Problems of Engineering Seismology: article

Balandtepa – the ruins of the early medieval city of Bab (Pap) on the Great Silk Road (Fergana Valley, Uzbekistan), destroyed by earthquakes
A.M. Korzhenkov 1 A.A. Anarbaev 2 S.Sh. Kubaev 2 Z.A. Koraeva 3 I. Bekmirzaev 2 L.A. Korzhenkova 4 A.A. Sentsov 1
1 Schmidt Institute of Physics of the Earth, Russian Academy of Sciences 2 National Center of Archeology, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan 3 Institute of Archeology of the Agency for Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Uzbekistan 4 Sergeev Institute of Geoecology, Russian Academy of Sciences
Journal: Problems of Engineering Seismology
Tome: 51
Number: 2
Year: 2024
Pages: 36–58
UDK: 551.2/.3
DOI: 10.21455/VIS2024.2-3
Keywords: Balandtepa, Bab, Pap, Fergana Valley, citadel, shakhristan, rabad, pakhsa, mud brick, ceramics, archeoseismology, earthquake swarm, seismic deformations
Аnnotation: In recent years, we have conducted archaeological and archaeoseismological complex studies in the Fergana Valley, which have provided very interesting materials telling about the socio-economic life and natural cataclysm of this historical and geographical region. In particular, in 2023, research was continued on the Balandtepa monument and new materials were obtained clarifying the historical topography of the city. At the same time, a number of characteristic destructions and damages in the city walls of the citadel were revealed, indicating their seismogenic origin. As we noted earlier, the early medieval city of Bab (Pap) mentioned by the early Arab historian At-Tabari was located on the territory of the Balandtepa monument and consisted of three parts: the citadel, the inner city (Shahristan), the outer city (Rabad). It was possible to establish that during the entire time of the functioning of the Balandtepa citadel wall, three fairly clearly distinguished periods took place. In the first two periods, the defense of the citadel was mainly carried out from the intra-wall corridor, and in the third period from the parapet. In the first period (V–VI centuries), the aforementioned intra-wall corridor connects with the passage going inside the citadel. At the end of the VI – beginning of the VII century, the double wall of the citadel suddenly collapses as a result of strong earthquakes. After that, the city is being restored, in particular, the aforementioned double wall of the citadel is being overhauled, i.e. almost being built anew. Thus, the second period of the citadel’s functioning begins and lasted for more than a hundred years, approximately at the beginning or the first quarter of the VIII century, when the fortress walls are destroyed for the second time. Now, the destroyed wall is completely leveled and used as the foundation of a new wall. After that, the width of the fortress wall of the citadel is 6.10 m, and the defense of the citadel is carried out from the parapet. In the last quarter of the VIII century, there is some kind of natural cataclysm. As a result, the owner of the citadel and the residents of Shahristan relocated to Rabad. Their places are occupied by artisans who worked here until the IX century, inclusive.