Deng Chen
Abstract
In the last century, a group of Bronze Age composite stone female figurines, known as “Bactrian princesses”, appeared in the antique market, and were suspected to come from ...
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In the last century, a group of Bronze Age composite stone female figurines, known as “Bactrian princesses”, appeared in the antique market, and were suspected to come from Afghanistan. Later, during scientific archaeological excavations, similar female figurines were discovered in southern Turkmenistan and northeastern Iran, corresponding to the Late Namazga V period. There are many discussions about the origin of this composite stone female figurine. Traditionally, it is believed that they have clear Elamite elements and were influenced by the culture of the southern Iranian plateau. From the Neolithic to the Bronze Age in Central Asia, archaeological remains show close connections with the populations on the Iranian plateau. Clay female statues were used both in Central Asia and Iran for a long time, and based on them, statue tradition with local cultural characteristics was relatively independently developed. The new composite stone female statues in Namazga V were different from the early Central Asia traditions, which were made of clay and in a schematized shape. The decorations on the surface of these composite stone figurines have a great similarity with the images of elites from the Old Elamite Dynasty. Also, the stone materials, mainly chlorites and marbles, can be traced to southeastern Iran. The appearance of these composite stone figurines shows a change that happened in Southern Central Asia society, corresponding to the transition that people moved from Kopet Dag Piedmont to the Murghab Delta. The integration of Central Asian local culture and Iranian culture was ideologically reflected in these figurines.
