During excavations on the territory of the State Historical and Cultural Reserve "Kunya-Urgench" in Turkmenistan, archaeologists made a sensational discovery. At the site of the supposed caravanserai, a star-shaped polygonal structure with a diameter of about 12 meters was discovered, which, according to experts, is unique for this region. This was reported on the pages of the newspaper "Turkmenistan" by Parakhat Ashyrov, head of the State Historical and Cultural Reserve "Kunya-Urgench".
It is noted that the research was carried out under the supervision of Doctor of Architectural Sciences Muhammetdurdy Mamedov, who heads the National Department of Turkmenistan for the Protection, Study and Restoration of Historical and Cultural Monuments. Initially, the object was considered the remains of a medieval caravanserai, but recent finds refute this hypothesis.
The excavations revealed a complex architectural structure, including the remains of walls, portals and interior spaces. Of particular interest is the discovered star-shaped structure built of fired brick. Its unusual shape and size suggest that it could have been a defensive or cult minaret.
New data indicate that the object under study was probably the main mosque or an important administrative building of the capital of the Khorezmshah state.
Work on the site continues as part of the state program for the preservation and study of the national historical and cultural heritage of Turkmenistan. Scientists plan to conduct further research to clarify the purpose and dating of the unique structure.