SOLUTION OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN
MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMY
International scientific-online conference
126
SHILPYK - A FAIRY TALE OF THE EAST
Ismailov Tokhirjon Khushnudbek ugli
Teacher at Mamun university
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16601908
Introduction.
Shilpyk Fortress (in different sources - Chilpyk, Shylpyk, Chilpyk-kala) -
Tower of Silence, is located 43 kilometers south of Nukus near the highway
leading to Turtkul. The fortress is clearly visible right from the road.
"Chilpyk" in the Karakalpak
language is written and sounds
like "Shylpyk", which means
"clay". In some sources, you can
also see the name "Chilpyk-kala",
which implies attributes of a
fortress,
which
does
not
correspond to the purpose of the
dakhma or the history of Chilpyk
.
Upon gaining independence
by the Republic of Uzbekistan
and
the
Republic
of
Karakalpakstan within Uzbekistan, Chilpyk and the Amu Darya River were
included as national symbols in the coat of arms of the Republic of
Karakalpakstan.
Chilpyk is a structure with high adobe walls, located on the top of a separate
natural 35-meter conical hill. The
walls of the fortress form a slightly
uneven circle with a diameter of 65
meters with an entrance on the
north-west side. Once there was a
20-meter stairway with 72 steps,
which led along the steepest part
of the hill directly to the entrance.
From the base of the structure
there is a passage leading down towards the river. The adobe walls have
survived in places up to a height of 15 meters. They are 2-3 meters thick at the
top and a little more than 5 meters at the base. The entire interior of the fortress
is a flat clay platform, paved on a backfill of black sandstone fragments, almost
level with the outer wall. In the center of the platform, the top of a sandstone
SOLUTION OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN
MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMY
International scientific-online conference
127
cliff protrudes. Many fragments of clay ossuaries were found on the slopes,
which allows us to conclude that the fortress was originally intended for cult
purposes as Dakhma, which was used in Zoroastrian rituals
.
This structure was discovered in 1940 during a large-scale
archaeological expedition led by the famous archaeologist of that time,
Sergei Tolstov. The tower was located on top of a natural conical hill about
35 meters high, and was crowned with something like a crown. The round
shape of the structure reached 80 meters in diameter.
Archaeologists determined the age of the structure as the end of the
1st century BC - the beginning of the 1st century AD, however, work was
noted on the reconstruction of the structure in the 7th-8th centuries after
the arrival of the Arabs in these places, and then again in the 9th-10th
centuries during the flourishing period of ancient Khorezm. At that time,
the Chilpik fortress, along with many other fortresses of Khorezm, was
used as a watchtower and signal tower.
After the Arabs came to these lands
(7th century), the tower was rebuilt, and
then again in the 9th-10th centuries
during the heyday of Ancient Khorezm.
A number of researchers believe that
the Khorezmians used Chilpyk as a
signal and defense tower along with
other fortresses of the Khorezmshah
State. Chilpyk is one of the striking sights of Karakalpakstan
.
It is better to visit Chilpyk early in the morning, before the sun beats down.
The fortress offers an excellent view of the surrounding area: the full-flowing
Amu Darya sparkles and shimmers in
the sun, surrounded by green fields
and gardens, and right next to it is a
sun-dried wasteland covered with
patches of green and reddish bushes
and salt marshes. A tripod has been
installed on Chilpyk, marking the
highest point of the area, completely
covered with ribbons of fabric: local
residents tie them for happiness and
good luck
.
SOLUTION OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN
MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMY
International scientific-online conference
128
A visit to the fortress will undoubtedly please tourists, in addition,
from the height of the fortress there is a stunning view of the Amu Darya
River
.
References:
1.
Ismailov, T. (2025). Centers Of Enlightenment During The Khiva Khanate.
Current Approaches And New Research In Modern Sciences (Т. 4, Выпуск 7, сс.
175–176).
2.
Ismailov, T. (2022, November). The Fort That Speaks From The Past. In
Международная конференция академических наук (Vol.1, No.31, pp.1822).
3.
Ismailov, T. (2023). Embossed Khiva Pillars. Current approaches and new
research in Modern sciences, 2(4), 63-66.
