Turkmenistan is a country in Central Asia, and it has the lowest population of the Central Asian republics with only 5.6 million. Yet this country has been at the crossroads of civilizations for centuries. 

Situated on the edge of the Karakum Desert near Mary, south Turkmenistan, Merv is the oldest and most significant of the oasis cities along the Silk Road in Central Asia. The remains of a series of adjacent wall cities and buildings in this vast oasis span 4,000 years of human history. They are most completely preserved with a number of visible monuments particularly from the last two millennia. 

Talking about the origin of Ancient Merv, the earliest references of it were found in the 8-6th centuries B.C. The chroniclers depicted this city with bright epithets, as “the city that holds the universe." Many great thinkers of the Middle Ages lived here, such as Omar Khayyam and As-Samani.

Ancient Merv has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. It was Turkmenistan's first World Heritage Site because of the unparalleled value as one of the most complex urban archaeological remains in the world. The remains includes Bronze Age (2500-1200 BC), Iron Age (1200-300 BC) and other historic urban centers, as well as the post-medieval city.

Even though Ancient Merv is well preserved due to the harsh desert environment, the earthen architecture is still at a heightened risk of erosion and collapse. The State Historical and Cultural Park of “Ancient Merv” was created by decree in 1987 in order to add additional protection at the national level. The overall protection and management system involves both government administrative bodies and local communities. 

What are the cultural elements that best represent Asia? Follow up the "Know Asia Better" series. It will offer you a glimpse of 47 Asian countries, through architecture, art or cultural figures to show you a diversified Asia that you may never have noticed before. Themed in the exchanges and mutual learning among Asian civilizations and building a community with a share future for mankind, the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations will be held in Beijing in May.

(Cover Photo from VCG and redesigned by Fan Chenxiao)