Open Daily: 10am - 10pm | Alley door pickup 10am - 7pm 3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
612-822-4611

  • Open Daily: 10am - 10pm
    Alley-side Pickup: 10am - 7pm

    3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
    612-822-4611

Open Daily: 10am - 10pm | Alley-side Pickup: 10am - 7pm
3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
612-822-4611
Mapping Medieval Merv: An Exploration Into the Application of Cartographic Analysis and Urban Morphological Theory to an Urban Archaeological Site

Mapping Medieval Merv: An Exploration Into the Application of Cartographic Analysis and Urban Morphological Theory to an Urban Archaeological Site

Cowin, Loren V.

Hardcover

Series: Roots Studies

ArchaeologyAncient History General

Currently unavailable to order

ISBN10: 946428109X
ISBN13: 9789464281095
Publisher: Sidestone Press
Published: Apr 7 2026
Pages: 160
Language: English
Merv's medieval urban topography reveals how Sultan Kala shaped Islamic urbanism and regional resilience.

Situated within the vast Karakum desert of western Central Asia, the Merv oasis exhibits a trove of archaeological sites, owing to its rich ancient and medieval history. Likely due to its strategic location along the historic Silk Roads, the oasis boasts no less than three distinct urban sites, each corresponding to a different period.

During the Islamic Golden Age (8th-13th centuries CE), the city of Merv flourished as a significant centre of Islamic scholarship and occasionally served as a capital. Unfortunately, its prosperity ended abruptly in 1221 CE when it was sacked by the Mongols. Today, the site known as Sultan Kala remains relatively untouched by modern development, setting it apart from many other early Islamic cities. Consequently, Sultan Kala presents a vast and intricate urban archaeological topography.

What can this topography reveal about the medieval history of Merv? This study employs drone imagery, geographic information systems (GIS), archaeological data, and historical sources to explore the archaeological topography of medieval Merv, with a particular focus on Sultan Kala, and how it reflects the city's historical layout. Drawing upon concepts from the field of urban morphology and scholarly research on Islamic urbanism, this study seeks to analyse and interpret the city's form, shedding light on its unique development during the early centuries of Islam. Through this investigation, Merv emerges as a testament to the diversity and evolution of Islamic urbanism in Central Asia during the early medieval period.

1 different editions

Also available

Also from

Cowin, Loren V.

View All

Also in

Archaeology

View All