JOURNAL OF CRITICAL REVIEWS ISSN- 2394-5125 VOL 7, ISSUE 18, 2020 ABOUT HISTORIOGRAPHY OF HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY OF NORTHERN BACTRIA KHOLIYAROV TULKINJON Senior lecturer, Termez State University +99 899 676 81 85 [email protected], [email protected] Received: 16 March 2020 Revised and Accepted: 16 June 2020 Abstract This article summarizes the scientific research conducted by Uzbekistan and foreign scholars on the historiography of historical geography of Northern Bactria, which was carried out in the late XIX - until beginning of the XXI century. The study of these researches makes it possible to localize the names given in anthropological landscapes, archaeological sites, trade routes and written sources in the territory of Northern Bactria. Keywords: Northern Bactria, historical geography, historiography, Surkhan oasis, Northern Tokharistan, Termez, Chaghanian, Dar-i Ahanin, Boysun mountain, Budrach, Paretaka, Arianam Vaedja, frurion, Kharali, Markhashi. 1. Introduction The study of the historiography of the historical geography of ancient Central Asia, especially ancient Bactria, is one of the scientific directions that has been in the focus of archaeologists and historians. The first researches on a number of issues of historical geography of Northern Bactria were carried out by scientists working in the 70s of the XIX-early XX centuries. 2. Materials and Methods Based on the available cartographic data, V.Tomashek in his work gave information about the Paretaka region, which is mentioned in the works of the authors who dealt with ancient Termez and ancient period. In particular, he considered Paretaka a mountainous region and belived it to be in the territory of Badakhshan [1, pp. 34-35, 40-46, 52]. V.V.Grigorev considers Paretaka to be a common name meaning “mountainous region” and places it in the oases of Surkhandarya, Surkhob and Kofirnihon, ie in the middle and northern parts of the Gissar mountain range [2]. I.Markwart calls Paretaka a “river-washing land” and places it in what is now the Surkhandarya region and southern Tajikistan [3, p. 25]. Also, the historical geography of Northern Bactria was first reported in the second half of the 19th century by European historians V.Geiger, T.Nyoldeke, J.Prashek [4] in the early twentieth century and S.Tolstov [5] in the 1940s on the basis of reports by ancient Greek historians. Academician V.V.Bartold made the most significant contribution to the study of the historical geography of Northern Bactria-Tokharistan. He has researched this problem in a number of his works and in a number of articles included in the Islamic encyclopedia [6]. V.V.Bartold wrote special essays in the Islamic encyclopedia “Termez”, “Chaghaniyon” and “Dar-i Ahanin” based on excerpts from the first sources of the East [7, pp. 431-432, 504-508, 558- 559]. These essays, which have not lost their significance, were later supplemented by Uzbek archeologist-numismatist, orientalist-historian E.V.Rtveladze, B.D.Kochnev, Sh.Kamaliddinov on the basis of numismatic, historical and geographical data [8]. The researches listed above were written decades ago and the main focus was only on data from written sources. The researches were often based solely on a comparison of travelogues and geographical maps written in Arabic and Persian in the Middle Ages. There were no archeological artifacts or other types of information to confirm 748 JOURNAL OF CRITICAL REVIEWS ISSN- 2394-5125 VOL 7, ISSUE 18, 2020 or deny them. In addition, more medieval historical geography of the region was covered, while the ancient geography of Northern Bactria was relatively less covered. Extensive archeological excavations and rich sources based on them, which began in the second half of the 1920s, played an important role in the study of the historical geography of northern Bactria. Comparison of the research with written source data allowed to further determine the location of settlements and to determine the boundaries of historical and cultural areas. This research was initiated by the 1927–1928 expedition of the Moscow Museum of Oriental Cultures led by B.P.Denike. The expedition traced the date of Termez architectural monuments and also found that Karatepa and Zurmala referred to Buddhism monuments. He began excavations in the palace of the rulers of Termez, decorated with ganch carving patterns. The results of the expedition were published in many articles and books [9]. In 1930, BN Kastalsky's work on the historical and geographical interpretation of the Surkhandarya and Sherabad oases was published [10]. The author describes the ruins of Old Termez and states his personal observations and comments. The Termez Archaeological Complex Expedition (TACE), which operated in ancient Termez from 1936 to 1938, made a significant contribution to the study of Termez's past, including its historical geography. The results of the expedition were published in a two-volume book and in many articles [11]. In 1938, excavations by A.P. Okladnikov in the Teshiktash cave in the Boysun Mountains revealed that the process of human occupation of Northern Bactria began in the Middle Paleolithic and the formation of anthropogenic landscapes started [12]. Amir Temur cave is located near Teshiktash. In 1939, A.P.Okladnikov conducted archeological excavations in this cave [13, pp. 3-76]. There are three layers, the upper two belonging to the Neolithic period and the lowest to the Middle Paleolithic period. Remains of a kiln and charcoal were found in the layers of Amir Temur's cave. This place was considered a temporary shelter for Neanderthal hunters due to its low density and scarcity. Several findings were found from the cave such as, large coarse-grained scrapers, plates, flat nucleus, and fragments of stone removed out of them, similar to those in the Teshiktash cave. However, various animal bone remains were also found in the cave as here people lived in groups, engaged in hunting and gathering. G.I.Savitsky commented on the information provided by the authors of ancient times about Ancient Bactria [14]. In 1940, a collection of opinions of ancient authors on Central Asia in written sources was published [15]. In 1941, in an article by V.Tarn on the ancient history of Termez [16, pp. 84-94], based on written sources, Alexandria in Oxus replaced the present Termez. The daily activities and creativity of the people of Termez, combined with general information on its history, is reflected in the compilation essay of B.V. Lunin [17, p. 100-103]. I.M. Dyakonov analyzed the list of 16 countries and regions listed in the “Videvdat” part of the sacred book of Zoroastrianism “Avesta” [18]. A.M. Mandelshtam’s work on the historical geography of the Pamirs and Pamir foothills serves as an important source in illuminating the historical geography of the northeastern regions of Northern Bactria [19]. The list of Achaemenid satrapies in Central Asia quoted in ancient Persian writings is studied in V.M. Masson's monograph on ancient Margiana [20]. The work of I.M. Dyakonov plays an important role in the study of the historical geography of Northern Bactria during the invasion of Iran Achaemenids [21]. Employees of the Uzbekistan Art Research Institute, which began its work in 1959, launched a large-scale scientific expedition to Dalvarzintepa, located in the middle reaches of the Chaganrud (Surkhandarya), the second largest center in northern Bactria after Termez. The head of the expedition G.A. Pugachenkova set a goal for the members of the expedition of not only archeological research of Dalvarzintepa and Kholchayan, which are monuments of antiquity, but also of studying the historical geography of the whole region. The members of the expedition carried out archeological excavations in the ancient city of Budrach, 6 km south-east of Denau, at the confluence of the Surkhan and Kizilsu rivers [22, p. 59]. In 1973, A.A.Askarov’s work on the Sapallitepa archaeological site of the Bronze Age provided information on the dynamics of development of anthropogenic landscapes in the Bronze Age [23]. Archaeologist U. Islamov informed about the formation of anthropogenic landscapes in the Machay Cave of the Mesolithic period in the mid-70s of the XX century [24]. A. Askarov's and B. Abdullaev's work on the monument to Jarkutan contains valuable information on the emergence of two-part cities and the formation of the first states, that can be a comprehensive study of the historical geography of these states [25]. Archaeologist T.Shirinov enriched this information in his research [26]. 749 JOURNAL OF CRITICAL REVIEWS ISSN- 2394-5125 VOL 7, ISSUE 18, 2020 In the late 70s of the XX century, an expedition consisting of archaeologists E.V.Rtveladze and M.Is’hakov conducted research in the ruins of the city of Budrach and found that settlements were built here between the first centuriy BC and the first century AD and developed during the reign of the whole Kushan Empire [27]. At the same time, the work of the Termez archeological group headed by Sh.R.Pidaev began in Old Termez, and two stratigraphic wells were dug in the Old Termez fortress. As a result, information on the gradual stratigraphic exchange of cultural strata was obtained, excavations were carried out in some buildings in Shahristan and Rabod, as well as the defense system of Old Termez. As a result, it was possible to determine the dynamics of the city's development. Sh.R.Pidaev tried to clearly substantiate the location of Alexandria in Oxus, the place of Termez, based on archeological materials [28]. In 1977, Stavisky considered the archeological monuments of the Kushan period in his work, taking into account the geographical features of Bactria, and studied the historical geography of North and South Bactria on the basis of archeological materials available at that time [29, pp.