Butentau
Butentau is an archaeological site in the Daşoguz region of Turkmenistan.[1][2]
Sites
Ibrahim Sultan Shrine
Three domed mausoleum, which were reconstructed by the Turkmen Government, stand atop an escarpment and function as a local shrine.[1] They are believed to house the remains of Ibrahmin Sultan —a fakir from Arab— and his relatives, who had migrated to Butentau, to help the local people.[1]
Behind the mausoleum lies a graveyard, where one "Shibli Baba"[a] remains buried along with others.[1]
Cave Settlements
A chain of artificial caves, cut into the soft limestone riff, runs for about two kilometers and numbers into several hundred.[1][3] They were settled in around early medieval times — currently, most are inaccessible without climbing equipment.[1][2]
Ak Kala
A few hundred meters away from the cave-chain, lies the ruined late-medieval city of Adak.[1] The city is roughly square in shape — a wall runs along the entire perimeter, interspersed with five semi-circular towers at each side and a round tower at each corner.[1] In the north of the walled city, another enclosed space is present.[1]
Notes
- ^ The particular grave is about 20m. long, apparently out of Baba's tall height. Even then, his lower right leg has to be buried separately at the bottom of escarpment.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Brummell, Paul (2005). Turkmenistan. Bradt Travel Guides. pp. 180–181. ISBN 978-1-84162-144-9.
- ^ a b Bizhanov, E. B.; Khozhaniyazov, Gairatdin (2003). "Arkheologicheskii Compleks Butentau" [Archaeological Complex of Butentau]. Arkheologia Priaral'ya. 6: 32–59.
- ^ Komarov, Vladimir (12 August 2021). "The unsolved secrets of the Butentau caves". Golden Age.