The Akchakhan-kala (Kazakl’i-yaktan, Kazakly-yatkan) wall paintings collection

Brief description

The Akchakhan-kala (Kazakl’i-yaktan, Kazakly-yatkan) wall pantings data collection is a sub-collection of the University of Sydney Central Asian Archive (USCAP Archive). The USCAP Archive is a unique, heritage collection of digital and non-digital archaeological excavation data, collected primarily by Assoc Professor Betts and Dr Kidd.  The collection content spans the late prehistoric period (6000 BC) through to the early historic period (500 AD), and covers Central Asia, including sites in China, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan.

The Akchakhan-kala wall paintings collection documents the discovery, excavation and mapping of early historical period wall paintings, discovered in the KY10 building complex at Akchakhan-kala, located in the semi autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan in Uzbekistan (Ancient Khorezm). The site has yielded some of the best-preserved wall paintings in Central Asia.

The collection includes documentary drawings, tracings and digital photographs from the field, handwritten notes in field journals, filemaker databases, digital illustrations, 3-D digital reconstructions (AutoCAD and 3d Studio Max). 

A selection of images, illustrations, digital reconstructions and commentary is available to the public via the USCAP Archive website: http://sydney.edu.au/arts/uscap/uzbekistan/wall_paintings/index.shtml. Access to the data collection is restricted, and requests for access must be approved by Assoc Professor Alison Betts or Dr Fiona Kidd.