Desert Castles of Ancient Khorezm, Uzbekistan

The Desert Castles of Ancient Khorezm sprange up along the tributaries of the Amu-dar’ya River, on the sandy plains of central Uzbekistan. The surrounding land constitutes one of the largest oases in Central Asia and offered fertile agricultural soil to the area’s first settlers. The first fortifications began to appear in the 7th century BC, built out of local materials, including mud brick, cob, and pakhsa. The sophisticated technology and engineering allowed the structures to maintain their structural stability while allowing for massive walls, gates, towers, and architectural details including vaulted corridors, decorative niches, and arrow slots.

This landscape encompasses a number of desert castles, each in varying states of decay. In addition to the fortresses, there is the fortified town of Gul’dursun-kala,created during the 2nd century.

Added to the World Monuments Fund 2010 Monuments Watch List, the façades of the castles and fortifications have softened through centuries of exposure to wind and other natural elements. Today, cotton cultivation has salinized the soil surrounding the structures, eating away at the foundations and compounding the deterioration left by time and the environment. Comprehensive management and conservation plans are necessary to ensure the preservation of these ancient castles.

The collection of castles is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.