UNESCO-Recognized Desert Castles

Ayaz-Kala is the largest fortress of the UNESCO-recognized Desert Castles of Ancient Khorezm in Ellikqala district of Karakalpakstan. Situated on a hilltop overlooking the Kyzylkum Desert, the site encompasses the ruins of an ancient Khorezm fortress.

Historical Period

Built in the 4th century BC during the height of the Kushan Empire, it stands frozen in time as one of several significant monuments to Zoroastrianism which dot the landscape. The site consists of three fortresses which were built from the 4th century BC to the 7th century. The fortresses were part of a series of forts at the edge of the Kyzylkum Desert, which provided defence against raids by nomads and the Saka of the Syr Darya delta.

Ayaz-Kala Settlement-1: Fortress Downwind

Ayaz-Kala Settlement-1, also known as a "Fortress downwind," is one of the defensive fortresses built on the edge of the Kyzylkum Desert as a means of protection from nomadic raids. The monument is rectangular, while its 10-metres-high double walls are built from earth bricks. Even today looking at the walls one can clearly see the towers and two-storied galleries that ensured the ease of movement for the archers as well as loopholes located at an equal distance from each other. The Fortress Entrance in the southern wall is protected by the rectangular construction built in front of the gates. It has a passageway in the eastern wall that is also fortified by two rectangular towers.

Ayaz-Kala Settlement-2: Royal Palace Complex

The Ayaz-Kala Settlement-2 was probably founded during the Afrigid Dynasty, approximately at the end of the VII and beginning of the VIII centuries A.D. It has a complex configuration. A ramp that led downwards once linked the fortress gates with a large luxurious palace located at the foot of the hill. This palace was described as the most beautiful and magnificent edifice of the medieval period in all of Central Asia. There were large audience chambers with columns, an elegant bench, a ceremonial ground, wall paintings and a fire temple. Coins of the Afrigid dynasty, in particular the coins of King Bravik, were found there. The palace was constructed approximately in the IV century A.D. Later it was destroyed by two successive fires.

Ayaz-Kala Settlement-3: Fortress Complex

The Ayaz-Kala Settlement-3 (IV–III centuries B.C.) is a large reinforced parallelogram-shaped structure surrounded by double walls with numerous rectangular towers on each side. The settlement entrance is located in the middle of the southern side and protected by cranked wall that formed a sophisticated labyrinth before the gates. The settlement courtyard is absolutely empty. Small constructions can be found only near the walls. In the northwestern corner of the settlement there is a large house with many rooms. Two intersecting corridors divided the house into four sectors. Each sector consisted of ten rooms.