Ussr military Topographic map

chemical fingerprint
of each source, as well 
as compare them to turquoise samples from 
Egypt, the Near East, and other sources in
Central Asia. The protocol includes both non-
invasive and minimally invasive techniques, 
such as X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), 
X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and energy and 
wavelength dispersive spectroscopy (EDS-
WDS). The combination of these techniques 
characterizes the specimens from a mineralogical 
and chemical point of view, and sets the basis 
for further research employing more invasive 
procedures (e.g. mass spectrometric techniques). 
1
 INTERNAL: Kyzylkum desert economic system
Discrete mapping of features and sites: 
GIS software will initially be 
used to map and record the turquoise mining areas of the Inner 
Kyzylkum. It will also be possible to include sites where turquoise 
stones have been found, or those with working areas for turquoise 
processing (e.g. Bashbulak). Additional relevant data include the 
location of nomadic archaeological sites (e.g. kurgans), water 
points, and other mineral deposits, especially copper and gold.
Path analysis and predictive modeling:
At the analytical level, 
Esri ArcMap will be used to compute path analyses to suggest 
movement routes in the desert based on the location of different 
resources (mines, water). These routes can be complemented 
at a later date, or tested against archaeological material on the 
ground (using predictive models). 
2
 EXTERNAL: Central Asian 
turquoise exchange networks
Map of the provenance study:
Instead of 
modeling possible trade routes between the 
Kyzylkum and other regions, which would 
require immense processing power and 
a project of its own, the goal is to create 
binary geo-referenced maps that show 
the correspondence between targeted 
archaeological turquoise material and the 
activity of the mines in the Inner Kyzylkum. 
This exercise does not intend to be 
comprehensive, but to provide a first step 
to visualize—at a regional, and therefore 
manageable scale—varying 
trends of 
turquoise consumption
in a contained 
chronological span.
Main turquoise deposits in the Near East and Central Asia and assumed directios of turquoise transport 
routes in the 3rd millenium BCE (From: Tosi 1974).
e.g.
Turquoise mine shaft at Djaman Kaskyr, Bukantau. August 2021.
Example of XRF point reading on a turquoise sample.
INTRO