32 THE FORMING OF THE OASIS OF ANAU. 
decrease in vegetation indicated by the absence of the loess constituent, and the 
evidence, both geographical and archeological, of regional desiccation, the change 
would seem clearly to have been towards aridity. The successive degradations 
and rebuildings recorded in our shafts show that this period was one of fluctuating 
climate—a time in which the periods of greater precipitation affected the mountain 
regions without causing local rainfall after winter on the zone of deposition. 
The time needed for the accumulation of the observed 2,200 feet of sediments 
in the Askhabad Well can be estimated only in geological chronology. It doubtless 
extends well back in the Pleistocene period, and it is not unlikely that the conditions 
shown between the depths of 500 and goo feet mark the last great glacial advance. 
Looking upon the loess-forming condition shown below —60 feet as typical 
of the piedmont plains of southern Turkestan generally, and probably of northern 
Persia as well, we see correspondence with the conditions that permitted the 
existence of the herds of ruminants and horses that in Pleistocene time ranged 
from Mongolia to southeastern Europe. And that these animals existed in a 
wild state at Anau at the time when the North Kurgan was settled is proved by 
Dr. Duerst’s study of the bones collected during our excavations. 
In the following table, constructed by R. W. Pumpelly, an attempt is made 
to illustrate the physiographic history of the Anau delta-oasis: 
Physiographic History of the Anau De!ta-oasts. 

a 
































PHYSIOGRAPHY. 
TIME. ARCHEOLOGY. 
DISLOCATION ZONE, 
MOUNTAINS. BorpeR.or PLAins. PLAINS. 
Preglacial. Quiet. Old. Quiet. 
, Evolution of Qua- 
: ilti : : SAle ternary life over 
Quaternary glacial __ border, pot seen Ping rapidly the steppennun 
period differen- 1ed in genera with grass steppes re 
aalistreconded Sipe Rap- | rapid aggrada- over large areas, i 
Se : id dissection | tion. stationary sand- a: 
ie eae to deep val-| hills, and loess. Primitive Man. 
leys according to | leys. 
uplift. } 
Reac- os “a4: 
od Honto| | Rising of tilting 
—£.° eet $2 4 : ih dtes border to form | Aggradation slow 
§ Siaee Too . ie IISEC= a dry piedmont Desert steppes. 
Mo | oie | “@ or | transversely dis- Moving sand. 
ge teas = | sected by valleys. é 
° 
laa: ; “ 
Pat Yo) g ba 
tial ial 3 3 ft 
recov-| ‘3 S | Valley fills to—28| 2 | neolithic Man 
eryof| % ae = aor i) feet and contin- . _ Grass. founds North 
preci- 5 gg BON 2) ues filling to — 20 Fa Kurgan. 
<2 pita- o 0 feet % 
3 tion. | & = 8 
go) ¢ 3 ¢ —| * aaa 
a) q i] A Valle r - 
_ 3 7 $ < alley eexcava S 
3 5 Dry. B= gira tedtobelow—35 | & Desert. Culture-gap. 
iV = c feet. 
‘9 z a | | 
5 Recov-| & Less slow Valley filled again ie’ ‘ 
S ery. wn dissection. | to — 12 feet. ras: Foundation and 
5 eS EE Sa a ae IE | growth of South 
6 Dry Slow dissec- Valley reexcava- | p Kurgan. Copper. 
: tion. ted. esert. | 
} } 
Recov-| Less slow | Vv 
: : alley fills to ; 
ery. dissection. | re is. Fonte ait Grass. aon 
| then overflows 
Dry. | with irrigation. Desert. Anau. 





