The first photographs of Mashad-Misrian were taken by General Alexander Komarov, head of the Transcaspian region. Komarov was well-known for his work in archaeology, ethnography, and natural history in Turkmenistan. At the beginning of the 20th century, another photographic record of the city was made by Lieutenant Colonel Boris Kastalsky, who later became a general and one of the foremost researchers in Central Asian history and archaeology.
These drawings, photographs, and publications are invaluable today, offering hope that modern restorers will be able to faithfully reconstruct the original appearance of Dehistan’s monuments. The importance of these records cannot be overstated. For example, when Lieutenant Shchetikhin observed the mosque’s portal in 1875, still connected by an arch, he mistakenly identified it as the gateway to a palace, unable to read the Arabic inscription on the façade. It wasn’t until the early 20th century that the future academician Alexander Semenov deciphered the intricately glazed blue inscription, revealing that the mosque had been constructed during the reign of Khorezmshah Muhammad II. This ruler governed a vast empire from 1200 to 1220, with its capital in Gurganj (Kunya-Urgench), which included the territory of Dehistan.
Gradually, thanks to the efforts of prominent scholars like Vasily Bartold, Alexander Semenov, and Mikhail Masson, the history of this region began to come to light.
The lands of Dehistan have been in use for nearly three thousand years. However, this was not a continuous process; there were periods when fields were abandoned, only to be cultivated again centuries later.
In the mid-20th century, archaeologist Vadim Masson identified three distinct historical periods in the existence of the Dehistan oasis. The earliest period dates back to the Bronze Age (2nd millennium BCE) and extends to the end of antiquity, marked by the fall of the Parthian Empire.
The second period is associated with the Sassanian Empire, spanning the 3rd to 7th centuries CE. During this time, various nomadic tribes, including ancient Turks, entered the region. Remnants of their settlements, in the form of massive eroded mounds, can still be found across the Misrian Plateau today.
Finally, the third period, from the 8th to the 14th century, left the most significant and impressive marks on the landscape. The numerous medieval ruins of Dehistan serve as a reminder of how densely populated this area once was, before the water sources that sustained it disappeared.
Dehistan was a key stop on the caravan route from Khorezm to Persia, following the current course of the Uzboy River, which in ancient times was a branch of the Amu Darya River flowing into the Caspian Sea.
Archaeologists have been diligently working to preserve Dehistan’s monuments for several years and recently completed a project to restore the mosque’s portal arch. However, they still face many challenges as they continue to uncover and protect the relics of this ancient oasis.
