Bactria–Margiana Archaeological Complex

The extent of the BMAC (after EIEC).

The Bactria–Margiana Archaeological Complex (or BMAC, also known as the Oxus civilization) is the modern archaeological name for a Bronze Age culture of Central Asia, dated to around 2300–1700 BCE. It existed in present-day Turkmenistan, northern Afghanistan, northeastern Iran, southern Uzbekistan and western Tajikistan.

Discovery

Its sites were discovered and named by the Soviet archaeologist Viktor Sarianidi (1976). Bactria was the Greek name for the area of Bactra (modern Balkh), in what is now northern Afghanistan. Margiana was the Greek name for the Persian satrapy of Margu, in today's Turkmenistan.

Excavations

Sarianidi's excavations from the late 1970s onward found many buildings in many sites. Reports were mostly published in Soviet journals, until the last years of the Soviet Union. The findings were unknown to the Western world until Sarianidi's work was translated in the 1990s.

Bactria–Margiana Archaeological Complex Media

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  Altyn-Depe location on the modern Middle East map as well as location of other Eneolithic cultures (Harappa and Mohenjo-daro).

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  Bird-headed man with snakes; 2000–1500 BC; bronze; 7.30 cm; from Northern Afghanistan; Los Angeles County Museum of Art (USA)

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  BMAC bronze tools

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  Genetic proximity of the Bactria–Margiana Archaeological Complex ( ) with ancient (colour) and modern (grey) populations. Primary Component Analysis (detail).

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  BMAC genetic profile

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  Tepe Fullol bowl fragment, 3rd millennium BCE, National Museum of Afghanistan.