Akchakhan-Kala

Akchakhan-Kala, or Akcha-khan Kala, also named after the locality Kazakly-Yatkan/ Kazakl'i-Yatkan, in modern Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan, was an ancient fortress in Chorasmia built in the 4th/ 3rd century BCE and occupied until it was despoiled in the 2nd century CE.^[2][3] It is part of the "Fifty fortresses oasis" in modern-day Uzbekistan.^[4] The abandonment of Akchakhan-Kala was apparently followed by the establishment of the new capital of Toprak-Kala, 14 km to the northeast.^[5]

Akchakhan-Kala

A mural from Akchakhan-Kala
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Alternative name	Akchakhan-Kala
Location	Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan
Coordinates	41°49′41.17″N 60°43′8.67″E[1]
Type	Settlement
History
Periods	Parthian, Sasanian
Site notes
Condition	Ruined

Excavations

Akcha-khan Kala has been the object of numerous excavations, still ongoing. A ceremonial complex with a hypostyle hall was discovered.^[5]

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  Corner of upper enclosure of Kazakl'i-yatkan
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  Kazakl'i-yatkan
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  Column base at Kazakl'i-yatkan
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  Mud brick floor at Kazakl'i-yatkan

Paintings

Many decorations have been found, belonging to the period from the 1st century BCE to the 2nd century CE: a large quantity of frescoes, unbaked-clay modelled sculptures including fragments of a Ketos in Hellenistic style, and a Zoroastrian fire altar with paintings of colossal Avestan gods.^[5] Parthian artistic influences have also been described.^[6]

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  Akchakhan-Kala mural
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  Akchakhan-Kala mural
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  Akchakhan-Kala mural
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  Location of the Akchakhan-Kala fortress in the Chorasmian oasis, in relation to other main fortresses