Ancient Fortress of Khorezm

Guldursun Kala fortress is dated back to the II-I centuries BC and is located in Karakalpakstan. Fortification was constructed on a rectangular basis with a square of 35 hectares. Adobe walls are lined with two rows and have built-in loopholes. In the 5th century BC the fortress was laid in ruins for unknown reasons.

Medieval Restoration

Approximately in the first half of the XII century, Guldursun Kala had been restored and turned into an important outpost of the Khorezm state. However, in the XIII century, the castle was again destroyed by Mongol invaders. During archaeological excavations inside the fortress, a large number of ancient and medieval pottery, bronze crafts and jewelry, ancient and medieval coins were found, all testifying to the site's importance.

Architectural Features

All eight rooms of the ground floor were constructed with double arches. They were intended, apparently, for special religious purposes, and in the upper rooms were placed warehouse stocks, terracotta images of deities and where religious ceremonies were apparently held. Small cult terracotta, miniature vessels, ceramics decorated with mythological subjects - all found here are typical for burial items.

Fortification System

The building was surrounded by a double ring of fortifications that were built in the corridor between the walls of the tower. Two towers were internal, almost square chambers enclosed by solid walls of the corridor of mud brick with a thickness of 1 meter. From the courtyard in the tower were opened loopholes. The excavations of this fortress revealed two main periods of its existence, separated by a considerable period of time, with the fortress's last period of habitation referring to the XI century during the reign of Muhammad Khorezmshah, before the Mongol invasion to Khorezm.