Table 1 Geographic and archaeological information about analysed sites, including number of human samples. Detailed archaeological information for each site is provided in Supplementary Information 3. *See methods.
From: Urban and nomadic isotopic niches reveal dietary connectivities along Central Asia’s Silk Roads
Country | Region | Site | Elevation (m.a.s.l.) | Chronology | n | Archaeological context | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Uzbekistan | West Pamir-Alay | Tashbulak | 2100 | 9th–11th c. | 4 | Highland urban complex of the Qarakhanid Empire; citadel, metal workshops, necropolis; 7 ha | |
Alyntepe | 475 | 10th–13th c. | 1 | Provincial city with fortified walls and surrounding settlements; industrial scale brick and ceramic production; 40 ha | |||
Frinkent | 530 | 10th–13th c. | 4 | Fortress complex with cemetery of unique Zoroastrian burials in large ceramic vessels; 14 ha | |||
Ferghana Valley | Chor Dona | 580 | 11th–13th c. | 4 | Fortress mound with associated grain processing facility and ancillary ancient settlement of Andijan; estimated 10–15 ha | ||
Chartok | 545 | 12th c. | 11 | Context information is not available | |||
Tashkent Oasis | Uturlik | 270 | 12th c. | 9 | Large city with diverse economic production of crafts; along trade routes with Otrar; 60 ha | ||
Khoresm | Tok-kala | 60 | 9th–12th c. | 9 | Urban fortress and surrounding settlements that functioned as a regional centre of political and economic influence; estimated 10–15 ha | ||
Kazakhstan | Otrar Oasis | Konyr-tobe I | 180 | 5th–7th c. | 9 | Cemetery platform raised 2.5 m above ground level on the outskirts of a fortress; burials suggest nomadic traditions | |
Temirlanovka | 320 | 2nd–4th c. | 4 | Cemetery unassociated with a settlement containing burials of nomadic individuals | SI 3 | ||
Zhetysu (Semirech’ye) | Turgen II | 1040 | 2nd–6th c. | 7 | Settlement and burial complex with nomadic occupations from the late Bronze Age to medieval period; estimated < 5 ha | ||
Butakty II | 1150 | 10th–12th c. | 6 | Settlement and burial complex with nomadic occupations from the late Bronze Age to medieval period; estimated < 5 ha | |||
Karatal | 620 | 8th–11th c. | 3 | Cemetery complex in use from the late Bronze Age to historical period; numerous nomadic encampment structures | 84; SI 3 | ||
Turkmenistan | Dehistan Plain | Geotchik Depe | 130 | Iron Age* | 2 | Urban complex with occupation from the early Iron Age to late Islamic period; 5.5 ha | |
Misrijan | 170 | 11th–12th c. | 1 | One of numerous large villages in the Misrijan Oasis; precise site is not reported in the literature |
