Jampyk Kala is a fortress that embodies the beauty and strength of Ancient Khorezm. Its walls, like sentinels of time, hold the mysteries of a distant past and captivate the imagination of anyone brave enough to touch its history. This is one of the most picturesque architectural monuments in the right bank of the Amu Darya. Jampyk Kala looks particularly impressive from the southeast, where the road, which has been winding through the forests of the Lower Amu Darya Biosphere Reserve for a long time, suddenly opens up to the mountains. At sunset, the whimsical silhouette of the fortress walls and towers creates the impression of a magical landscape.
Jampyk Kala is located in the territory of Karakalpakstan, six kilometers from the Urgench-Nukus highway and fifty kilometers from the city of Nukus, at the southwestern foothills of the Sultan Uizdag Mountain range.
According to archaeological studies, the earliest structures on the territory of Jampyk Kala, which unfortunately have not survived to the present day, date back to the ancient period (4th century BC – 1st century AD). The walls of the fortress that can be seen today date from the medieval period and were constructed between the 9th and 10th centuries AD on the foundation of the original building. Inside the fortress, residential and craft zones have been discovered. Coins found at the Jampyk Kala settlement have provided insight into the passage of time, indicating that people inhabited this area until the 12th to 14th centuries AD.
The ruins of fortifications discovered at the Jampyk Kala excavation site attest to a high level of architectural development. The settlement has a complex layout.
Surrounded by high walls, the fortress provided reliable protection against potential attacks. The maximum length of the fortress walls is 420 meters, and the width is 288 meters. The walls reach a height of nine meters and are constructed from adobe blocks. The thickness of the walls at the base is 5.6 to 5.8 meters, and at the top, it is 3.4 to 3.6 meters.
The northern wall is straight with two bends. The western part of the monument has been damaged by the flooding of the Amu Darya. An exit on the northern wall leads to a cemetery. A second exit is located at the bend of the wall on the southern side. On the southern wall, one can see traces of destruction left by time or by the sieges of enemy troops.
An open shooting gallery for archers, three meters wide, ran along the top of the walls. Access to the gallery could be gained via steps located inside the wall. From this defensive platform, it was convenient to shoot arrows and drop stones on the enemy troops attacking the fortress.
Currently, five projecting towers of the fortification remain, standing more than 70 meters apart from each other. In one of the preserved towers, researchers discovered an entrance to an inner chamber, which likely served as a barracks for rotating shifts of warriors, allowing the sentries to rest inside. The other towers are solid, meaning they do not have any internal spaces.
In the eastern part, at its highest point, the remains of a rectangular citadel (a small fortress within the main structure) and a palace can be found. The impressive walls of the medieval palace, adorned with decorative facades, have survived to this day.
The entrance to the citadel was located in the western wall. The walls of the citadel are decorated with elegant engaged half-columns, topped with a characteristic paired-stepped arcade typical of medieval Khwarezm architecture. These elements lend a unique beauty to the structure, immersing us in the atmosphere of a bygone era.
Jampyk Kala was an important junction on the Great Silk Road and likely served not only as a military base but also as a cultural and trading center. In the medieval period, it was a port city with active trade relations. Archaeological excavations on its territory have revealed numerous finds indicative of connections with various countries from the East and West, such as China, Egypt, Europe, and India. Today, it is hard to imagine that these areas were once not desert, but rather "paradisiacal" places with babbling waters, green gardens, and a bustling port city where vibrant trade was taking place. It is difficult to believe that in this now arid land, active trade relations existed with countries from both the East and West, creating bridges between different civilizations.
Occasionally, bivalve mollusk shells are found on the territory of Jampyk Kala, reminding us that millions of years ago, this area was once part of a sea. The presence of an even older sea in these locations may also be indicated by the green-colored rocks surrounding the fortress. These are chlorite minerals, which could have formed under low-oxygen conditions among iron-rich marine sediments.
The archaeological site of Jampyk Kala serves as an important reminder of the necessity to preserve and study cultural artifacts that reflect key aspects of ancient civilizations' lives. It attracts the attention of both scholars and tourists interested in the archaeology and history of Central Asia. Despite ongoing research, scholars have not reached a consensus on the exact causes of the city's decline. Some theories suggest that the loss of water sources led to its downfall, while others propose that destruction could have resulted from attacks by hostile tribes. Regardless, the ruins of the fortress currently face the threat of complete destruction due to the effects of time. Key contemporary research tasks include not only archaeological excavations but also the development of effective methods for safeguarding and protecting the site for future generations.
