On Friday, the Museum of Fine Arts of Turkmenistan celebrated a significant event – the opening of a permanent exhibition dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Turkmen-French expedition MAFTUR (MAFTUR – Mission Archéologique Franco-Turkmène) and the famous archaeological site of Ulug-Depe. Ambassadors and representatives of international organizations working in our country, famous cultural figures and masters of art, scientists, journalists and television reporters were invited to the event.

The official opening ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister of Culture of Turkmenistan Nursakhet Shirimov, French Ambassador Philippe Merlin, co-leaders of the MAFTUR expedition Muhammed Mammedov and Julio Bendezu-Sarmiento.

Philippe Merlin noted the close links between French diplomacy and archaeology, saying that today his country supports more than 150 expeditions annually that work on five continents and at iconic sites such as Pompeii in Italy, Angkor in Cambodia and Petra in Jordan.

The Turkmen-French archaeological expedition MAFTUR was created on the occasion of the visit of the French President Francois Mitterrand to Turkmenistan in April 1994. At that time, the expedition set its goal to explore Dehistan in the Balkan velayat. In 2001, a joint project of archaeologists from Turkmenistan and France focused on the excavations of the Ulug-Depe settlement in Ahal, in the Kaakhka region, 170 km east of Ashgabat.

This is one of the most ancient archaeological sites in Turkmenistan and all of Central Asia. Ulug-Depe is a large settlement that existed for several millennia and reflects the stages of cultural development in the region from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age and beyond. This place is associated with the history of the Ancient East, when people mastered agriculture, built fortified settlements and developed crafts.

Remains of residential buildings, public structures, a citadel and other fortifications were found at Ulug-Depe. Research revealed clay pottery with characteristic ornaments, stone and bronze tools, jewelry and household items indicating cultural and trade activity, and remains of irrigation systems confirming developed agriculture.

The settlement had a well-organized layout, which indicates a high level of social organization of its inhabitants. It is also the only place in Central Asia where all periods, from 6,000 years BC to the Parthian-Sassanid period of our era, are documented.

A new exhibition at the Ashgabat Museum of Fine Arts presents more than 230 objects (and this is only a small part of what was found), making it possible to trace the history of the earliest periods of this exceptional monument. The exhibition, created on a permanent basis, is also a worthy tribute to the memory of Professor Olivier Leconte, the French founder of MAFTUR, who passed away about six years ago.

Many wonderful words were said about the outstanding archaeologist Olivier Leconte at the opening - with gratitude, admiration and deep respect. He was known as a generous and critical scholar, whose publications were recognized by the international community. One of Leconte's most famous achievements was his participation in the study of the Ulug-Depe settlement, where unique layers were discovered reflecting the transition from sedentary agriculture to urban civilization.

The museumification of the finds at Ulug-Depe and the creation of a new beautiful collection of archaeological heritage adds another amazing page to the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts of Turkmenistan, revealing the origins of these arts, which originated in the skillful hands of ancient masters.

The guide to the exhibition on the opening day was Julio Bendezu-Sarmiento himself, who has extensive experience working with international archaeological missions and influences the development of science studying the past of mankind, the preservation of cultural heritage in Central Asia and other regions. He told the guests not only about the exhibits themselves in chronological order, but also immersed them in the context of the history and development of the ancient city.

...Around 1100 BC, Ulug-Depe witnessed the emergence of a new cultural formation, previously unknown not only in this region but also in the world, archaeologists say, who qualify their findings as the discovery of a new civilization, an "empire", capital of which was located on the site of Ulug-Depe.

The city occupied a privileged position on the northern slope of the Kopetdag foothills and probably benefited from long-distance international trade, serving as a control and administrative point. For example, for communication with the countries of the Middle East to the west or even to the south, beyond the Gindikush, with the Indus Valley.

"Our discoveries are of paramount importance and completely change the generally accepted ideas about the origin and development of centers of civilization both in Central Asia and around the world," archaeologists from MAFTUR say.

To mark the start of the new exhibition, its organizers have published an illustrated booklet "Ulug-Depe in Turkmenistan - a new civilization in Central Asia", which briefly outlines the main tasks, achievements, discoveries and conclusions of the Turkmen-French expedition over 30 years of work.

According to researchers, all this time the monument more than justifies the hopes that the first excavations gave rise to and gives confidence in the need to continue research at this site in order to discover previously unknown chapters of our history, as well as to achieve its recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The "Great Hill" (as Ulug-Depe is translated) has not only a great past, but also a great future, no matter how casuistic it may sound. The presentation of the new exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts marks another milestone in the life of the monument, which never ceases to reward tireless archaeologists for their painstaking work, and sometimes "throws up" surprises.

We accidentally learned about one of them at the exhibition, when we were looking at miniature objects in the display case - fragments of tiny figurines, jewelry, etc. This story was told to us by a student of the French School in Ashgabat, 12-year-old Shirin.

Together with her class, Shirin was on an excursion to Ulug-Depe, where they were shown how archaeologists work, what tools they use. At this time, one boy found something literally under his feet, and he was allowed to take it with him, since the find, although it was truly ancient in origin, was of no value.

Then Shirin also decided to look for something to take away as a souvenir. And soon she came across something that looked like a tiny artifact. When she showed it to specialists and asked if she could also take the find for herself, they recognized it as valuable, and Shirin had to part with it. It was the head of a female figurine, probably a deity. But now it decorates the collection of the new exhibition, which modest Shirin is very proud of.

In general, looking at the numerous displays of the exhibition, one cannot help but succumb to the feeling of moving in time and not experience delight in the ingenuity and hard work of our distant ancestors, their sense of harmony and beauty, which they sought to put even into simple household items.

The new exhibition section that appeared today in the Museum of Fine Arts of Turkmenistan emphasizes not only the historical significance of Ulug-Depe, but also its role as a cultural bridge between eras and peoples.

Here, each exhibit is an invitation to look into the world of antiquity, to comprehend the evolution of civilization and to touch the origins of art.

Ulug-Depe reminds us that the past and the future are always connected, and history never ceases to amaze its researchers.

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