The Dashmechet Madrasah

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The Dashmechet Madrasah and Its Treasures

Dashmechet Madrasah, Kunya-Urgench
Dashmechet Madrasah, Kunya-Urgench

Situated just 80 meters east of the Mausoleum of Najmuddin Kubra in Kunya-Urgench, the Dashmechet Madrasah stands as a notable historical site. Constructed between 1907 and 1908, the madrasah was built at the behest of a Khivan khan and funded by Mohammad-Amin. Designed to serve both as a religious school and a mosque, this one-story brick structure features a prominent high portal and four decorative towers at its corners. The building’s layout includes 19 living quarters, or khudzhras, which encircle a central courtyard.

Today, the Dashmechet Madrasah houses a fascinating museum dedicated to folk crafts. Within this museum, which is part of the Kunya-Urgench State Historical and Cultural Reserve, lies one of the largest collections of ancient beads in Turkmenistan. Many of these beads were uncovered between 2009 and 2020 by the reserve’s staff during excavations at various architectural and archaeological sites in the Dashoguz region. Notable discoveries include items from the ancient city of Izmukshir (Zamakhshar), the medieval fortresses of Shahsenem and Diyarbakir, and particularly the city-fortress of Akgala (Adak), situated along a former Darialyk River channel.

Ancient Khwarezm, strategically located on the Great Silk Road, was renowned for its bustling markets where a variety of goods, including beads, were traded. Historical Chinese sources from the 5th century CE indicate that high-quality glass was imported from Central Asia into China. During the medieval period, glassmaking in Khwarezm reached its zenith, with the region producing a wide range of glassware for domestic use, trade, alchemy, and medicine. Local craftsmanship was so advanced that Khwarezmian glass products were traded even with distant lands.

Beads collections from Dashmechet Madrasah, Kunya-Urgench
beads collection in Mary Mueseum

The region’s artifacts include semi-finished glass bead and vessel fragments, which reinforce the belief among specialists at the Kunya-Urgench Reserve that ancient Khwarezmians were skilled glassmakers. For example, beads made from glass paste were often crafted from leftover materials used in the production of glass vessels, spheres, flasks, and funnels.

The museum’s collection predominantly features glass beads of various shapes, colors, and sizes, including both transparent and opaque examples. Among the collection are faceted beads made from multicolored glass and glass paste, as well as glazed beads in various colors and beads made from semi-precious stones and other materials. The beads come in a range of shapes, such as oval, spherical, cylindrical, polyhedral, ellipsoidal, and layered forms. Some beads, known as «eye beads,» were believed to serve as amulets to ward off the evil eye. The collection also includes rare eye beads with eyelash-like decorations.

Interestingly, the technology used to create these beads varies. Small beads and beads made from cutting glass tubes are among the techniques employed.

Local experts believe that reviving this ancient craft in northern Turkmenistan could offer significant opportunities. Such a revival could not only preserve a centuries-old tradition but also boost both domestic and international tourism in the region.