The northern slopes and foothills of Kopetdag form a remarkable geographic and historical region of Turkmenistan. This area is a chain of small late-medieval towns and villages established on the sites of ancient settlements near mountain streams. Each of these settlements has its unique sanctuaries, preserving centuries of cultural and religious significance.
The architecture of single-chamber mausoleums from the 15th to 17th centuries, located in the Sumbar River Valley—such as Shikh-Ovezberdy, Magtym-Mäzzem, and Shikh-Attar Veli—showcases an attempt to follow classical architectural and construction principles. These rural monuments are based on a layout resembling a chartak, a domed structure on four arches, but with an advanced portal design. The most notable among them is the Magtym-Mäzzem mausoleum, where a cruciform hall is topped with a double-layered dome. A unique attempt was made to create a surrounding gallery, a technique rooted in medieval and even ancient traditions.
The Shikh-Ovezberdy mausoleum, in contrast, is simpler in composition: a rectangular prism topped by a spherical conical dome and a once-towering portal. This sanctuary is slightly older than Magtym-Mäzzem, as indicated by the design of its under-dome system. The Shikh-Attar Veli mausoleum, a 13-meter-high chartak, features a double dome on a tall drum with rectangular niches. Originally, it had portals on all four sides, though only the eastern one remains connected to the original structure. The lower parts of its walls are built from local stone, while the upper sections utilize fired brick. This mausoleum stands on a picturesque, rugged terrain in the upper Sumbar River valley, just 4 kilometers east of the village of Könekesir.
Approximately 10 kilometers west, another mausoleum, Seyid Nejepi, once stood overlooking the river. Today, only the underground crypt of this monument remains.
The primary construction activity in the northwestern part of Kopetdag and its surrounding plain is tied to the medieval Oghuz tribe of Yazyrs. This tribe inhabited the region of Khorasan even before the Seljuks arrived in the 11th century. In the post-Mongol period, the Yazyr tribe’s main city was Tak-Yazyr (Shehrislam), located 20 kilometers north of the modern Turkmen town of Baharly. The second-largest settlement in the Yazyr oasis was Durun, situated 5-6 kilometers east of Baharly.
Durun is home to two significant monuments. The first, Gyzyl-Imam, dates to the first half of the 16th century and surpasses other Sumbar mausoleums in size. This almost centrally planned structure features two-story corner chambers, epigraphy, and murals inside its hall, which was once topped by a domed ceiling. The external dome rested on a tall drum. Two to three centuries later, a similar structure, the Ak-Imam mausoleum, was constructed 3 kilometers south using unfired brick.
In the 17th century, the region saw the rise of numerous memorial complexes, madrasahs, and reconstructions of older monuments. While some were constructed with less refinement, many underwent complete restoration during the 20th and early 21st centuries. Among these, the Zengi-Baba mausoleum in the abandoned village of Murche stands out as particularly significant.
Located 130 kilometers west of Tak-Yazyr, the archaeological site of Ferava represents a former Arab fortification. Initially built to defend against nomadic Oghuz tribes at the border of Khorasan and Dehistan, it later evolved into a city under the Seljuks, spanning an area of 35 hectares. Although much of its grand architecture has been lost, two mausoleums from the 12th–13th centuries remain, along with a later structure in a cemetery at the foot of the mountains.
The oldest monument in Ferava is the Parau-Bibi mausoleum, partially carved into a rock. Inside, it features a square domed chamber 7 meters high, with chamfered corners containing pointed niches. The original facade of Parau-Bibi is now hidden beneath modern plaster, and the dome is covered by corrugated iron.
South of Ferava lies the Pakyr-Shikh area, where the ruins of a small stone fortress, Yazyr-Kala, can be found. Nearby are three unnamed mausoleums. These structures share a common design, featuring deep iwans (open-fronted halls) oriented eastward. The first mausoleum is single-chambered, with a rare elliptical dome over its iwan. Its main walls are constructed from flagstone, while the dome, arch, and iwan pylons are made from fired brick. The second mausoleum also incorporates fired brick, while the third, a two-chambered structure, is built almost entirely of stone, with only the doorways capped by brick arches.
Though lacking precise dating markers, these mausoleums are likely younger than those in Ferava. The minimal use of fired brick suggests its scarcity in the region, while stone was readily available in the mountains. Despite their primitive construction techniques, the monuments possess a harmonious aesthetic, achieved through the unity of material and form.
The sacred sites of Kopetdag seamlessly blend into the stunning landscape, captivating visitors year-round. These traditional pilgrimage destinations hold not only scholarly interest for historians but also appeal to tourists and mountain enthusiasts. Their unique architectural forms and deep historical significance make them enduring witnesses to the rich past of this remarkable region.
