On 25 March 2026, the opening of the international scientific conference “Margiana at the Crossroads of Civilizations: Intercultural Interaction in Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Middle East – Antiquity and Modernity” took place in Moscow at the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS). The forum is timed to coincide with the 35th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s Independence.
The event is co-organized by the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the RAS, the Institute of Linguistics of the RAS, the Institute for the History of Material Culture of the RAS, the Russian-Turkmen Margiana Archaeological Expedition, the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan, and the Embassy of Turkmenistan in the Russian Federation.
The themes of the scientific forum cover a wide range of issues regarding intercultural interaction in Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Middle East, with a special emphasis on the archaeological, historical, and cultural heritage of Margiana (the ancient land of Margush).
The conference, held in a hybrid format, brought together representatives of the scientific community – scholars, experts, researchers from various institutes, and university professors from Turkmenistan, Russia, Armenia, Belgium, Germany, Italy, and France.
Among the guests are representatives of diplomatic missions accredited in the Russian Federation, staff of the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Russia, Turkmen students and media representatives.
A delegation from Turkmenistan arrived in Moscow to participate in the scientific conference, including representatives from the National Department for the Protection, Study, and Restoration of Historical and Cultural Monuments of Turkmenistan, the Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan, and the “Ancient Merv” State Historical and Cultural Reserve.
The start of the scientific meeting was preceded by an exhibition reflecting the rich historical and cultural heritage of Turkmenistan, as well as the color and versatility of the original, ancestral traditions of the Turkmen people.
Participants were welcomed by S. Durdyev, Counselor of the Embassy of Turkmenistan in the Russian Federation; A. Zagrebin, Director of the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the RAS; A. Sideltsev, Deputy Director of the Institute of Linguistics of the RAS; and A. Polyakov, Director of the Institute for the History of Material Culture of the RAS.
The meeting continued with thematic discussions dedicated to one of the most prominent and yet not fully revealed mysteries of Eastern civilizations – the land of Margiana, famous for its unique monuments and sensational archaeological discoveries.
As speakers noted, Ancient Margiana is located in the Mary velayat of Turkmenistan, along the ancient bed of the Murghab River. Numerous historical sites were discovered there, belonging to the glorious past of the legendary Margiana, which once developed trade and cultural ties with the cities of Mesopotamia and Egypt.
In this context, it should be emphasized that in 1999, the “Ancient Merv” State Historical and Cultural Reserve was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Several reports at the forum were dedicated to Gonur-depe – the capital of the ancient land of Margush – and scientific discoveries significant to the global community. It was noted that in 1972, the outstanding archaeologist Viktor Sarianidi, together with Turkmen colleagues, discovered Gonur-depe and launched excavations there.
On 26 March, the scientific forum will continue its work through thematic sessions. /// Embassy of Turkmenistan in Russia, 25 March 2026.