Nisa: a mystery for archeologists and historians

Tamara GLAZUNOVA

Nisa is again in focus of world community: the unique historical and archeological monument was inscribed on the World Heritage List and thereupon the Place of Ancient Nisa in World Culture scientific conference was held in Ashgabat. UNESCO Representative to Turkmenistan Abdin Salih participated in the forum, which brought together the well-known Turkmen scientists.

The Turkmen scientists considered different aspects of the history of the Parthian capital over 22,000 years. They are unanimous in an opinion – the more we know about Nisa the more questions arise.

“A lot of questions arise about the personality of Arsaces, the first king of Parthia”, Doctor of History Khemra Yusupov says. “The early sources testify that he was crowned in Asaak. Where that city was situated? It could be Old Nisa. The location of the royal treasury in Old Nisa testifies to this version. Nisa puts many questions exciting the scientists’ imagination. The future archeological and historical researches signify new discoveries and finds.”

“The Turkmen scientists had to derive the scanty information about Nisa from the manuscripts of the Greek, Roman, Armenian and Chinese authors,” Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor Tirkesh Khojaniyazov continues. “These sources provide little information though it is of particular importance. Nisa will talk about itself. The archeological excavations provide such an opportunity.

“The Parthian Empire had the pecuniary system and mint. The monetary rate developed the Hellenistic traditions, silver tetradrachmas, drachmas, penny and copper chalca were minted. The mint in Nisa stamped the coins with the monogram.

“The coins dated back to the periods of the Arabic Caliphate, the Mamunids and Kunya Urgench Turkmen were found in Nisa during the archeological excavations. The coin minted by the Sefevid ruler Ismail after he had conquered Khorasan in 916 (1510) was the ‘youngest’ one.

“Over 2,500 fragments of crockery with the legends in black ink were found in New and Old Nisa. The documents discovered were called ‘Parthia’s kings archive’. The official workflow was carried out in Greek but the Parthians also used their own written language in the documents and private correspondence. These inscriptions provide the general knowledge of the economic life in Old Nisa. We have to do much to restore many pages of the life in Nisa. The young researchers and archeologists took an active part in the work.”

“I am very proud of taking part in the forum that brought together the outstanding archeologists and historians’, Begench Charyev, a student of the Faculty of History of the Magtymguly Turkmen State University says. “I got acquainted with the archeological finds and excavations in Nisa during my practical work and since then I have devoted all my free time to Nisa. As a future historian and a citizen of Turkmenistan I am proud of that the country where I was born has such a cultural property.

“Many world-shaking discoveries were made over 70 years of excavations and the abundant scientific materials were published. We believe that Nisa will reveal its secrets to us, the young historians.”