Altyndepe

Altyndepe is a Bronze Age archaeological settlement in the Ahal Region of Turkmenistan. The site is associated with the broader Bactria-Margiana cultural sphere and dates mainly to the late 3rd and early 2nd millennia BCE.

Excavations have revealed a fortified central citadel, an outer urban area with evidence of craft production and domestic structures, and nearby burial complexes. Archaeological finds indicate long-term occupation, organised settlement layout and connections with contemporary cultures in Central Asia.

The site occupies a position near the foothills of the Kopet Dag within Ahal Region and has been investigated by archaeological teams since the mid-20th century; it is an important reference point for Bronze Age urbanism in the region.

Altyndepe lies inland in southern Turkmenistan’s Ahal Region, in the vicinity of the Kopet Dag foothills.

• Period and cultural context: A Bronze Age archaeological site associated with the Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex and occupied during the late 3rd to early 2nd millennium BCE.

What to See #

• Citadel: A fortified citadel or acropolis area at the centre of the site representing the urban core of the settlement.
• Outer town and workshops: An outer town area with remains of housing and craft workshops suggesting organised production and domestic life during the Bronze Age.
• Burial complexes: Burial mounds and funerary deposits in the surrounding landscape that provide evidence of ritual practice and social hierarchy.