Togolok

Togolok is a significant archaeological site located in the Murghab Delta region of Turkmenistan. It comprises multiple phases of occupation, including a Neolithic settlement known as Togolok Depe, which began around 7000 BCE during the Jeitun period. This early phase is characterized by its proximity to the ancient Jeitun settlement in the Kopet-Dag foothills. The site also includes Togolok 21, a temple and fortress dating to the first half of the 2nd millennium BCE, associated with the Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex (BMAC). This Indo-Iranian structure featured rooms with traces of ephedra and hemp, indicative of ritualistic activities. The site's dual phases offer valuable insights into the transition from Neolithic habitation to Bronze Age religious and defensive architecture in Central Asia.