Silk Road - 8 June 2009 - Nissa, Turkmenistan

After breakfast, we went to Nissa, which was a city that was founded around the 3^rd century BCE and existed until the 3^rd century CE. Nissa consisted of two parts; old Nissa and new Nissa. Partian royalty lived in old Nissa. Water was brought by pipe from the mountains. A square room has been tentatively identified as the throne room. It had columns that were identified as being from the 2^nd Century BCE since they were made with fired bricks. The outer wall has 43 hills which were the security towers. A circular room has been tentatively identified as a room used for Zorastrian religious purposes. About 35% of Nissa has been excavated. “New” Nissa has not been excavated at all. There were mud bricks being made for reconstruction. Existing mud brick walls were being protected by putting a layer of mud mixed with straw over them. The result is that the rains wash away the newly added mud layer leaving the old mud bricks safe from further damage. Outside wall of Nissa
Nissa Palace
Archeologist currently working on the Nissa Excavation
Throne Room in Nissa

Fired Bricks used in columns Window
Circular Room used for Zorastrian Religious Purposes
Hill in Distance is "New" Nissa
Largest Mosque in Central Asia in the Distance
Mud Brick used for reconstruction purposes