Central Asian köshks from the Islamic period before the Mongol conquest: fortified, semi-fortified or unfortified?

Recent research challenges the assumption that Central Asian köshks, characteristic buildings with corrugated outer walls dating from the 7th to 13th centuries AD, were exclusively fortified structures. While these buildings exhibit features suggesting defensibility, they lack key elements typical of military architecture, indicating a shift in function over time. Unlike earlier pre-Islamic structures that served military roles, Islamic-period köshks primarily functioned as residential spaces. However, the Great Kyz Kala at Merv, Turkmenistan, stands out as an exception, retaining its defensive capacity longer than other köshks, according to findings from the UCL Institute of Archaeology Ancient Merv Project. This study compares defensive elements across different periods to trace the evolution of these structures, providing insights into their dual residential and military roles during the Islamic period.

Piekarz, P. (2019). Central Asian köshks from the Islamic period before the Mongol conquest: fortified, semi-fortified or unfortified? Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean, (28.2), 493–508. https://doi.org/10.31338/uw.2083-537x.pam28.2.27