Yakhtang

Adjacent to each yaktang are the ruins of once-luxurious single-room towers, along with meticulously irrigated lands around them. These areas, likely intended for fruit orchards and vegetable gardens, lend credence to the theory of their use.

It is also worth noting that similar public ice houses from the late medieval period, even in better condition, can still be found near Durbin and Sebzevar. Two yaktangs in the Merv region date back to the Timurid period and are situated between Sultan-Kala and Abdullah-Kala. The most significant of these yaktans is located approximately 1 kilometer southwest of Gyaur-Kala. This particular ice house had a single entrance on its southern side and two recessed niches along the northern wall.

The construction utilized sun-dried bricks, measuring 24×24×5 cm, typical of the 15th century. About two-thirds of the brickwork is straight, with the remainder curving smoothly into a dome from the inside.

To enhance the preservation and aesthetic appeal of the brickwork, decorative rings made of paired bricks with angled edges are spaced at regular intervals throughout the structure.

An alternative theory proposes that yaktangs were designed for water storage. The local reverence for water is profound, with a stark contrast to the Russian perception that water is simply a resource. However, this theory is challenged by the absence of dedicated water storage containers in the yaktans and the use of sun-dried bricks, as medieval water reservoirs were typically constructed with fired bricks.