8. Name of individual Silk Roads component part: Yamchun CastleBrief description of the object-component:Yamchun Castle is a form of a triangle in plan. The length of the lower base is 470 m, the longest side is the north-east part with 775 m of length. T

8. Name of individual Silk Roads component part: Yamchun Castle

Brief description of the object-component:

Yamchun Castle is a form of a triangle in plan. The length of the lower base is 470 m, the longest side is the north-east part with 775 m of length. The castle is dated from II-I cc. BC to V-VII cc. AD; X-XI cc. AD. The citadel is also in the triangle form by its plan. The wall surrounding the citadel is fortified with 9 round towers by plan with slotted loopholes. The rooms are located inside by the perimeters of walls; they are mostly rectangular and subsquare in the plan. The fortress platform number 1 is (trapezoidal in plan and the distance north-south is 450 m.) is located below the ark. Its walls strengthened by 22 round towers by plan with slotted loopholes. The platform number 2 (subrectangular in forms) is adjacent to the platform number 1 in the south-east. It is surrounded by wall with towers and there is a structure, consisting of two circular towers placed at a distance of 15 m from each other, in its south-western section. The building materials consist of stone with clay mortar for the base of walls and towers, in some places laying of mud bricks (40-45 x 25-20 x 10 - 13 cm, 35-39 x 25-39 x 10 cm), the result of repairing.

Statement of authenticity and/or integrity of the individual component property

The studies of the site were conducted from 1960 to 1962 and from 1976 (with changes). The site is considered a cultural heritage of national importance. The local government authorities are responsible for the protection of the site. The total area of the site is 36,5 hectares.

Comparison of the Silk Roads component property: why selected against SoOUV (including explanation of why other similar sites not selected

The construction methods of fortification systems have many similarities with other castles in Central Asia: in Merv, New Nisa, Yangi-Parsan and etc., as well as abroad - in Afghanistan, the castle Dilberjin.
However, the direct analogies Yamchun Castle are not found and it remains unique due to the use of terrain, surrounding a natural landscape of mountainous area of Ishkashim district the construction of the castle, its relative position of parts, size