Lands of Asia layouts (Eng) 26.11.21

3.2
Three well-preserved cave structures (Nos.1–3) and one (No. 4) that was
badly destroyed have been identified in the lower tier. They are rectangular (with a
significant rounding of corners), with a longitudinal axis, and vaulted and were cut
into the sandstone with the help of narrow metal tools, traces of which are clearly
visible on the walls and ceilings of the structures. They are 9–11 metres long, 4.5–
5.5 metres wide and about 4 metres high. The entrances to the structures are in the
form of arches with projecting thresholds, now almost destroyed. There used to be
an adjoining archway with a rounded ceiling between structures 1 and 2. In the rear
facing wall at a height of 1.6–1.7 metres, two triangular niches (15 x 20 cm) were cut
one above the other, and there are similar niches in the side walls of structure No. 3.
They were probably intended for lamps and incense burners.
What could these structures have been used for?
The features of the structures suggest that they could not have been used for
habitation or any other similar purpose. It is more likely that they were used as places
of worship, which is also consistent with the content of the inscriptions found here.
Many images and inscriptions, both ancient (1st–2nd centuries AD) and modern,
have been found on the surfaces of the rocks and walls here. The images include
depictions of a two-humped camel, a horse, a predator, a scorpion, palms, a bow with
arrows, swords, and complex tamga-type symbols.
The inscriptions are in Arabic, Bactrian, Greek and Latin, with later inscriptions
in Uzbek and Russian.
The Medieval Arabic inscriptions are very short and contain only the year
according to the Islamic calendar: 584 AH. (1187–1188); 837 AH. (1433–1434);
949 AH. (1542–1543). In addition, there are Arabic inscriptions from the 19th to
the early 20th century containing religious formulas such as basmalla and kalimah.
Among Bactrian inscriptions from the first centuries AD, there is only one wellpreserved
inscription which is a name, ‘Larziokhsho’ or ‘Arziokhsho’, the second
part of which, ‘okhsho’, is the name of a Bactrian god, Okhsho/Oakhsho (Oxus).
According to V.A. Livshits, this inscription means ‘Given (by the god) Okhsho’.
The Latin inscriptions found here are dedicatory (tituli sacri). While the presence
of Bactrian and Arabic inscriptions at these places is understandable, the discovery of
Old Latin inscriptions here came as a complete surprise.
They were studied by the distinguished classicist Y.G. Vinogradov (from
photographs) and his student Y.B. Ustinova, who visited Kara-Kamar in 1988.
However, the author of this book had already identified them as Old Latin during the
first study of the site, with the name Gaius Rex clearly legible.
Both Latin inscriptions were to the left of the entrance to structure No. 3, and one
of them was 1.5 metres higher than the other.
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