MONUMENTS OF NORTHERN TURKMENISTAN OF THE MAMUNID ERA IN THE CONTEXT OF THE GENERAL HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE OF CENTRAL ASIA

Abstract

Abstract. The article is devoted to a comprehensive study of the architectural heritage of Konye-Urgench during the Mamunid era in the context of the cultural and scientific development of Northern Turkmenistan. The central problem of the research is the attribution and functional purpose of two key objects – the Great and Small minarets. Based on a synthesis of archaeological reports from the Khorezm Expedition and records of 19th-20th century researchers (A. Kun, H. Lansdell, V. Uspensky), the historical dynamics of the existence of these structures have been reconstructed. The work proves that the intellectual resource of the Mamun Academy became the foundation for the creation of unique engineering solutions. An analysis of the design features of the Great Minaret, based on a sixteen-pointed star plan, confirms the participation of outstanding scientists - Biruni and Ibn Iraq - in the project. Special attention is paid to the seismic resistance of the object, which maintained stability under 6-magnitude loads due to its conical shape and the dynamic properties of the structure. The study reveals the strategic role of the minarets as pivotal elements of the defensive and navigational system of Khorezm, connecting the capital with the signal towers of the Ustyurt plateau. It is substantiated that these objects performed the functions of an information core and a land lighthouse, extending beyond purely religious purposes. The results of the work include a clarification of the chronology of the Small Minaret's destruction in 1895 and an assessment of modern restoration methods for creating a «two-layer» exposition structure. It is concluded that the monuments of Konye-Urgench are a material embodiment of the synthesis of fundamental science and applied art of the Mamunid era.