Jankent

Jankent, located east of the Aral Sea in Kazakhstan, is an archaeological site notable for its role as the capital of the Oghuz Turks in the 10th century CE. Archaeological surveys have revealed a town with defensive walls and a citadel, dating from the early to late Post-Classical period. The town's layout includes residential areas, workshops, and defensive structures, indicating its significance as a political and economic center. The site's origins trace back to the 7th century CE with the Dzhetyasar culture, and it became enclosed in the 9th century CE. Jankent thrived as a mixed-culture settlement on the Northern Silk Road until its abandonment between the 12th and 14th centuries CE, likely due to environmental or political changes.