the south from the limits of the excavated area. The kiln is attached to Walls 10 and 13. It is round, 2.1 m diameter inside, 2.8 m. outside. The opening is from the east, air openings are made in the floor, and outside on the north-eastern side, there is an opening for ventilation. In 2019 we were unable to find the furnace. Initially, we assumed that the furnace opening was located in Room 12. This room is very small and has no passage. The access to Room 12 was probably by ladder. 

 In 2019, a floor level was found at the depth of 1.05 m from the surface of Wall 10. In order to find the furnace we excavated below the floor and at the depth of 40 cm there was layer of gravel. At the depth of 20 cm from the floor level, a coin of a Kushan king Vasudeva was found (Fig. 23). It seems that it was brought here together with the soil from another place.  The furnace was found in the north-western part of the kiln, at a distance of 1.7 m to the north from the southern side of the opening of the upper part. The opening of the furnace is of oval shape (50 x 50 cm) (Fig. 6). Its surface bears traces of intense burning. The floor of the furnace is 40 cm lower than the floor of Room 11. 

 

Area VIII

Room 12

This room (2.5 x 10.5 m) is situated to the south of Room 2, to the east of Rooms 13 and 15, and to the north of Room 17 (excavations not yet completed). It is a rectangular corridor aligned on the north-south axis (Fig. 7). Wall 11a (h. 88 cm from the sufa level; w. 110 cm) is constructed of pakhsa blocks (90-110 x 110 x ? cm). Wall 11a is attached to Wall 11. Wall

11a has a bonding with Wall 16 and has no bonding with Wall 19. In the southern direction, Wall 11a was excavated for 11.6 m, and it continues further south. A layer of plaster (2.5-3 cm) is preserved on the wall.   

            Wall 16 (h. 80 cm from the sufa level; w. 124 cm) is also built of the pakhsa blocks of the same dimensions. Similarly, a layer of plaster (1.5-2.5 cm) is preserved in some places on the wall surface.

Wall 15 (h. 1.5 m from the floor level; w. 185 cm) is constructed differently. Up for the height of 70-75 cm, it is built of seven rows of mud-brick (51-52 х 24-25 х 8-9 cm). The wall’s surface is irregular. At some places, bricks project from the wall for 1-3 cm or are submerged into it. Above it, the wall is built of pakhsa blocks (165-120 х ? х185 cm). Wall 15 stands on the floor of the first period. It is attached to Wall 19 and has a bond with Wall 14.

There are no traces of plaster on the surface of the wall. 

Wall 19 (h. 147 cm from the floor; w. 110 cm) is constructed of the pakhsa blocks (120 х 110 х ? and 50 х 110 х ?). It is attached to Wall 11a and continues to the west forming the southern wall of Rooms 14 and 15. This wall was not plastered. 

A sufa (h. 70 cm; w. 110 cm in the southern part and 120 in the northern) was constructed along Wall 11a. It is constructed of mud-brick (51-52 х 24-25 х 9-10 cm) and plastered (2-3 cm).  

The floor surface in the room is solid, slightly declining towards the west, and shows traces of fire. Importantly, it goes under Wall 15, and thus this wall was constructed in the later period on the early floor.

The fill in the room consists of rammed earth and stones of various dimensions. Two fragments of wall paintings (P1 an P2) were found in the room. The finds include a fragment of an onyx bead from the topsoil (Fig. 25.5), and two objects made of bone from the fill (Fig. 24.1-2). One of them is perhaps a sumak.[1]

 

Room 13

This room (15.6 x 2.4 m) is located to the south of Room 2, to the west of Room 12, and to the north of Room 15 (Fig. 8). It is a rectangular room arranged on the west-east axis. In this room in Wall 16 at a distance of 135 cm from Wall 11a, there is a blocked passage (w. 185 cm) to the north (Fig. 9). This passage is wider than other passages investigated so far in the Palace. The passage is blocked with mud-brick (51-53 х 24-26 х 8-9 cm).  

Along Wall 16 there is a sufa (l. 8.47 m; w. 120 cm) with a central projection (l. 2.72 m) for 55 cm from the line of the sufa. It is made of mud-brick (51-52 х 24-26 х 9 cm). The western end of the sufa corresponds to the eastern side of the blocked passage. This sufa has a bond with the sufa built along Wall 11a. 

Wall 12 (h. 150 cm; w. 140 cm) is built of pakhsa blocks (90-110 х 110 cm). It the northern part, it seems that the wall is blocked with mud-brick (51-52 х 24-26 х 8-9 cm). The surface of this addition is irregular. Its lower part projects from the wall for some 10 cm. It is possible that originally, there was a niche in this place that was later blocked. 

 At the distance of 140 cm from Wall 16, there is a sufa (w. 145 cm; h. 60 cm) along Wall 12. This season it was excavated for the length of 110 cm.  At the distance of 115 cm from Wall 16 in the northern end of the sufa, there is a step (h. 30 cm; w. 30 cm; l. 37 cm) (Fig. 10). 

 Wall 14 (l. 10.87 cm; w. 183 cm) is constructed using the same method as Wall 15. The floor in the room is relatively smooth, slightly degrading in the central part. At some places, there are traces of fire that destroyed the Palace at the end of the first period. It is worth noting that like in Room 12, also here the floor goes beyond Wall 14. 

 Ten fragments of wall paintings (P4-6, 8, 10-14) were found in the fill between Wall 14 and the projection of the sufa. Other finds in the room that come from the topsoil and the fill include a stone bead (Fig. 25.6), two fragments of rim of glass vessels (Figs. 26.2-3), fragment of a bottom of a glass vessel (Fig. 26.4). 

 

Room 14

This rectangular room is situated to the south of Room 13 and to the west of Room 15 (Fig. 11). This season it was only partially excavated (2.4 x 1.9 m) until the sufa level. Wall 12 (h.

90 cm from the sufa level) is constructed of pakhsa blocks (90-110 х 110 х ?).  

            Wall 19 (h. 90 cm from sufa level; w. 1.5 m) is built of mud-brick (49-50 х 24-25 х 89 cm). It is attached to Wall 12. Wall 13 (h. 90 cm from the sufa level; w. 1.85 m) is made of pakhsa blocks (120 х 120-140 х ? cm). The sufa in the room is built of mud-brick (50 х 25 х

9 cm) and its upper surface is plastered. This layer of plaster connects it with Wall 12.

Room 15

This is a rectangular room (7 x 6.2 m) situated to the south of Room 13, to the east of Room 14 and to the west of Room 12 (Figs. 12-13). This season the floor of the first period was exposed only in the central part of the room. Wall 15 (h. 105 cm; w. 1.85 m) is built of pakhsa blocks (165-120 х 185 x ? cm). It is attached to Wall 19 and has a bond with Wall 14. The wall was not plastered.    

 Wall 16 (h. 100 cm; w. 183 cm) is constructed using the same building technique. Here too, no plaster was preserved. At a distance of 2.8 m from Wall 13, there is a niche or a beam pocket (30 х 20 x 12 cm) in the wall. In the north-western corner of the room, between Walls 13 and 15, there is another beam pocket (32 x 28 x 8 cm).  Wall 13 (h. 80 cm; w. 185 cm) is attached to Wall 19 and made of pakhsa blocks (120 х 120-140 х ? cm). At a distance of 2.52 m from Wall 19, there is a beam pocket (45 x 22 x 20 cm). Wall 19 (h. 85 cm; w. 110 cm) is also built of pakhsa blocks (120 х 110 х ? cm and 50 х 110 х ? cm).  

This season the excavations reached the accumulation of stones at the depth of 80-105 cm from the top of the walls (Fig. 14). Such accumulations were identified along Walls 14 and 15 and in the north-western corner. In the central part of the room, our excavations reached the floor of the first period where Fragments 7 and 9 of wall paintings were found.

 

Room 16

This room was only partially excavated this season for the area of 2.65 x 1.6 m (Fig. 15). It is situated to the south of Room 14. Wall 12 (h. 70 cm) is built of pakhsa blocks (90-110 х 110 х ?) cm. On the inner surface of the wall, there is a layer of plaster (1.5-2 cm). The total length of Wall 12 exposed so far is 17.6 m. It is important to note that this is not the final length, as the wall continues further south. Its final length will be established next season.      

Wall 19 (h. 70 cm; w. 1.5 m) is constructed of mud-brick (49-50 х 24-25 х 8-9 cm) and attached to Wall 12. Wall 17 (h. 95 cm) is built of mud-brick (49-51 х 24-26 х 8-9 cm). It is attached to Wall 19 and continues further south. 

 

Room 17

This room situated to the south of Room 12 was excavated for 4.3 x 3.9 m (Fig. 16). Two phases of the later, second period were identified here. At the depth of 75 cm from the daily surface there was an irrigation ditch going from north to south extending beyond the borders of the excavated area in the south. Stones were found in the ditch. 

 Below the irrigation ditch, walls belonging to the first phase of the second period were found. Wall 19 (h. 70 cm) is built of pakhsa blocks. Wall 11a (h. 80 cm) continues to the south and it was used also in the first period. Wall 18 (h. 45 cm) is built of mud-brick of standard dimensions. 

 

Wall paintings

The “Main throne room” of the palace was originally lavishly decorated with wall paintings. Several large and medium fragments were found in the fill and were excavated and conserved by our restorers (Fig. 17). The paintings were made on a blue and black background. The preserved fragments depict a rhombi design (Fig. 18), a complex and sophisticated floral freeze with the blue flower bud (Fig. 19), a decorative ornament of crenelated antefixes (Fig. 20), and a figurative composition of characters wearing Sogdian priestly garments (Figs 19, 21-22).

Two figures were partially preserved. One of them raises a small, portable fire altar in his hand. Next to him, there is a niche with fragmentary preserved big tongues of flame. Usually, such tongues of flame are part of divine nimbus in Sogdian art, and indeed decorating the main wall above the sufa projection with a large image of a deity inside a painted arch is typical for the wealthy Sogdian houses and palaces. However, it seems that there is not enough space under the arch to accommodate the figure of a deity. It is, therefore, possible that some object, most probably a stationary fire altar like the one on the Molla Kurgan ossuary was depicted under the arch. Depictions of priests are known from ossuaries, but it is the first time they are attested in wall paintings. 

 The Sanjar-Shah paintings are of the highest artistic quality and are outstanding monuments of Sogdian art. They resemble most closely the paintings from the Shahristan palace, which comes as no surprise, since the plan of the Sanjar-Shah palace itself and fragments of carved wood from Sanjar-Shah recovered in 2021 are very close to those from Shahristan. The results of our excavations will allow suggesting a date of 740s for the construction of the Shahristan palace, which was debated and controversial for over 50 years. 

             

Conclusions and further prospects

It appears that Walls 11a, 12 and 16 belong to the first building period and are in fact part of a huge, rectangular hall, most probably the Main Throne Room of the palace. Its width in the north is 15.6 m. The length of Wall 12 excavated this season is 17.6 m and it continues in the southern direction. The final length of the Main Throne Room will be established next season. In the second period, additional Walls (13-15, 17-19) divided the throne room into smaller rooms, similar to what was done with the Large Square Hall to the east. Especially enigmatic is Room 15, where no passage was found so far. Still in the second period, but at a later date, the building went out of use and the surface was used for agriculture.   

Next season we will continue the excavations of the Palace in order to establish the plan and the exact dimensions of what was probably the Main Throne Room of the SanjarShah palace. The fragments of wall paintings excavated this season will undergo cleaning and restoration process. We hope that next season will bring new finds of the monuments of Sogdian art and possibly evidence about its original owner.  

 

 

Figures

 

Fig. 1. Sanjar-Shah, general plan of the excavated areas, 2022. By Elena Bouklaeva.

 

 

Fig. 2. Sanjar-Shah 2022, Areas VII-VIII, by Elena Bouklaeva.

 

Fig. 3. Sanjar-Shah 2022, Area VIII, by Elena Bouklaeva.

 

Fig. 4. Sanjar-Shah 2022, general view of the Palace (Areas VII-VIII) looking east.

 

Fig. 5. Sanjar-Shah 2022, Area VI, by Elena Bouklaeva.

 

 

Fig. 6. Area VI, Room 11. Opening of the pottery kiln furnace. 

 

Fig. 7. Area VIII, Room 12 looking north.

 

Fig. 8. Area VIII, Room 13 looking west.

Fig. 9. Area VIII, Room 13. Blocked passage in Wall 16.

 

Fig. 10. Area VIII, the western part of Room 13. 

Fig. 11. Area VIII, Room 14 looking north.

 

Fig. 12. Area VIII, Room 15 looking south.

Fig. 13. Area VIII, Room 15 looking east.

 

Fig. 14. Area VIII, Room 15, accumulation of stones in the northwestern corner.

 

Fig. 15. Area VIII, Room 16 looking south.

 

Fig. 16. Area VIII, Room 17 looking north.

 

Fig. 17. Area VIII, Room 13. Distribution of fragments of wall paintings, by Maria Gervais and Elena Bouklaeva.

 

 

 

 

Fig. 18. Area VIII, Room 12. Fragment of wall paintings (P1) depicting a lozenge pattern

 

Fig. 19. Area VIII, Room 13. Fragment of wall paintings (P3) depicting a floral freeze and an upper part of a fire altar.

 

 

Fig. 20. Area VIII, Room 15. Fragment of wall paintings (P7) depicting an ornament of crenelated antefixes.

 

Fig. 21. Area VIII, Room 15. Fragment of wall paintings (P4) depicting a partially preserved character in a priestly garment.

 

 

Fig. 22. Area VIII, Room 15. Fragment of wall paintings (P6) depicting a rosette and tongues of flames.

 

Fig. 23. Area VI, a coin of Kushan king Vasudeva.

 

Fig. 24. Area VIII, Room 12, bone objects from the fill. 1) sumak (?); 2) fragment of an unidentified bone object.

 

Fig. 25. Area VIII, Bronze, stone and gypsum objects. 

1) fragment of a bronze discus, probably a coin (surface find); 2-4) gypsum spindles

(topsoil); 5) fragment of an onyx bead (Room 12, topsoil); stone bead (Room 13, fill).

 

Fig. 26. Area VIII, Glass vessels.

1) fragment of rim and mug handle (fill to the west of Wall 12); 2) fragment of the rim of a glass vessel with a rim roller (Room 13, topsoil); 3) fragment of the rim of a glass vessel (Room 13, topsoil); 4) fragment of the bottom of a glass vessel (Room 13, fill).

Ceramic Plates

 

Pl. 1. Area VIII, topsoil.

1)  Archaeologically complete bowl with red slip on both sides, 7-8th centuries; 2, 4-5, 7).

Rims of bowls. Red slip on both sides, 7-8th centuries; 3, 6, 8). Rims of bowls; 9-10)

Bottoms of bowls, red slip inside, 8th century; 11-12) Rim and handles of a table jug; 13)

Rim and handles of a pot, early 8th century; 14-15) Rims of jugs, dark brown slip on both sides of the rim; 16) Rim of a pot, pink slip on both sides of the rim; 17-18) Rims of pots; 19) Rim of a Vessel.

 

 

Pl. 2. Area VIII, Rooms 12-13

1-4) Rims of bowls, red slip on both sides; 5) Rim of a bowl; 6-9) Rims of bowls, red slip on both sides, late 7-8th centuries; 10) Archaeologically complete bowl, red slip on both sides.

 

 

 

 

 

Pl. 3. Area VIII, Rooms 12-13.

1) Rim of a jug, brown slip on both sides, 6th-7th centuries; 2, 4) Rims of jugs, red slip outside; 3) Rim of a vessel, red slip outside; 5-7) Rims of jugs, red slip on both sides; 8) Lower part of a bowl, red slip on both sides; 9) Upper part of a table jug, red slip on both sides, 8th century; 10) Fragment of a vessel with a handle with hole; 11) Rim of a small storage jar, red slip on the rim; 12-14) Rims of cooking pots.

 

 

 

Pl. 4. Area VIII, Room 15.

1) Bottom of a cup-shaped bowl, red slip inside, 5th-6th centuries (?); 2) Archaeologically complete bowl, red slip on both sides; 3-5) Rim of a bowl, red slip on both sides, 5th-6th centuries; 6) Fragment of a bowl, dark red slip on both sides; 7) Rim of a mug, dark brown slip on both sides; 8) Rim and handles of a tableware jug, late 7-8th century; 9) Rim and handles of a tableware jug, late 7-8th century; 10) Upper part of a table jug, dark red slip on both sides; 11) Table jug handle, painted with frame slip; 12) Rim of a jar; 13-14) Rims of pots, pink slip at the top of the rim; 15) Rim and handle of a wide-necked vessel; 16) Rims of pots, red slip on both sides.

 

 

Pl. 5. Area VIII, Room 15.

1) Rim of a pot, 8th century; 2) Rim of a wide-necked vessel, Late 7-8th centuries; 3) Rim of a wide-necked vessel, Black slip inside and over the rim; 4) Bottom of a miniature jug, cut with a knife, 8th century; 5) Miniature pot, red slip on both sides on the upper part. The lower part is cut with a knife, 8th century; 6) Wall and handle of a table jug, Red slip on top of the handle; 7) Rim of a storage jar; 8-11) Rims of cooking pots, 8th century; 12) Spindle.

 

 

 

Pl. 6. Area VIII, Fill of Room 17.

1) Bottom of a bowl, red slip on both sides; 2) Wall and handle of a jug, pink slip;  3-5) Rims of pots, brown slip outside of the rim is a brown slip; 6) Rim of a storage vessel, gray slip on the rim on both sides.

 

 

 

Pl. 7. Area VIII, western side of Wall 12.

1) Rim of a wide-necked vessel with a hole under the rim. There is an ornament of waves, 8th century; 2) Rim of a cooking pot, Late 8th - early 9th century; 3) Rim of a cooking pot, beige slip on both sides, late 8th – early 9th century; 4) Rim of a cooking pot, beige slip on both sides, late 8th century; 5-6) Rims of cooking pots, brown slip on both sides; 7-8) Rims of cooking pots, late 8th century.

 

 

Pl. 8. Area VIII, western side of Wall 12.

1, 3) Wheel-made sieves; 2) Bowl-shaped and wheel-made colander on а hand-made leg, red slip on both sides; 4. Archaeologically complete bowl-shaped and hand-made colander, red slip on both sides, 8th century; 5) Rim of a hand-made bowl with a wavy rim, outside red slip, late 7th -8th century; 6) Brazier.

 

 

Pl. 9. Area VIII, western side of Wall 12.

1) Gypsum bowl (?) on three legs, from the inside there is a thin layer of secondary gypsum coating; 2-3) Parts of gypsum bowls (?), a thin layer of secondary gypsum coating inside.

 


[1] This is an external catheter traditionally used for babies in cradle and made of wood.




 


Sanjar-Shah Excavations 2023

Michael Shenkar, Sharof Kurbanov, Abdurahmon Pulotov, Vikenty Parshuto and Maria Gervais
This season we continued investigations of the Palace situated in the western part of the site (Areas VII-VIII) (Figs. 1-3). Our main efforts were concentrated in the southwestern area of the Palace. In addition, we have opened а sounding (10 x 10 m) in the southwest of the site in order to understand whether this area was built and how it is related to the Palace (Fig. 4). No evidence of occupation or any building activity contemporary with the Palace was uncovered in the sounding except for the late medieval garbage pit. This raises important questions about the general layout of the western part of the shahristan and the nature of the whole site.

In the southwestern part of the Palace, we have continued the excavations of the huge rectangular hall/open courtyard that probably served as the Main Throne Room (Figs. 5-9). Its original dimensions as established this year are 15.6 x 19 m (296.4 m2).  As was clear from the previous years, during the Second Stage the northern part of the Rectangular Hall was almost entirely occupied by a large, rectangular structure, built directly on the floor of the hall, previously cleared from rubble and traces of fire and destruction. The southern wall of this structure (Wall 19) practically divided the former Rectangular Hall of the Palace into two halves. In 2023 main investigations were carried out in the southern part of the Rectangular Hall, which has a completely different character. Here we have uncovered evidence of intensive later occupation in the Second Stage, when it was rebuilt several times. It is noteworthy that evidence of such activity is entirely absent in the northern part Rectangular Hall. Several phases of the Second Stage can be identified in the southern part. Unfortunately, this later activity severely damaged the remains of the original Palace. The numbering of the rooms reflects the Second period. This year, we have investigated rooms 14-19.

Room 14
Room 14 is situated west of Room 15, on the western edge of Site VIII (Fig. 10). There is a wide sufa along Wall 12. The length of the room is 10.6 m, width 2.4 m in the north and 2.3 in the south. Wall 13 has a preservation height of 155 cm from the floor level of the First period. It is built of pakhsa and mudbrick: below, at a height of up to 90 cm from the floor, mudbrick (50 x 25 x 10), above the pakhsa blocks 110 - 140 cm long. Wall 13 (w. 185 cm) belongs to the second construction period, placed directly on the floor of the first period. From inside the wall is built exclusively of pakhsa blocks. There is no plaster on either surface of the wall. Wall 19 attached to Walls 13 and 15, is placed on a sufa of the first period and belongs to the second period The height of the preservation of the sufa is 80 cm, and the thickness of the wall is 145 cm. It is made of mudbrick (see last year’s report). There is also no plaster on it. Wall 12 continues the line of the western wall of Room 13 is made of pakhsa. There are two well-preserved layers of plaster on it, 0.5 and 0.9 cm thick, respectively; they also extend beyond the Wall 19. The sufa of Room 14, 156 m wide and 66 cm high, is installed along the entire length of Wall 12. The edges of the sufa are smooth, and it is plastered together with the floor. At a distance of 6.9 m from the northern end of the sufa, there is a projection 80 cm to the east. Based on the fact that this particular sufa is the widest among all those recorded in the hall, it was probably the main one. The discovery of this projection is surprising since the Rectangular Hall already had one sufa with a projection in Room 13. As far as we know, this is the first example in the Sogdian architecture of a hall with two projections. Wall 13 is attached to the eastern side of the sufa. The sufa is made of mudbrick, similar to the sufas in Rooms 12 and 13. The surface of the sufa has several potholes but is generally smooth. The floor of the room is dense, yellowish, and goes under Wall 13. The corresponding floor level can be seen in Rooms 11, 13, 15. The filling of the room was loose and consisted of bricks and fragments of pakhsa.

Room 15
This room is situated to the south of Room 13, west of Room 12 and east of Room 14. It is an almost square (6 x 7 m) thick-walled structure, without passages and signs of habitation (Fig. 11). This season it was almost completely excavated reaching the floor of the First stage; a section was left in the southern part of the room, 1 m. from Wall 19. All Walls (13-15) were preserved approximately to the same height of 155 - 160 cm, as they were once cut by a bulldozer. They were built on the floor of the First period from pakhsa blocks (120 x 85 / 130 x 80 cm). They are not plastered. Wall 13 was built in conjunction with Walls 14 and 19. Wall 14 was built in conjunction Wall 15, which was attached to Wall 19. Wall 19 in Room 15 is different from its part in Room 14, although it follows the same line. All walls Room 15 were part of the same construction and were built at the same time. There are no sufas and no traces of habitation.
The floor in the room is flat almost everywhere except for one elongated pothole (160 cm from Wall 15, 2.5 m from Wall 14). It is 20 - 25 cm wide and 7 - 10 cm deep. Small spots of burning are also visible on the floor. The fill in the room consists of stones (especially in the north-western part) and mudbricks with fragments of painting (Fig. 12). It seems that the room was filled in intentionally.

The southern part of the excavation area is separated from the northern part by Wall 19. This part was inhabited in the Second period and has at least 2 phases (2a and 2b). The following description is based on the assumption that the layout of both phases is generally similar. Thus, the entire area in the southern part of had 2 passages, and it seems that it was part of a courtyard. This southern area can be presumably divided into a corridor (Room 19), leading from the southeast to the west, a long Room 17 immediately north of the southern passage, as well as two rectangular “courtyards”, Rooms 18 and 16. The first phase of the Second period was exposed in the west, in Room 16 and in the corridor leading to the passage in Wall 21. It is built on the fill of the Hall of the First period. This phase includes holes for pillars and the extension of the sufa. The area to the east was only excavated at the level of the second phase of the Second period, but the top of the wall of the first phase is already visible.

Room 16
This season Wall 17 was removed, and the excavation continued along the surface of the sufa. So far, only the western part and the southern parts of Room 16 have been excavated, at approximately the same distance from the corresponding walls (Fig 13). It currently seems that this room was in fact part of a courtyard. The stratigraphy of the excavated areas is not yet completely clear. In the western part, we have reached the floor of the First period. Closer to the south, at the corner of the sufa, a fragment of the floor of the first phase of the Second period has been preserved. Wall 12 is preserved up to the height of 140 cm from the sufa in the south, and 90 cm in the north. It is the same wall as in Room 14, but here it bears traces of long habitation. Wall 19 is poorly preserved. The surface of the wall is greatly eroded and the plaster is not preserved. In the northeastern corner, one can see the connection of the eastern part of Wall 19 to the end of this wall in Room 15. Wall 21 in Room 16 is preserved to a height of 1 m from the level of the sufa, its length is 420 cm and the thickness is 76 to 80 cm. It is made of mudbrick and pakhsa. In the eastern part, it is made of mudbrick (50 x 9 x 25 cm), and in the western part it is made of pakhsa. In the masonry, there are some pebbles and small pieces of coal. On its surface, there are traces of fire and rare remains of a plaster layer. The western end of the wall forms the side of a niche in the southwestern corner. The width of the niche is 125 cm; it was filled with numerous pebbles. The western part of the niche was destroyed and the surface of the wall of the First period is visible, on which plaster with traces of intense burning has also been preserved in some places. The surface of the sufa continues in this niche with traces of burning.
Along the sufa of the First period, at a distance of 65 cm from it, a wall one-brick wide (Wall 17) was built to expand the surface of the sufa. Thus, its width in the Second period was 2.05 m. Wall 17 stands directly on the fill on the floor of the Hall of the First period. It is made of three rows of mudbricks (49–52 x 25–26 x 10 cm). The same wall continues, turning to the east as an extension for the southern sufa. An unexcavated area was left at a distance of 1 m from Wall 17, and 60 cm. The floor of the First period was cleaned along the southern sufa of the same period. Along Wall 17 of the western sufa, a row of three holes, probably for pillar nests was found. The 1st hole from the north has a diameter of 33 cm and a depth of 30 cm. The 2nd hole has a diameter of 33 cm and a depth of 15 cm. The 3rd hole has a diameter of 26 cm and a depth of at least 38 cm. At a distance of 5.7 m from Wall 12, a passage to the south was made, which apparently functioned during both periods. The width of the passage is 140 cm in the first period and 125 cm in the Second. Wall 21, which belongs to the Second period is placed on the floor of the First period and also partially on the sufa. The lower part of this passage, namely the threshold niches in both sides are built into the wall of the First period. It was installed at the level of the floor of 1st phase of the Second period. There are traces of intense burning inside the niches. The western niche of the threshold is about 20 cm wide, 20 cm deep, and the height from the floor of 1st phase of the Second period of the second period is 60 cm.
The northeastern part of Room 16 was only partially excavated to a depth of 70 cm from Wall 19. The surface of the 2nd phase of the Second period has the features of an open courtyard or a street.

Room 17
This room is situated south of Room 12 and west of Room 8. It was completely excavated during this season (Fig. 14). Wall 19 is preserved to a height of 110 cm from the floor level, and it is attached to Wall 11A. Wall 11A has at least one small wall attached to its original structure from the First period. It has a width of 65 cm, with a height of 45 cm from the sufa in the southern part and 25 cm in the northern part. The wall is made of mudbrick and is placed against Wall 11A that continues the line from Room 12. Behind this small addition, the surface of Wall 11A bears traces of intense burning, and the central part of the wall (together with the additional small wall) is greatly eroded. The same additional wall is also attached to Wall 19, and its southern end forms the passage to the corridor leading to Room 8. Along this additional wall there is a sufa, 70 cm wide, 25 cm high in the southern part, and 10 cm in the northern part. In the southern part of Room 17, there is a step leading to the “corridor” (Room 19).

Room 18
Room 18 is situated to the east of Room 16, south of Room 15, and west of Room 17, bordering in the south with a “corridor” (Room 19). It was excavated to the level of the 2nd phase of the Second period in the western part, and 1st phase of the Second period in the eastern (Fig. 15). Wall 19 corresponds to the southern wall of Room 15. In the 2nd phase of the Second period, it is badly eroded. In the eastern part of the room, the floor of the 1st phase of this period was found. The dimensions are 4.3 by 1.8 m, at a depth of 60 cm from the 2nd phase. Wall 18 of the room has been preserved to a height of 1.2 m in the northern part and 60 cm in the southern part from the floor of the 1st phase of the Second period and is made of mudbrick. For 1.8 m from Wall 19, it has a width of 1.2 m; after that becoming narrow (only 50 cm wide), and continues in this manner until it intersects with Wall 22. Only the upper part of Wall 20 was uncovered. It has a length of 1.1 m and a width of about 80 cm. Walls 17 and 18 are attached to Wall 19. The floor surface of both phases is relatively smooth. In the 2nd phase, the colour is greyish, while in the 1st phase, it is yellowish. The excavations of this room will be continued next season to reach the floor of the First period.

Room 19
This room is situated to the south of Rooms 17 and 18, and to the east of Room 16. It seems that it functioned as a corridor (Fig. 16). This season Room 19 was excavated on the level of the 2nd phase of the Second period. Wall 21 is preserved to the height of 75 - 80 cm in the east and 55 cm in the west. In the eastern part of the wall, there is a passage leading to Room 8. There is a thin threshold in the floor of the 2nd phase of the Second period. Its width is 85 cm and it features two niches on both sides. The southern niche has a rectangular shape and a width of 30 cm, a height of 20 cm, and a depth of 17 cm. There was a stone at the bottom of the niche. The dimensions of the northern niche are 10 x 15 x 10 cm. The threshold itself has a width of 10 cm and a depth of 10 cm.
The only wall of Corridor 19 that has survived to a height higher than the floor of the room is the southern Wall 21 running along the southern edge of the excavation. This wall consists of the main body of the wall, dating back to the First period and a later additional wall. The total thickness of the wall is approximately 1.4 m, but before the completion of the excavations, it is difficult to separate the main wall from the later addition. Wall 22 survives solely as a line of stone (foundation) along the northern edge of the corridor. The top of its preservation corresponds to the floor level, suggesting that the wall itself made of mudbrick has been completely washed out. The total thickness of this wall is about 50 cm, consisting of river pebbles. Several finds of bone, metal objects and glass vessels were made in this room (Figs. 23-24).

Wall-paintings
Numerous fragments of mudbricks with wall paintings that originally decorated the walls of the Rectangular Hall in the First period were found in the fill of Room 15 (Figs. 12,17). They were concentrated in a small area almost in the centre of the room, slightly closer to the north-western corner of the room. The fragments were lying both face-up and face-down, mainly horizontally. Their dimensions vary from 32 x 30 cm to several centimetres. In most cases, it is impossible to establish to what wall they originally belonged. Even though the fragments were small, we were able to identify fragments depicting an upper part of a typical heavily armoured Sogdian warrior (No. 29) (Fig. 18), part of the face of a demon (No. 26) (Fig. 19), and part of a horse with a tassel (No. 27) (Fig. 20). Therefore, it seems that at least one of the walls of the Rectangular Hall depicted narrative scenes of a battle between human warriors (including horsemen) and demons. It is noteworthy that the wall paintings from the Small Hall of the Shahristan Palace were dedicated to a similar subject.

In addition, several fragments of paintings that were found last year lying face down were cleaned by the restorer of our team, Maria Gervais. The most important fragment (No. 11) depicts the torso and the heads of two male characters, with their heads turned in full profile to the left (Fig. 21). They were part of the figurative composition uncovered last year of characters wearing Sogdian priestly garments. The character on the right wears a padam, a ritual mask of Zoroastrian priests, thus confirming beyond any doubt that the composition depicted a procession of Sogdian priests. Another fragment (No. 10) cleared this year, which also belongs to the same scene, depicts tongues of flame emerging from a flat, regular surface (Fig. 22). This seems to confirm our hypothesis that the procession of priests was directed towards a large, stationary fire altar depicted under an arch.

Based on the fragments of wall paintings found during the two seasons in 2022-23, we can say that the walls of the Rectangular hall of the Palace were covered with paintings. They were arranged in registers separated by a row of “pearls”. In the centre, there was a wide register with a narrative subject, and above it a register with a complex floral design on a black background. There was also a band with merlons, probably on top of the wall, although it is also possible that merlons decorated some kind of building, such as a fortress that featured in the narrative painting. In the centre of Wall 16 there was an image of a fire altar under an arch on a blue background, flanked by figures of priests painted on a white background. On other walls, there were battle scenes with armoured warriors and demons.
On the wall paintings in this hall, we see the whole range of colours typical for the Sogdian paintings of this period (especially in Panjikent). These are blue and light blue (lapis lazuli), red, yellow, orange and black. The paintings were executed on a white coat. The technique and the manner of these paintings, their technological features of painting, and the range of colours employed, place them alongside the best examples of the 8th century Sogdian art. They will be fully studied and published separately.

Conclusions and Further Prospects
One of the main results of this season was the establishment of the original dimensions of the Rectangular Hall, - 15.6 x 19 m (296.4 m2). For comparison, the dimensions of the rectangular throne room of the Panjikent Palace are 22.80 x 12.25 m (279.3 m2), and those of the throne room of the Shahristan Palace are 17.65 x 11.77 m (207.74 m2). Thus, the Rectangular Hall of Sanjar-Shah occupied a larger area. Only the aywan of the Varakhsha palace taken together with its courtyard was larger (more than 900 m2). However, the size of the hall itself, without the courtyard was 12-13 x 19 m (247 m2), which makes it smaller than the Rectangular Hall of the Sanjar-Shah palace. This makes the Rectangular Hall of the Sanjar-Shah Palace the largest among all known Sogdian palaces except for the Umayyad palace at Afrasyab, whose exact plan, however, is not clear.


The structure and the system of the ceiling are not yet clear. Since the walls were covered with wall paintings, the latter must have been sheltered from the elements. Therefore, there are two options: 1) the roof rested on massive columns; 2) it was an open courtyard with a portico alongside the walls. No column bases from the First Period are yet found in the Rectangular Hall. Perhaps they are covered with the later walls of Room 15. Based on the fact that it had no passages and contained a fill of mud-brick fragments, Room 15 was probably a tower.

The excavations in the southern part of the Rectangular Hall revealed evidence of intensive later occupation in the Second Period, when it was rebuilt several times. Unfortunately, this later activity almost completely destroyed the remains of the original Palace in this part.

Next season we plan to complete the excavations of the Palace in order to establish its exact plan and construction history.

Figures

Fig. 1. Sanjar-Shah 2023. General plan of the excavated areas, drawing by Elena Bouklaeva

Fig. 2. Areas VIII-VII, the Palace, drawing by Elena Bouklaeva



Fig. 3. Area VIII. Excavations in process



Fig. 4. Sounding in the southwestern part of the sharistan



Fig. 5. Area VIII, section 7-7, drawing by Elena Bouklaeva



Fig. 6. Area VIII, section 8-8, drawing by Elena Bouklaeva


Fig. 7. Area VIII, section 9-9, drawing by Elena Bouklaeva

 


Fig. 8. Area VIII, section 10-10, drawing by Elena Bouklaeva

 


Fig. 9. Area VIII, section 11-11, drawing by Elena Bouklaeva



Fig. 10. Area VIII, Room 14 looking south



Fig. 11. Area VIII, Room 15 looking west



Fig. 12. Area VIII, Room 15. Fragments of mudbricks with wall-paintings



Fig. 13. Area VIII, Room 16 looking south



Fig. 14. Area VIII, Room 17 looking south



Fig. 15. Area VIII, Room 18 looking north



Fig. 16. Area VIII, Room 19 looking west



Fig. 17. Area VIII, Room 15. Fragments of mudbricks with wall-paintings



Fig. 18. Area VIII, Room 15



Fig. 19. Area VIII, Room 15



Fig. 20. Area VIII, Room 15



Fig. 21. Area VIII, Room 13



Fig. 22. Area VIII, Room 13



Fig. 23. Area VIII, Room 19, Finds: 1. Bukharkhudat coin. 2. Bronze ring from horse harness. 3. Fragment of a bronze item. 4. Iron arrowhead. 5. Iron ring (from horse harness?) 6. Iron item 7. Marble pinhead. 8. Stone spindle. 9. Bone tube.

 

Fig. 24. Area VIII, Room 19. Glass: 1. Archaeologically complete glass mug. 2. Fragment of the rim of a glass mug. 3. Fragments of the wall of a glass jar. 4-5. Glass mug handles. 6-7. Bottom of a glass vessel.

 

Ceramic Plates

Pl. 1. Room 14, from the fill. Fragment of a bowl. 2-3 Fragments of a bowl with red slip. 4. Fragment of a water-bearing jug with black slip. 5. Fragment of a water-bearing jug. 6. Fragment of the rim of a pot with red slip. 7. Fragment of a rim storage ware 8-9. Fragments of wide-necked vessels with red slip. 10. Fragment of a wide-necked vessel. 11. Fragment of the bottom of a vessel with an additional part with a hole attached to the bottom (reminiscent of a part of a flask).

 

Pl. 2. Area VIII, Room 17, fill. 1. Fragment of a bowl with red slip. 2. Fragment of a bowl with red slip on both sides. 3. Fragment of the rim of a jug. 4. Fragment of the rim of a wide-necked vessel. 5. Fragment of the rim and handle of a tableware. 6. Fragment of the rim of a thick-walled, wide-necked vessel with a wavy ornament pressed in with fingers under the rim from the outside. 7. Fragment of the rim of a cauldron. 8-9. Fragments of a rim of storage jars 10. Fragment of a hand-made cooking pot with horizontally attached ornaments. 11. Fragment of the rim of a hand-made bowl with a finger indentation. 12. Fragment of the rim of a hand-made cooking pot 13. Fragment of the rim of a hand-made cooking pot with a handle. 14. Fragment of the leg of an alabaster table.

 

Pl. 3.  Area VIII, Room 19, fill. 1. Fragment of the bowl rim, painted on both sides with red slip. 2. Fragment of a mug with a chip in the handle area near the wall. The second half of the 8th century CE 3. Handle of a mug painted with red slip. 4. Fragment of the rim and handle of green glazed tableware, 9th century CE 5. Fragment of the rim and handle of a tableware. Round cross-section of the handle, 9th century CE 6. Fragment of the rim and handle of a tableware. Bean-shaped cross-section of the handle 7. Fragment of the rim of a water-bearing jug with red slip on top of the rim. 8-9. Fragments of a wide-necked vessel with a red slip on top of the rim. 10. Sink from a wide-necked vessel. Drips of red slip. 11. Fragment of the wall of a wide-necked thick-walled vessel. Ornamented with horizontal straight and wavy lines on the outside. 12. Fragment of the rim of a wheel-made cooking pot 13. Fragment of a handmade pear-shaped rattle.

 

Pl. 4. Area VIII, Room 19, fill. Archaeologically complete bowl with a scalloped rim. The second half of the 8th century CE 2.

 

Pl. 5. Area VIII, Room 19, floor. 1. Fragment of the rim of a bowl with red slip on both sides of the rim. 2. Fragment of the bottom of the sieve. 3. Fragment of the rim of a pot with red slip. 4. Fragment of the rim of a wide-necked vessel with a red slip. 5. Fragment of the rim of a pottery cauldron. The second half of the 8th century CE 6. Fragment of the rim of an alabaster vessel.

 

 

 





 

 

 

 




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