The Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex, also called the Oxus Civilization, was a Bronze Age culture of Central Asia, centred on the oases of the Amu Darya and the Murghab rivers, in present-day Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan. It was identified by the Soviet archaeologist Viktor Sarianidi, who excavated sites such as Gonur Depe. Its people built fortified settlements with monumental buildings, used irrigation to farm in the desert margins, and traded with Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley and the steppes. The finds include stone and metal vessels, seals and figurines. The culture's links to the spread of Indo-Iranian languages are debated, and it declined after about 1700 BCE.
Before and after
- from c. 2,334 BCE to 2,154 BCEAkkadian Empire
- from c. 2,300 BCE to 1,000 BCEAndronovo culture
- c. 2,300 BCEEruption of Blanco, Cerro
- from c. 2,205 BCE to 1,600 BCEXia dynasty (traditional dates)
- from c. 2,200 BCE to 1,700 BCEBactria–Margiana Archaeological Complex
- from c. 2,181 BCE to 2,055 BCEFirst Intermediate Period of Egypt
- c. 2,181 BCERise of Seventh Dynasty of Egypt
- from c. 2,180 BCE to 350 CEKingdom of Kush
- from c. 2,160 BCE to 2,050 BCENinth Dynasty of Egypt
More in Evolution & life
- from c. 3,200 BCE to 1,050 BCECycladic civilization
- from c. 3,200 BCE to 3,060 BCENaqada III
- from 31st century BCE to 20th century BCECorded Ware culture
- from c. 1,300s BCE to 500s BCEChavín culture
- 11th century BCEThe Bantu expansion begins
- from 1st century to 7th centuryNazca culture
The era
This moment belongs to the Ancient civilizations (3,200 BCE to 500 CE), writing, cities and empires. You can also browse everything in the 22nd century BCE.