Ancient Irrigation Systems in the Aral Sea Area is the English translation of Boris Vasilevich Andrianov's work, Drevnie orositelnye sistemy priaralya, concerning the study of ancient irrigation systems and the settlement pattern in the historical region of Khorezm, south of the Aral Sea (Uzbekistan). This work holds a special place within the Soviet archaeological school because of the results obtained through a multidisciplinary approach combining aerial survey and fieldwork, surveys, and excavations. This translation has been enriched by the addition of introductions written by several eminent scholars from the region regarding the importance of the Khorezm Archaeological-Ethnographic Expedition and the figure of Boris V. Andrianov and his landmark study almost 50 years after the original publication.

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Contributors
• List of Figures
• List of Tables
• Abbreviations
• Glossary
• Preface: Boris V. Andrianov and the Archaeology of Irrigation: Simone Mantellini
• Notes on Translation, References, and Transliteration: Simone Mantellini
• Acknowledgments: Simone Mantellini
• I Central Asian Archaeology: The Russian and Soviet Times: Pavel M. Dolukhanov
• II Boris Vasilevich Andrianov and the Study of Irrigation in Ancient Khorezm: Sergey B. Bolelov
• III Map of the Main Archaeological Sites of Khorezm published in 2002 after S. P. Tolstov: Henri-Paul Francfort and Olivier Lecomte
• IV The Karakalpak-Australian Expedition in Khorezm 50 years after B. V. Andrianov: Alison Betts and Vadim N. Yagodin
• V Memories of Boris Vasilevich Andrianov: Zamira S. Galieva
• VI Irrigation Among the Shaykhs and Kings: C. C. Lamberg-Karlovsky
• VII References and Bibliography of Boris V. Andrianov: Irina A. Arjantseva
• Ancient Irrigation Systems of the Aral Sea Area: B.V. Andrianov
• Foreword
• From the Author
• Introduction
• Part I Ancient Irrigation Study Methods: Origin and Development of Irrigated Agriculture
  • Chapter 1 Ancient Irrigation Study Methods
  • Chapter 2 Origin and Development of Irrigated Agriculture
• Part II The Lands of Ancient Irrigation of the Aral Sea Area
  • Chapter 3 The Southern Delta of the Akchadarya
  • Chapter 4 The Sarykamysh Delta
  • Chapter 5 The Lower Syrdarya
  • Conclusion
• Appendix I: Figures
• Appendix II: Tables
• Endnotes
• Editor’s Notes
• References
  • Proceedings of the founders of Marxism-Leninism
  • References in Russian
  • Original references in other languages