British Academy: The UK's National Academy for the Humanities and Social Sciences
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After Alexander: Central Asia Before Islam
The fire temple at Tash-k’irman-tepe, Chorasmia
Alison Betts
Tash-k’irman-tepe is a Chorasmian fire temple, the latest
stage of which was founded in the 4th-3rd centuries BC. The temple
continued in use into the Kushan period and was abandoned probably
in the 1st to early 2nd centuries AD. The structure is remarkably
well preserved and the site has been almost fully excavated by the
Karakalpak-Australian Expedition. The paper will present evidence
provided by the excavations and discuss the broader regional significance
of the site.