CERAMICS OF SETTLEMENT SARI KUPRUK
This article analyzes the characteristics of the ceramics of the village of Sari Kupruk. This settlement is located on the territory of modern Tajikistan. This settlement shows the cultural ties of Central Asia in the Middle Ages. The influence of Arabs and Buddhists on local culture traditions. This manifested itself in ceramics. This unique settlement was discovered in 2006 in the middle reaches of the Vakhsh River. At the same time, archaeological excavations were carried out under the direction of T. G. Filimonova. The excavations showed that it was a small military settlement built in the period of the Kushan kingdom (II-III centuries AD.). Apparently it played an important strategic role. The settlement was located on the island, and in the center of the settlement was a castle on a cliff. Judging by the relief, the citadel was located in the northern part of the settlement. Itself, apparently, controlled one of the crossings over the river. This military fortress well illustrates the defensive traditions of the Kushan kingdom. It controlled one of the sections of the trade route. The settlement existed before the 9th century, in any case, the latest fragments of ceramics belong to this time. In general, the Sari Kupruk pottery is very interesting, as it shows the evolution of the region's ceramic production in the early Middle Ages and the cultural influence on the region of various peoples and religions. In 2011, we were able to get acquainted with this pottery and make several observations and ideas. The work has a number of valuable illustrations that allow you to visually see what was Sari Kupruk pottery.