Photos Tagged: Gonur Depe
Turkmenistan - Central Asia - Gonur Depe - animals - camels - archeology -
Turkmenistan - Central Asia - Gonur Depe - animals - camels - archeology -
40 Pictures
18 Pictures
18 Pictures
27 Pictures
36 Pictures
No one really knows that these tunnels were built for. Even the famous Russian-Greek archaeologist, Viktor Sarianidi, has not been able to confirm the reason for their existence... He does have a theory that Gonur Depe was either the birthplace of Zoroastrianism or its religious predecessor. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.
A mother huddles close to her offspring in the desert between Gonur Depe and Merv. Read more about Turkmenistan.
A select three of the 183 camels we crossed paths with between Gonur Depe and Mary battle for face time. Read more about Turkmenistan.
Helen peeks out cautiously from behind our van as another curious camel seeks her out...Friendly and rather gregarious, these camels were happy to entertain us. Read more about Turkmenistan.
Blaz, our Slovenian friend (and geologist), breaks for a picture with the local archeologist at Gonur Depe. ..When he first requested we take the photo, he joked Milk and Coffee. The sun at Gonur Depe is very strong and is quick to tan local hides...The ancient Gonur Depe cityscape stands in the background. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.
...on a camel with no name. Actually, 183 camels without names, to be exact. We crossed paths with this herd of camels on our drive from Gonur Depe to Mary and asked the owner how many he had in his herd. ..Our guide had never even seen a herd this big; the owner must have been a mighty rich man. ..Although a bit gawky and odorous up close, camels appear rather graceful from a distance, as they glide across the desert. Read more about Turkmenistan.
These young camels shot us curious looks and brayed (mooed? cooed?), as we stopped to admire them in the desert en route from Gonur Depe to Mary.
Another piece of photographic evidence that Dan and Audrey are in fact traveling together. Read more about Turkmenistan.
A line of camels complement the desert landscape as they gracefully drift across the hot sand.
Composed mainly of one to two foot mud walls, the site of Gonur Depe (outside Mary) is not terribly photogenic. What makes it a fantastic place to visit, however, is that it still contains fragments of pottery and bones from civilizations dating back to 1500-2500 BC. It's easy to feel like an archeologist as you trip over and kick up surprisingly intact remains. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.
Our Russian bus waits for us on a hill overlooking Gonur Depe. It doesn't look like much from this picture - just a series of short walls, but the atmosphere is special. Intact ancient pieces of pottery and bones are scattered just about everywhere. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.
Dan takes a break among the ruined walls at Gonur Depe. It is believed this this area was home to two separate eras of civilization from 2500-1500 BC.
