Multi-Geophysical Investigations to Characterize a 6th–7th Century AD Dakhma ‘Tower of Silence’, Loylagan Burial Ground, Surkhandarya, South Uzbekistan

Abstract

In Central Asia, by the end of the Bronze Age, a fundamental change in funeral tradition occurred, from traditional kurgans or burial mounds to Zoroastrian belief in dakhmas or Towers of Silence, for ritualized exposure of the dead. The Loylagan burial ground, discovered in 1973, contains numerous barrows which have been mapped but never geophysically investigated. This study presents an integrated geophysical investigation of mound No. 47 in order to detail and characterize its internal structure. Methods included magnetometry, electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), seismic refraction and multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW). Results showed that the magnetometric surveys imaged a central circular anomaly, interpreted as the structure's core. ERT, seismic and MASW surveys identified a high-resistivity/density upper layer, interpreted as stone fill, above an oval-shaped, low-resistivity/velocity zone at depths of 1.5–3 m, likely corresponding to a burial pit or chamber. While little remains of these dakhmas above ground, below ground still remains relict archaeology. This study highlights the value of multi-method site investigations for non-invasive heritage studies in Central Asia.