Kukhi Sim Silver Mine of Ilak: the Problem of Localization
The article dwells on the problem of Maverannakhr mine pertaining to the IX-th - X-th centuries known under the name of Kuhi Sim as written sources run. This mine was located in the mountains of Ilak. Here they extracted and processed mainly gold, silver, copper and iron. The production of this area was sold in the big markets of Maverannakhr, Khorosan, India and Iran. Scholars and travellers from these lands provided information concerned with the legendary mine. In the XX-th century explorers moved divers variants of its localization. One of the variants proposed to consider Kuhi Sim as an integrity of the biggest mines situated on the Kuramin ridge including Altyn-Topkan, Koni Mansur, Kandjol, Lashkarak, Akteppa and others. However, the assertion remains controversial. Another variant insists on looking upon Kuhi Sim as not one mine, but as a mining area with rich deposits of silver. Under such approach Karamazar may be identical to Kuhi Sim Pisedfrom mediaeval written sources.