Erk Kala

E415171

Erk Kala is an ancient fortified citadel forming the oldest core of the archaeological site of Merv in present-day Turkmenistan.

All labels observed (1)

Label Occurrences
Erk Kala canonical 3

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (49)

Predicate Object
instanceOf ancient citadel
archaeological site
fortified settlement
constructionMaterial mudbrick
pakhsa (rammed earth)
countryCapitalNearest Ashgabat
culture Achaemenid
linked to: Achaemenid Empire

Hellenistic
Parthian
linked to: Parthian Empire

Sasanian
linked to: Sasanian Empire
earliestOccupationDate around 6th century BCE
estimatedArea approximately 20 hectares
excavatedBy Soviet archaeologists
Turkmen archaeologists
international archaeological missions
followedBy Gyaur Kala as main urban center of Merv
linked to: Ancient Merv
forms oldest core of Merv archaeological site
foundedInPeriod Achaemenid period
hasFeature gates
inner citadel platform
massive defensive walls
ramparts
towers
hasFunction citadel
fortress
hasRole citadel of ancient Merv
heritageStatus UNESCO World Heritage Site component
locatedInContinent Asia
locatedInCountry Turkmenistan
locatedInHistoricalRegion Greater Khorasan
linked to: Khorasan
locatedInRegion Mary Region
locatedOn Murghab River oasis
management Government of Turkmenistan
nearbyCity Mary
nearbySite Gyaur Kala
Sultan Kala
partOf Ancient Merv archaeological complex
linked to: Ancient Merv

Merv
State Historical and Cultural Park Ancient Merv
linked to: Ancient Merv
partOfUNESCOSite State Historical and Cultural Park Ancient Merv
linked to: Ancient Merv
precededBy earlier Bronze Age occupation in Merv oasis
preservationStatus ruins
significance key site for study of urbanism in ancient Central Asia
one of the earliest large fortified centers in Central Asia
UNESCOSiteInscriptionYear 1999
usedFor administration
defense
residence of ruling elite
wasCapitalOf early Merv settlement

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (3)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Merv hasPart Erk Kala
Ancient Merv contains Erk Kala
Gyaur Kala near Erk Kala