Irrigating the desert: water management, agricultural practices, and social complexity in Southern Turkmenistan during the Bronze Age

Abstract

The Murghab region in Turkmenistan was central to the Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex (BMAC) - also known as Oxus Civilization - during the Bronze Age. This period is characterized by magnificent citadels like Gonur Depe and evidence of trade with Iran, the Indus Valley, and Mesopotamia. Although scholars have long debated the significance of water resources for the development of the BMAC, localized investigations into water and agricultural management in the Murghab remain a crucial research gap. This study analyzes Middle and Late Bronze Age (2400-1300 BCE) communities within the Murghab River's alluvial fan. It examines how environmental and hydrological shifts influenced settlement patterns and agriculture during a period of an increasingly arid climate. Employing remote sensing, archaeological surveys, geoarchaeology, and OSL dating, the research focused on small-scale Togolok and Ojakly areas. Findings revealed that large settlements areas (Togolok) mainly used stable water channels and diverse crops production, while rural sites (Ojakly) adapted with low-investment agriculture and mobility to cope with an increasingly arid climate. Hydrological instability, evident in Ojakly’s investigation, may also explain the prevalence of transient Late Bronze Age sites. The study also questions the link between pottery assemblages and subsistence economy, challenging previous assumptions of an economic divide. Ultimately, the research proposes a landscape "multiple adaptation model," highlighting diverse strategies in response to climate change, contributing to understanding economic and social resilience in Bronze Age Central Asia.