Torbulok - a recently discovered sanctuary in the Hellenistic Far East

2012年，在塔吉克斯坦西南部的托尔布洛克发现了一个希腊化时期的避难所，这是一个大型石制器皿。根据希腊传统，祭礼器皿或percushaniles被用于净化仪式。该遗址的发现提供了一个独特的机会，用现代方法挖掘古代大夏圣殿，假设发现告诉一些关于希腊化大夏的仪式和邪教传统。在2013年秋季开始的考古调查中，该遗址的神圣性质得到了证实。挖掘工作发掘出一个400平方米的区域，包括几个露台，庭院和较小的建筑物。这些建筑分为三个阶段，根据希腊时代的陶瓷证据（公元前4世纪末至公元前世纪中期）。在古代巴克特里亚宗教史上具有特殊意义的是一个有七个微型祭坛的庭院，以及两个连接到一个包含几个还愿礼物和祭品的邪教装置的水池。托尔布洛克的圣所可能是一个具有地区重要性的农村圣地。它证明了一种在希腊化时期的大夏中以前未知的避难所。避难所的核心位于一个高平台上，在目前的挖掘结束时已经发现，但没有被发现。因此，未来的研究将集中在这一主要平台上。其目的是揭开神庙的面纱，神庙很可能是用夯土（pahsa）和额外的柱子建造的。可能还有更多具有仪式意义的装置和发现，例如祭祀遗物或祭坛区域的沉积。这些将被调查。最后，挖掘将确定是否有一个来源促使建立邪教。总之，正在进行的考古研究将为巴克特里亚的宗教历史提供新的见解，并加深对希腊化远东地区文化现象的理解。

In 2012 the identification of a large stone vessel as cult vessel led to the discovery of a sanctuary of the Hellenistic period at Torbulok, in the Southwest of Tajikistan. The cult vessel or perirrhanterion was used for purification rituals according to Greek tradition. The discovery of the site offered the unique opportunity to excavate an ancient Bactrian sanctuary with modern methods, assuming that the findings tell something about the rituals and the cult traditions in Hellenistic Bactria. During the archaeological investigations starting in fall of 2013 the sacred character of the site was verified. The excavations unvovered an area of 400 square meters with a complex of several terraces, courtyards and smaller buildings. The buildings are from three phases, which are according to the ceramic evidence of Hellenistic date (end of 4th to mid-2nd century B.C). Of special significance for the history of ancient Bactrian religion is a courtyard with seven miniature altars as well as two water basins connected to a cult installation containing several votive gifts and offerings. The sanctuary in Torbulok was likely a rural shrine of regional importance. It testifies a type of sanctuary previously unknown in Hellenistic Bactria.The core of the sanctuary is located on a high terrace, which has been detected at the end of the current excavations but was not uncovered. Therefore, the future investigations will focus on this main terrace. The aim is to uncover the temple, which was likely constructed with rammed earth (pahsa) and additional columns. There are likely more installations and findings of ritual significance, such as depositions of sacrificial relics or the altar area. These will be investigated. And finally, the excavations will determine if a source motivated the establishment of the cult. In summary, the ongoing archaeological research at Torbulok will give new insights into the religious history of Bactria and a deeper understanding of cultural phenomena in the Hellenistic Far East.