With the affix -yiz (-qiz, -jiz) are formed ethnotoponyms Kirkiz (Khirkhiz), toponyms Tajiz, Tajzak-tajiz, etc.

During the Early Middle Age epoch everywhere in the Middle Asia the ancient Türkic toponyms were spread, but in the Central Tian-Shan mountains, in the middle and lower course of the Syr-Darya basin, in the Shash and Ilak valleys, in the Fergana and Khoresm they were distributed the most [Khromov, 1980, p. 137; Karaev, 1987, p. 107; Makhpirov, 1982, p. 16-21; Makhpirov, 1984, p. 158].

Jety-su

After the split of the Türkic Kaganate during the Early Middle Age epoch (7-8th centuries), the territory of the Jeti-su was not captured by either Arabs, or Chinese, and remained in the hands of the Türkic peoples. Therefore more Türkic names were preserved there than in the Middle Asia other areas. The cities of Jeti-su, called the ‘‘gates to the Halluh country’‘, were trade centers, the Türks, Sogdians and Muslim merchants lived together in the cities of Jeti-su [Hudud al-Alam, p. 119].

The medieval sources mention among the Jeti-su cities, alongside with the toponyms of Sogdian⁴⁰ and unknown⁴¹ origin, also the cities with Türkic names, such, as Almalyk [Mustawfi, p. 186], Argu [Kashgari, vol. 1, p. 148] 42, Talas (Taraz), Kemi Talas or Ulug Talas [Kashgari, vol. 1, p. 347], Beklig (Balasagun), Burtas, Ordu [Kashgari, vol. 1, p. 145], Karalig (Balasagun) [Haidar, p. 458], Kuz Ordu (Balasagun) [Kashgari, vol. 1, p. 145; Djaparidze, 1984, p. 79], Kuz Ulush (Balasagun) [Kashgari, vol. 1, p. 94], Djikil [as-Samani, vol. 3, p. 276], Kang, Barchuk [Kashgari, vol. 1, p. 362], Baryuk [Kashgari, vol. 1, p. 433], Upper and Lower Barskhan (Nushdjan) [al-Moqaddasi, p. 48, 263, 275, 341; Hudud al-Alam, p. 292; Ibn Khordadhbeh, p. 28; Kodama, p. 205, 262], Inchkend [Kashgari, vol. 3, p. 442], Ilik, Yakalyg, Kubal [Ibn Khordadhbeh, p. 29; Kodama, 260], Yar, Iafinch [Koshtary, vol. 3, p. 385], Yagma [Kashgari, vol. 1, p. 110; vol. 3, p. 41], Hargun, Shu (Chu) [Kashgari, vol. 3, p. 420], Khirkhizkat, Sablig Kayas [Kashgari, vol. 3, p. 187], Tamtadj [Ibn Khordadhbeh, p. 28; Kodama, p. 204; al-Moqaddasi, p. 341], Shaldji [al-Istakhri, p. 312; Ibn Haukal, p. 462, 488, 510; al-Moqaddasi, p. 48, 263, 275, 325; Hudud al-Alam, p. 61, 119, 194], settlements Asbara [Ibn Khordadhbeh, p. 29; Kodama, p. 206], Barlug [Hudud al-Alam, p. 94], Birki and Sarig [Ibn Khordadhbeh, p. 28; Kodama, p. 206; Ibn Hordadbeh, p. 65], the Kipchak border fortress Kendjak-Sangir near Taraz [Kashgari, vol. 1, p. 444; DTS, p. 298], and others [Hudud al-Alam, p. 97, 98, 99; Ibn Haukal, p. 28, 205, 206, 390; al-Moqaddasi, p. 48, 263, 264; Biruni, 1973, p. 472; Kashgari, vol. 1, p. 66, 91, 187, 433; vol. 3, p. 424; al-Idrisi, p. 52-53; Baevsky, 1988, p. 85, 88; Pticin, 1947, p. 307; Karaev, 1985, p. 28, 30, 33].

40 Balasagun, Suyab, Shadtsjikat, Djuvikat, Kavikat, Nuzkat, Navakat, Chinanchkat, etc.
41 Kasr Bass, Harandjavan, etc.
42 In ‘‘Hudud al-'alam’‘ - Ark (?). (Hudud al-Alam, p. 94).

The name of the city Taraz or Talas [Hudud al-'alam, p. 119; Narshahi, p. 108; as-Samani, vol. 8, p. 222] in a valley of the river Chu belongs to the Altai period of the Türkic toponyms [Musaev, 1984, p. 192]. For the first time it is mentioned in the Byzantine sources (Menandr) [Petrov, 2004, p. 88] in the form Tallouecz or Thallovez [Moravcsik, 1958, p. 297], and in the Chinese sources in the form Dalosy (Ta-lo-se) [Chavannes, 1903, p. ???; MIKK, 2003, vol. 2, p. 65, 67]. In Türkic sources it is mentioned also in the form Kemi Talas or Ulug Talas [Kashgari, vol. 1, p. 347], Türks named it also called it Altun Argu ulush (Altun Argu ulus) [DTS, p. 40] and Yangi [Haidar, p. 458].

The name of the city Suyab consist of the Türkic word su and the Persian ab, with the same meaning (‘‘water’‘) [at-Tabari, ser. II, p. 1441, 1596]. The name Suyab is also linked with the name of the river Chu or Chuy [Karimova, 2006, p. 226; MIKK, 2003, vol. 2, p. 64, 71]. On coins of Türks names of such cities, as Ordu, the Harluh-Ordu, the Ila - Ordu, Kara- Ordu, the Kutlug-Ordu, the Kilich-Ordu, Taraz, Atlah and Barshan [von Zambaur, 1968, p. 191, 197 are mentioned; Kochnev, Fedorov, 1948, p. 180; Fedorov, Rtveladze, 1972, p. 83; Fedorov, 1964, p. 111]. In the sources toponyms Djul (Chul), Kul Fur coats [Ibn Khordadhbeh, p. 28 are mentioned also; Kodama, p. 205], Djul Fur coats [Ibn Khordadhbeh, p. 29; Kodama, p. 206; Ibn Hordadbeh, p. 65] 43, the bridge called Ak-terak on the river Ili (Ila) [Kashgari, vol. 1, p. 110], district Bakyrlyg close Balasaguna [Kashgari, vol. 1, p. 456], districts Minglak [Kashgari, vol. 1, p. 407] and Suvlag [Kashgari, vol. 1, p. 431] and a fortress Kara- Sangir close Barshana [Kashgari, vol. 1, p. ON, 456; vol. 3, p. 241], district Kavak, a pasture the Ak-Sai [Kashgari, vol. 1, p. 110; Karaev, 1972, p. 112]. In the area of the city Top Barshan the intermediate station under the name ‘‘place (maudi ') Bugra-Khan’‘ [al-Moqaddasi, p. 341] is mentioned. In Uigur documents X-XI of centuries toponyms of Ila (Pa), Jultuz (Jultuz) and the Balyk kan are mentioned ogry (Baliq qan ogri) [Tugusheva, 1972, p. 244].

43 About topoformant h djul (chul) ‘‘steppe’‘ and kul ‘‘lake’‘ see also Karaev, 1987, p. 118.

In the Tibetan inscription of 8 the century from a cave of Thousand Buddhas in Dun-Huane the lock the Shu-balyk in which esteemed ‘‘the god of Türks’‘, called Jol-Tangri [Klyashtorny, 1981 is mentioned, p. 98]. City - fortress Shu was close Balasaguna [Kashgari, vol. 3, p. 420]. The name of the city Balasagun is linked with the Mongolian word balyasun, which means ‘‘city’‘ [Lurie, 2004, p. 80].

The Chinese sources the district Bin - juj (One thousand sources) which name is reconstructed as Bing (Ming) jul is mentioned that in Türkic One thousand sources [MIKK, t means. 2, p. 62; Umurzakov, 1978, p. 55]. The Chinese pilgrim Qian Tszan (7 century) Mentions district Qian-tQian (One thousand keys) which name is a calque of the Türkic toponym Ming-bulak, lokalized on a place of. To a measure [MIKK, vol. 2, p. 64]. In the area Hot lake (Issyk-kul) is mentioned city T'ung/Tong [MIKK, 2, p. 68] which name can be compared the the name of the river Tonk running into Issi-kul lake [Hudud al-Alam, p. 98] ⁴⁴. The name of the city Hele (ha-Iar) in Jety-su is reconstructed as Alp (Alp) [MIKK, vol. 2, p. 68], and the name of the city Gun-jue (kiwong-ngiwat) - Kjungjut (Ktingiit) [MIKK, vol. 2, p. 69]. In Jety-su the city is also mentioned. Ashi-bulaj (Ashpara) [MIKK, vol. 2, p. 68] which name can be compared to the name of the settlement Asbara [Ibn Khordadhbeh, p. 29; Kodama, p. 206]. In East Turkestan the city Pin-lo (pieng-lak) which name is reconstructed as Mynglak [MIKK, t is mentioned. 2, p. 68]. The name of the city Hardly (ia-lek) is reconstructed as Djarlyg (jarliy) or Djarlug (jarluy) [MIKK, vol. 2, p. 69], the name of the city Tszjujlju (K'iu-liuk) - in the form Kjulljug (Kulug/Kullug) [MIKK, vol. 2, p. 69], and the name of the city Chjanbao - in the form Djan-balyk/Janbalyk [MIKK, vol. 2, p. 69].

44 Now this name bear a pass, a glacier, a river and a settlement. In ancient Türkic tong means ‘‘frozen’‘ (Nikonov, 1978, p. 103).

At the description of the Tokuz-Oguz country settlements Bek-Tegin [Hudud al-Alam, p. 95], the Kumish-art [Hudud al-Alam, p. 95], Hiramki [Hudud al-Alam, p. 96], parking for merchants of the Madjank-art, the Tanzag-art and the Igradj-art [Hudud al-Alam, p. 95] and district Irguzgukat [Hudud al-Alam, p. 95], with name’s etymology comes from the Türkic ikki Oguz that means ‘‘between two rivers’‘ [Lurie, 2003, r are mentioned. 195]. In the Tokuz-Oguz country two city Djamalkat are mentioned also and Djumulkat [Hudud al-'alam, p. 47] which names are formed from the Türkic ethnonym djumul [Lurie, 2003, p. 195] which is mentioned in dictionary Mahmud Kashgari [Kashgari, vol. 1, p. 64]. In the Yagma country are mentioned settlement Artudj [Hudud al-Alam, p. 96], in the Halluh country - small district Kulan, the city Ak-Rakar, Bandjuk, Barshan and Djamgar [Hudud al-Alam, p. 98], settlements Atlalyg, Kukjal, Mirki and Tuzun-bulag, Tunal, Udj and Ulug [Hudud al-Alam, p. 97-98]. At the description of the country tuhsi settlements Biglilig, Lazina and Farahiya which names are connected with names of the Türkic clans of a tribe Tuhsi [Hudud al-Alam, p. 99], in the Kimak country are mentioned areas Andar az Kifchak, Karkarhan and Jagsun Jasu [Hudud al-Alam, p. 100] and the city Astur, Bandjar, Banhduh, Burag, Damurnah, Djinku, Mastnah and Hanavush [al-Idrisi, vol. 8, p. 715-719], in the Tokuz-Oguz country are mentioned the cities Tantabig, Masha and Djarmak [al-Idrisi, vol. 4, p. 510].

80

Syr-Darya basin

In the basin of Middle and lower course of Syr-Darya, alongside with toponyms Sogdian⁴⁵ and unknown origin⁴⁶, are also mentioned cities with Türkic names, such, as Atluk (Atlah) [al-Moqaddasi, p. 48, 263, 275; Kashgari, vol. 1, p. 124], Ashnas [Rashid ad-din, vol. 1 (2), p. 200; Muftawfi, p. 73; Mustawfi, p. 261], Darnuh [Hudud al-Alam, p. 119], Djand [Hudud al-Alam, p. 122; as-Samani, vol. 3, p. 319], Sabran [al-Istakhri, p. 346; Ibn Haukal, p. 462, 510, 525; al-Moqaddasi, p. 48, 263, 274, 393; Kashgari, vol. 1, p. 409], Sutkand [Ibn Haukal, p. 510, 512] ⁴⁷, Vasidj [al-Samani, f. 583 R], Kadar (Kadir) [al-Istakhri, p. 346; Ibn Haukal, p. 461, 510, 523; al-Moqaddasi, p. 273; Hudud al-Alam, p. 118], Karachuk (Farab) [Kashgari, т. 1, p. 450], Yangikant or Yanikand (al-Kariya al-Hadisa, Deh-i Hay) [Masoudi, vol. 1, p. 212; Hudud al-Alam, p. 122], Sugnak (Sunah) [Kashgari, vol. 1, p. 437; as-Samani, vol. 8, p. 112; Mustawfi, p. 261], Sairam (Saryam) [Kashgari, vol. 1, p. 111; vol. 3, p. 191], Tartuk [Kashgari, vol. 1, p. 434], Turarband (Otrar) [at-Tabari, ser. II, p. 1517, 1521], Uzgand [Rashid ad-din, vol. 1 (2), p. 200; vol. 2, p. 170], etc., [Ibn Hordadbeh, p. 64; Biruni, 1973, p. 470, 472; al-Idrisi, p. 53; Kalinin, 1988, p. 130]. The toponyms Sairam and Otrar belong to the Altai and ancient Türkic periods of the Türkic toponyms [Musaev, 1988, p. 192]. In ancient Türkic runiform monuments is mentioned the city Kangu-Tarban, identified with the medieval Otrar [Klyashtorny, 1964, p. 155-161]. In the Isfidjab area are mentioned such cities, as Hurlug, Djamshulagu and Turar [al-Moqaddasi, p. 263], and also Djamukat [al-Moqaddasi, p. 48, 263, 275], which name comes from the ethnonym Djamuk, and rabat Kara- Tegin [Ibn al-Asir, vol. 8, p. 79]. The name of the city Budahkat or Baduhkat in the Isfidjab area [Ibn Khordadhbeh, p. 204; al-Istakhri, p. 337; as-Samani, vol. 2, p. 104] is derived from the ancient Türkic word baliq ‘‘city’‘ [Baitanaev, 2003, p. 57-58].

45 Farab, Shaugar, Binakat, Havarak (Huvara), Budahkat, Usbanikat, Isfidjab, Shavab, Barcu-ab, etc.
46 Kubal, Garkard, Tamtadj, Abardjadj, etc.
47 From Türkic sut (milk). (Lurie, 2003, p. 199).

In the lower course of Syr-Darya between Djand and Sygnak are mentioned the cities Uzgend, Barchanlygkent and Ashnas [Rashid ad-din, vol. 1 (2), p. 170, 200]. The name of the city Turar (Utrar, Otrar) [al-Moqaddasi, p. 263; Ibn al-Asir, vol. 12, p. 166] or Taraband (Turarband) [at-Tabari, ser. II, p. 1517, 1521] in the lower course of Syr-Darya belongs to the Altai period of Türkic toponyms [Musaev, 1984, p. 192]. With Turar is identified the city Kangu-Tarban, mentioned in ancient Türkic runiform monuments [Klyashtorny, 1964, p. 155 - 161]. The name Turar (Utrar) comes from the ancient Türkic word tura (turd), with the meaning “fortified home”, ‘‘fortress’‘ [Murzaev, 1980, p. 83], or the Türkic ethnonym Utrar [Radlov, vol. 1, p. 1112].

Chach

The Tashkent oasis, including the valley of the river Chirchik and the adjoining from the south the valley of the river Ahangaran, in written sources is known as Chach. For the first time this name is mentioned in the Sogdian inscriptions incised on fired bricks from the fortress Kultobe near Chimkent, dated by the 2nd - first half of the 3rd century BC [Grene, 2006, p. 35 - 36]. In a victory inscription of the Sasanidshakh Shapur I (262 AD), chieseled on Zoroaster Kaaba [Sprengling, 1953, p. 7; Lukonin, 1967, p. 16] is mentioned mountain Kuh-i Chach (Mountain Chach). The toponym Chach is also mentioned on the coins minted by the Kant ruler in the 3rd - 4th centuries, and on a 4th century siver dish inscription [Rtveladze, 1997, p. 308 - 309]. The toponym Chach is on so-called Türko-Sogdian coins of the 6 - 8th centuries [Smirnova, 1963, № 747 - 783], and also in the Türkic runiform inscription on a ceramic vessel of the 6 - 8th centuries [Buryakov, 2002, p. 11] The Chinese sources starting from the 2nd century BC, its name is transscribed by a hieroglyph Shi or Chje-shi, and its area is transcribed by a hieroglyph Shi-go (Stone Kingdom) [Bichurin, 1950, vol. 2, p. 242, 273, 288; Küner, 1961, p. 174; MIKK, vol. 2, p. 67]. In the sources of Islamic time the toponym Chach is transmitted in the form Shash or ash-Shash [al-Istakhri, p. 281, 288, 291, 328 - 333].

The etymology of the toponym Chach (Shash) accounts a few points of view. Some researchers are inclined to connect its origin with the name of the lake Chaichasta, mentioned in the Avestian hymn Ashi (‘‘Ard-yasht’‘) [Avesta, p. 119 - 120], and lokalized in Messopotamia ⁴⁸ or Afghani Turkestan ⁴⁹. There is also an opinion that the lake Chaichasta is not any other but the Aral Lake [Hodjaeva, 2003, p. 93 - 98; Mukminova, Filanovich, 2001, p. 17]. The name Chaechasta (Caecasta) is ascended from an Ob-Ugrian word bas ‘‘water’‘ [Yailenko, 1988, p. 133].

48

49

In another opinion, the name Tashkent comes from the word taz or tadj, and means ‘‘Tazes’ city’‘, i. e. the city of Arabs or Moslems’‘ [Murzaev, 1957, p. 254]. The name Tashkent was also interpreted as ‘‘external city’‘ (from the word tashkari) [Ancient Tashkent, p. 7]. However, these views in our opinion are not sufficiently justified, and need more substantiatial argumentation.

Meanwhile, written sources point directly to the origin of the name Chach (Shash). Thus, Biruni (11th century) states that the name Shash comes from the Türkic name Tashkand of this city [Biruni, 1963, p. 271], which means ‘‘Stone city’‘ [Biruni, 1976, p. 576], and the Ptolemy ‘‘Geography’‘ was called ‘‘Stone fortress’‘ [Biruni, p. 471] ⁵⁰. One of the 26 maps in the Claudius Ptolemy geographical composition really mention ‘‘Stone fortress’‘ (Terra Lapidea), located on the trade road connecting Middle Asia with China, east from the river Yaksart (Syr-Darya) [Tabulae Geographicae, 7 Tab. Asiae]. There is a reason to accept that on this map was recorded precisely the city Tashkent51. Mahmud Kashgari (11th century) states that the correct name of the city Shash is Tash-Tarkan [Kashgari, vol. 1, p. 414] or Tashkand, in translation from the Türkic it means ‘‘Stone city’‘ [Kashgari, vol. 3, p. 164]. The Chinese hieroglyph Shi or Chjeshi, which transcribed the name Chach (Shash), in Chinese language means ‘‘Stone’‘ 52, and the name of Shi-go possession in Chinese language means ‘‘Stone Country’‘ [Chavannes, 1903, p. 140 - 142; MIKK, vol. 2, p. 67], i. e. a calque of the Trkic name Tashkand. The toponym Kangüy of the Chinese sources, territorial successor of which is the toponym Shi, is drawn from the word kank, which in the so-called ‘‘Tochar’‘language also means ‘‘stone’‘ ⁵³. According to the latest data, the Chinese sources distinguished between the Shi (Shigo) state, and the Chach city (Chje-chje) which was its capital, and the name Shi originated from the name of the founder of that state [Hodjaev, 2005, p. 7, 17].

53 373, p. 100, and also: Filanovich, 1983, p. 35

50

51

52

There is an opinion that name Shash is an Arabicized form of the Sogdian toponym Chach [Koraev, 1991, p. 11; Muhammadjonov, 2002, p. 53] or of the Türkic Tash [Khasanov, 1965, p. 38]. However, there also are indications that the names Chach and Shash are dialectal forms of the Türkic word tash which underwent a transition, widely diffused in the Türkic languages [Ernazarov, 2002, p. 22 - 23; Boboyorov, 2003, p. 111] of the consonant ‘‘t’‘ to ‘‘ch’‘, and then to ‘‘sh’‘. In the Türkic languages also is common transition of the consonant ‘‘r’‘ to ‘‘sh’‘, which can explain the common origin for the two forms of the name of one city - Tarkan(d) and Tashkand [Ernazarov, 2002, p. 23]. The second name of the city, Tarkan, can be also related to the ancient Türkic title tarkan (tarqan, tarkhan), meaning “‘‘exempted from taxes” [Murzaev, 1984, p. 547].

Diverse points of view also abound about the semantics of name Tash/Chach/Shash. So, there is an opinion that the city was called ‘‘stone’‘ not because it was erected from this building material, but due to the courage and fortitude of its inhabitants during defense of the city from foreign aggressors [Filanovich, 1983, p. 35; Hurshut, 1992, p. 4]. According to another opinion, the name of the city can be a hint that it grew in the country of ‘‘mighty Turs”, repeatedly mentioned in the Avesta [Mukminova, Filanovich, 2001, p. 17]. There is also an opinion that name Tashkand, and also Tarkan means ‘‘strong fortress’‘ ^54. One of later points of view posits that toponym Tash/Chach/Shash comes from the name of the Chatkal-Kuram mountain chain ⁵⁵, which like a stone fortress frame the valleys of the Chirchik and Akhangaran rivers, which compose the Tashkent oasis, and protect them from external enemies ⁵⁶. In the Türkic languages the word tash means not only a ‘‘stone’‘, but also a ‘‘cliff’‘,’‘outcrop’‘, ‘‘mountain’‘, and also ‘‘outer side’‘ [Murzaev, 1984, p. 547].

54 In ancient Türkic languages the word tar/tash has also meanings ‘‘strong’‘, ‘‘sturdy’‘, etc. DTS, p. 536; Ernazarov, 2002, p. 21.
55 In the name Chatkal can be possibly seen one of forms (Chat) of the toponym Tash/Chach/Shash with the same rotation of the consonants ‘‘t’‘, ‘‘ch’‘ and ‘‘sh’‘. In the literary Kirgiz language chat means ‘‘space between rivers before they join’‘ or ‘‘name for a part of mountains’‘. The component chat is very frequent in the Türkic toponyms: Chat, the Eski-Chat, Uch-Chat, Kara-Chat, Sary-Chat, etc. [Karaev, 1985, p. 29].
56 Remarkably, one of the most ancient allusions to the toponym Chach (Shapur I inscription) is connected exactly with the Chach (Kuh-i Chach) mountains. [Muhammadjonov, 2002, p. 54 - 55]

The name Tash/Chach/Shash could be a local calque of the Tocharian toponym Kang, the name of the ancient state which also included Chach [Boboyorov, 2003, p. 111; Muhammadjonov, 2002, p. 56]. The memory of this is preserved in the national memory till present, and its name in the form Kanka belongs to the ruins of the largest fortress (150 ga) of the Tashkent oasis, located 90 kms south of Tashkent, where in the first centuries BC was a capital of the whole oasis [Buryakov, 1984], identified with Trans-Yaksart Antiochia of the ancient Greek sources [Filanovich, 2002, p. 116]. It may be also hypothesized that the name of the city was connected with a sacred stone worshipped by local inhabitants in an extreme antiquity ⁵⁷. The Chinese sources the origin of the toponym Shi is traced not to a stone or a stone fortress, but to the surname of the founder of the state with a capital called Chje-chje, i. e. Chach [Hodjaev, 2005, p. 10].

57 The similar case can be observed in Mecca where till now in Kaaba it is a sacred black rock of cosmic origins worshipped still in the pre-Islamic times.

The linguistic literature includes one more opinion deserving an interest, in accordance with it the name Chach has an Enisei origin, and also means ‘‘Stone’‘ (Ket tys, Kott. shysh, Pumpok. chys) ⁵⁸, on one hand it is a calque from the ancient Türkic tash [Pulleyblank, 1986, p. 38 - 41], and on another hand it is in close genetical connection with the Türkic word [Polyakov, 1987, p. 82].

58 Notably, the Enisei languages have the same transition of the consonants ‘‘t’‘, ‘‘ch’‘ and ‘‘sh’‘, typical for the Türkic languages.

The linguistic research in this direction allows to posit that in the 2nd millennium BC the Eniseians-Kets were a significant part of the Middle Asian population [Dulzon, 1968, p. 139], and they were displaced to the north by the intruding Indo-Aryan tribes [Yailenko, 1990, p. 37 - 49]. The present body of the historical data demonstrates that prior to the Indo-Aryan occupation of the Middle Asian its territory was inhabited by three historical and cultural communities: in the Middle Asia northwest lived proto-Uralic tribes, the carriers of the Kelteminar culture, engaged in hunting and fishery, in a the southeast lived Pamir-Hindukush mountain tribes of the so-called ‘‘Hissar’‘ cultures, and in the southwest was the most ancient and highly advanced sedentary-agricultural Dravidian civilization with proto-urban culture [Piankov, 1995, p. 27-46].

The newest research in the toponymy and linguistics allows to suggest that in the 2nd millennium BC the carriers of the Dravidian languages lived in the immediate proximity with the carriers of the proto-Türkic languages [Musaev, 1984, p. 148-153], and their connections were torn off by the invasion of the Indo-Aryan newcomers [Iskhakov, 1999, p. 251 - 255]. In some Türkic languages of the Eastern Europe (Bulgarian, Khazarian, Chuvash), Siberia (Yakut) and Far East have survived the traces of the proto-Türkic language which was diffused in the most ancient times in the southern part of the Middle Asia. These relicts point to the presence in the south of the Middle Asia in the deep past of the remote ancestors of the carriers of these languages, and on their subsequent resettlement to the north [Togan. , 1981, p. 22] 59.

59 These linguistic results can be matched with the archeological research, according to which the ancestors of the Karasuk culture carriers in the Minusinsk depression (middle of the 2nd millennium BC) were exactly the cattle-breeding tribes that came there from the Middle Asia steppes [Novgorodova, 1970, p. 176. , Sarianidi, 1967, p. 90 - 93, 102].

The Türkic languages retained numerous traces of the most ancient linguistic layer, common for the Middle Asia and Caucasus, and ascending to the primeval communal system epoch. And these traces were retained in those parts of speech which belong to the language basic lexical fund (for example, terms for the parts of human body) and, as a rule, are not borrowed from other languages [Tolstova, 1978, p. 8-9]. In the linguistic literature the most ancient forms of the Türkic languages are called proto-Türkic, their carriers are called pra-Türks, and the formative history of of these languages is closely connected with the family of the so-called Paleo-Asian and Enisei languages [Dulzon, 1971, p. 26]. The Enisei languages, according to the toponyms, occupied until the end of the 1st millennium BC a significant part of the Middle Asian territory, and as its nucleus most actively participated in the formation of the Altai-Hunnish confederation of peoples [Yailenko, 1988, p. 133].

According to another linguistic theory, the carriers of the so-called ‘‘proto-Tochar’‘ language, as a most ancient of all Indo-European languages, in the 2nd millennium BC on the way from the Asia Minor to the East Turkestan passed through the territory of the Middle Asia, and contacted there with the carriers of the early proto-Türkic, proto-Ugrian and Enisei languages. The concept suggests a fairly long interaction and probably bi-linguality between the contacting groups of the population [Gamkrelidze, Ivanov, 1989, p. 25-27; Gamkrelidze, 1987, p. 41]. This linguistic theory recently found a convincing confirmation in archeological materials [Sarianidi, 1998, p. 90 - 92].

The traces of these long bygone and real events could not disappear completely, and their echo was retained in the legends among the peoples of the Middle Asia during the Middle Ages. They were retained, for example, in the testimonies of Biruni [Biruni, 1957, p. 47], Kudama ibn Djafar [Kodama, p. 263], al-Mukaddasi [al-Moqaddasi. , p. 285 - 286], Narshahi [Narshahi, p. 91] and Mahmud Kashgari [Kashgari, vol. 3, p. 164], etc. , which state that such cities of the Middle Asia as Merv, Kat, Bukhara, Samarkand, Romitan, Shash, Baikand, and others were founded by the Türks [Togan, 1981, p. 25].
Thus, the statements of different written sources, converging with the archeological, anthropological and toponymic-linguistical research of later years, allow to take, with sufficient substantiation that in the 2nd - 1st millenniums BC a significant part of the settled and urban population in the Middle Asia consisted of the so-called pra-Türks, i. e. the remote historical and ethnic ancestors of the Türkic-speaking peoples, who were the initial inhabitants of this region, and constituted a part of its most ancient Pre-Indo-European population. After the Indo-Aryan occupation of the Middle Asia a part of the Türkic-speaking peoples were displaced by the Aryan newcomers to the north, and the remaining part was subjected to a superficial Iranization.

In view of these postulates it is quite probably that the initial form of the name for the city Tashkent originated from the ancient Türkic word tash meaning “stone’‘. The medieval names of the city, Chach and Shash, like the first component of the compound oronym Chatkal, chat, most likely are dialectal forms of the same word tash with the same meaning. The question why the name of the city was connected with stone remains open and needs further research.

During the Middle Ages in the Shash province, alongside with the cities with the names of Sogdian ⁶⁰ and unknown origin ⁶¹, are also recorded settlements with Türkic names, such, as Tashkand (Tarkan), Gazak [al-Istakhri, p. 325, 344; Ibn Haukal, p. 461, 463, 503, 507; al-Moqaddasi, p. 49, 265], Varduk [al-Istakhri, p. 329, 345; Ibn Haukal, p. 462, 507, 524; al-Moqaddasi, p. 306; Hudud al-Alam, 357], Gannadj (Gannach) [al-Istakhri, p. 329, 345; Ibn Haukal, p. 461, 463, 507, 523; al-Moqaddasi, p. 48, 264], Djabgukat [al-Istakhri, p. 330, 345; Ibn Haukal, p. 461, 463, 507; al-Moqaddasi, p. 264; Hudud al-Alam, p. 117, 357], Kalashdjuk [al-Istakhri, p. 329, 345; Ibn Haukal, p. 507, 523; Hudud al-Alam, p. 117], Istabaigu (Ashbingu), Almalyk, Yalapan [Hudud al-Alam, p. 118], Nakalyk (Takalyk) [al-Istakhri, p. 331; Ibn Haukal, p. 461, 507; al-Moqaddasi, p. 486, 294], and others. [Ibn Hordadbeh, p. 64; Hudud al-Alam, p. 117, 118; al-Istakhri, p. 331, 345; Ibn Haukal, p. 383; Biruni, 1963, p. 271; Biruni, 1973, p. 471; Kashgari, vol. 1, p. 414; vol. 3, p. 164, 187; al-Idrisi, p. 52; Boboyorov, 2003, p. 109-114].

60 Binkat, Danfagankat, Chinanchkat, Harashkat, Fanakat, Ardlankat, Hazinkat, Garkand, Abrazkat, Barkush, Farankat, Shuturkat, Banunkat, Banakit, etc.
61 Kankarak, Numasadj, Djabuzun, Varduk, Kabarna, Gadarnak, Gazak, etc.

Names of cities Hatunkat [Hudud al-Alam, p. 118] and Hudainkat [al-Istakhri, p. 329, 330; Ibn Haukal, p. 507, 522, 523; al-Moqaddasi, p. 48, 264] are formed from a Türkic female title hatun [Lurie, 2003, p. 198]. The Chinese sources it is mentioned in the form Katun [Bichurin, 1950, vol. 2, p. 288]. The name of. Chinanchkat or Chinanchkand (Chynnchknth) [al-Istakhri, p. 328, 345; Ibn Haukal, p. 461, 507; al-Moqaddasi, p. 48, 264, 277; Hudud al-Alam, p. 47; al-Idrisi, p. 52] have “Chinese city” ‘‘etymology. In the East Turkestan in the Kucha area existed a city with same name [Lurie, 2003, p. 189]. The name of the city Ardlankat [al-Istakhri, p. 329] has etymology from the Türkic name Arslan [Lurie, 2003, p. 193], the city Baguikat [al-Istakhri, p. 330, 345; Ibn Haukal, p. 462, 507; Hudud al-Alam, p. 117, 357] etymology comes from the Türkic word baqui (head of a community) [Lurie, p. 193], the etymology for the names of the medieval cities Djabuzan and Varduk, mentioned by the same sources, also comes from the Türkic roots [Bogomolov, p. 56]. The second name of the city Tashkand-Tarkan can be connected with the ancient Türkic title tarkan (tarqan, tarkhari) ⁶², meaning ‘‘exempted from taxes’‘ [Murzaev, 1984, p. 547]. This name was preserved until present in the form Darkhan ⁶³. In the notes of Qian Tszan, in the north of the possession Shi (Tashkent) is mentioned a city with a name Bin-Üy with etymology from the Türkic words ming yol which means ‘‘one thousand springs’‘ [Boboyorov, 2005, p. 125].

62 The origin of this word also relates with Indo-European languages. (Abaev, 1979, p. 21-25).
63 Such name carries a kishlak in Kashkadarya valley, and also aryk and street in Tashkent. (Nafasov, 1988, p. 59).

One of the Binkat city gates had a name Dar-i Ku-yi Hakan, i. e. the street leading to them was called Ku-yi Hakan, i. e. Hakan’s street [al-Istahri, p. 34]. The settlement name Kabarna [al-Istakhri, p. 329, 345; Ibn Haukal, p. 461, 507, 523; al-Moqaddasi, p. 264; Hudud al-Alam, p. 357], formed like the name Suburna in Khoresm, also can be etymologized from the Türkic language. The ending -a (-na) has no parallels in the Sogdian language [Lurie, 2004, p. 57]. In the Shash province are also mentioned settlements Karal, Hival and Vardul [Hudud al-Alam, p. 117].

The name of the Ilak area [ai-Istakhri, p. 281, 295, 328; Ibn Haukal, p. 507, 509; al-Moqaddasi, p. 49, 262, 326] comes from the Türkic word ailak or yailak, meaning ‘‘summer home’‘, ‘‘summer camp’‘, ‘‘mountain pasture’‘ [Dictionary, p. 11; Karaev, 1987, p. 116], it also retained this meaning in the modern toponyms [Dodyhudoev, 1975, p. 41-42]. This word was also used with the meaning ‘‘summer palace’‘ [DTS, p. 227]. The name Ilak has also etymology as Türkic hydronym ishak with meaning ‘‘quiet, clear river’‘ [Boboyorov, 2003, p. 112]. In the Ilak area are mentioned cities with names of the Sogdian ⁶⁴, Persian ⁶⁵, and Türkic origin, such, as Alhandjas (?)[Hudud al-Alam, p. 117], Arbilah [al-Istakhri, p. 331, 345; Ibn Haukal, p. 462, 508, 524; al-Moqaddasi, p. 49, 265], Itlyg (Itluh, Atlah) [Hudud al-Alam, p. 117], Namudlyk (Yahudlyk) [al-Istakhri, p. 331, 345; Ibn Haukal, p. 462, 508, 525; al-Moqaddasi, p. 49, 265; Hudud al-Alam, p. 117], Tunkand (Tunkat) [al-Istakhri, p. 331, 336, 344; Ibn Haukal, p. 462, 508, 523; al-Moqaddasi, p. 49, 63, 265, 277; Ibn al-Faqih, p. 327], Arpalyk (Abarlyk) [Hudud al-Alam, p. 117], Balankanak [Hudud al-Alam, p. 117; al-Istakhri, p. 331, 345; Ibn Haukal, p. 386; al-Moqaddasi, p. 265; Biruni, 1973, p. 471; Kashgari, vol. 3, p. 164; al-Idrisi, p. 52], Guzdjand [Hudud al-Alam, p. 117]. The name of the city Tukkat [al-Istakhri, p. 331, 344; Ibn Haukal, p. 461, 508, 523; al-Moqaddasi, p. 49 [Lurie, 2003, p. 197] has etymology as Türkic title tutuk, i. e. “Tutuk’s city”. The name of the city Sakakat [al-Istakhri, p. 332] comes from the Türkic word saka ‘‘foothills’‘ [Kashgari, vol. 3, p. 246] (and brings about an observation that in Türkic the words Togar (Tochar) and Saka are synonymous, both meaning “Mountaineer”. A synonymous term for the “Mountaineer” is “qayači = qayachi”, with an element “Kai”, the term documented in the Uigur Tarim area- Translator’s Note).

64 Sanakat, Nukat, Tukkat, Nudjakat, Dahkat, Harhankat, Humrak, etc.
65 Bandja-Hash, Kuh-i Sim, etc.

Fergana

In the sources Fergana is called a ‘‘gate to Turkestan’‘ [Hudud al-Alam, p. 115]. The Chinese sources mention the city Hü-sün, located in eastern part of Fergana valley. Its name is connected with the ethnonym Usun, preserved until present in the form Uishun as one of the Kazakh clans [Umurzakov, 1978, p. 54]. The name davan, as the Chinese sources call the Fergana state, is derived from the Uigur word daven, which means ‘‘big river valley’‘ [Abdulhamidov, 1968, p. 43]. Is also possible that it comes from the Türkic name of high-mountainous pass Terek-Davan, which the is the only convenient passage between Fergana and East Turkestan [Statistical review, p. 55]. The name of the city Humyn, where in the 7th century lived the local ruler of Fergana from a dynasty of Kushan origins, is reconstructed as a Türkic word komur (coal) [DTS, p. 314; Bernshtam, 1952, p. 232].

84

In the medieval toponyms of the Fergana valley dominate Türkic or hybrid toponyms, which reflects the structure of her contemporary population ⁶⁶. So, the name of the Fergana main city Akhsikat [al-Istakhri, p. 335, 346; Hudud al-Alam, p. 116] or Akhshikat [Ibn Haukal, p. 482, 463] (al-Balazuri gives Khshikat [al-Balazuri, p. 28]), in the Sogdian documents is spelled 'gsgkanthh, ‘‘gsgkt [SDGM, 1963, p. 101-102]) has etymology from the Türkic ak and Sogdian kat, meaning ‘‘white city’‘ [SDGM, 1963, p. 101; Koraev, 1978, p. 30]. On the coins its name is also given in the form Akhshi [von Zambaur, 1968, p. 38]. It was conjectured that the city could have been named after the river Aksu, the medieval name of the river Naryn [Askarov, 2004, p. 26]. In some sources Khasakat (Akhsikat) is called the largest city of the Türk country [al-Zayyat, p. 293]. During the Middle Ages in Fergana is mentioned the city Kukat [Hudud al-Alam, p. 116] which name, probably, comes from the Türkic word kök ‘‘dark blue’‘ [Lurie, 2003, p. 196].

66 For the Middle Ages (5-12th centuries) only in the Kyrgyzstan territory are recorded approximately 250 geographical names, including 33 oronyms, 45 hydronyms, 33 ethnotoponyms. (Umurzakov, 1978, p. 54).

During the Middle Ages in Fergana alongside with toponyms of the Sogdian ⁶⁷, Persian ⁶⁸, Arabic 69 and the unknown origin ⁷⁰, are also noted the Türkic names of the cities, such, as Kuba [al-Istakhri, p. 333, 335, 347; Ibn Haukal, p. 463, 514; Ibn Hordadbeh, p. 65; Hussein-zade, 1971, p. 118-123], Osh (Ush) [al-Istakhri, p. 333, 335, 347; Ibn Haukal, p. 461, 514, 525; Ibn Khordadhbeh, p. 39; Kodama, p. 208; Ibn al-Faqih, p. 328; Ibn Hordadbeh, p. 65] 71, Atbash [Ibn Hordadbeh, p. 65; Ibn Khordadhbeh, p. 30; Kodama, p. 208; al-Moqaddasi, p. 341] and Kuchkar-bashi [Gardizi, p. 84], Aval [Hudud al-Alam, p. 116], and others [Biruni, 1973, p. 471-473; Kashgari, vol. 1, p. 71, 122, 329, 330, 364, 373; vol. 3, p. 164, 392; al-Idrisi, p. 52; Ptitsin, 1947, p. 303], and also districts Djadgal (Djidgil) [al-Istakhri, p. 334; Ibn Haukal, p. 513, 514; al-Moqaddasi, p. 48, 262].

67 Shavakat, Samgar, Marginan, etc.
68 Hadjistan, Karvan, Nakad, Rishtan, Haftdeh, Zarkan, Hurshab, etc.
69 Nasrabad, Nadjm, Silat, Daddies, Abardadj, Minara, etc.
70 Sabat, Khojend, Turmukan, Huvakand, Andukan, etc.
71 The name of this city is linked with the Türkic ethnonim uch/ush (Umurzakov, 1978, p. 53) An opinion also exists that it comes from the Enisei root us/ush/osh, meaning ‘‘fence’‘, ‘‘fenced off place’‘, ‘‘city’‘. (Murzaev, 1984, p. 423).

The name of the city of Uzkand (Uzgand), also mentioned as the ‘‘city of Khurtegin’‘ [Ibn Hordadbeh, p. 65] ⁷², which also had the form Yuzkand [Siaset-name, p. 135, 155], is connected with the ancient Türkic word uz (valley, pass [Lurie, 2004, p. 103]), or with ethnonym uz (yuz).

72 The first component of the toponym Uzgand, probably, represents a reduced variation of the word okuz ‘‘river’‘ (see above). The word biz is also meaning ‘‘valley’‘, ‘‘pass’‘. (Lurie, 2003, p, 199).

85

The name of the city Khuvakand has etymology from the Türkic word hur and a component -kand, with the meaning ‘‘city on a hill’‘ [Bababekov, 1987, p. 102-103]. The name of the city Biskand on border with Türks has etymology from Sogdian pysh (behind) or Türkic besh (five) [al-Istakhri, p. 286, Ibn Haukal, p. 513, 525]. The name of the city Bukand (Yukand) [al-Moqaddasi, p. 262] is derived from the Türkic words bök (fence) or jog (high place) [Lurie, 2003, p. 198, 199].

During the Middle Ages in the western part of the Fergana near Papa was a city Turmakan or Yurmakan in which lived Türks [Ibn Khordadbeh, p. 30; Kodama, p. 208; al-Moqaddasi, p. 341, 342]. The medieval toponym Miyan Rudan, localized between the rivers Naryn and Karadaria, also had a Türkic name Ikki suv arasy [Babur-name, p. 76, 92, 93]. The main city of this district, mentioned in the sources in the form Hailam, Hairlam or Hatlam [al-Istakhri, p. 334; Hudud al-Alam, p. 116; al-Moqaddasi, p. 48, 262, 271], has etymology from the Türkic word hailama [Khasanov, 1965, p. 76]. However it is more probable that the name of this district was connected with the name Haira ibn Abu-l-Haira, the local ruler in whose palace was born Nasr ibn Ahmad [al-Istakhri, p. 334; Ibn Haukal, p. 514]. The same district was also called Haft-deh, which means ‘‘Seven settlements’‘. This district earlier belonged to the Türks and in the 10th century was captured by the Samanids [Ibn Haukal, p. 514]. It also had a Türkic name Iet-tikent, like the mountains surrounding it [Babur-name, p. 32]. Though this form is recorded in later source, it is quite probable that the Türkic name was its original name, from which then developed a Persian calque. The name of the city Biskand or Astiyakand, located in this district [al-Istakhri, p. 347; Ibn Haukal, p. 514, 524], can be read as Yetti-kand. Abu Said as-Samani mentions in Fergana a settlement Lamish [al-Samani, f. 595 R], which is identified with the name of the river Ilamish or Ailamish [Babur-name, p. 87, 92], running in the Lamish district near Andigan [al-Karshi, p. 150].

In the district Lower Nesia is mentioned the city Zandaramish [Hudud al-Alam, p. 116; al-Istakhri, p. 395; Ibn Haukal, p. 461, 513; al-Moqaddasi, p. 48, 262]. On the al-Idrisi map to the east from Ahsikat is the city Hakan al-Hazladjiya, which is identified with capital of the Türks’ ruler on the river Ili [Karaev, 1973 ibid, p. 36]. The name of the city Yaduhkat [al-Samani, f. 598 R] is derived from the ancient Türkic word yatuq ‘‘lazy’‘, ‘‘settled’‘ [Kashgari, vol. 3, p. 22], the city Ustikan [al-Istakhri, p. 347; Ibn Haukal, p. 513, 525; al-Moqaddasi, p. 48, 262, 272; al-Istahri, p. 37, 39] is derived from the Türkic word ust ‘‘upper course (of river)’‘ [Boboyorov, 2005, p. 126], the city Biskand [al-Istakhri, p. 348] is derived from the Türkic word besh ‘‘five’‘ [Lurie, 2003, p. 198]. The name of the city Ardlankat [al-Istakhri, p. 329, 325, 343; Ibn Haukal, p. 461, 463, 503] in Fergana has etymology from the Türkic name Arslan [Lurie, 2003, p. 193]. On the basis of the Türkic language can also be the etymology of the names of city Salad (Shalat) [al-Istakhri, p. 346, 348; Ibn Haukal, p. 514, 523; Hudud al-Alam, p. 356] and settlements Aval [al-Istakhri, p. 347; Ibn Haukal, p. 514; al-Moqaddasi, p. 48, 262].

Among the Fergana cities is mentioned a city with first part of the name not readable, and the last part is read as khan [al-Moqaddasi, p. 48]. The city Andijan is mentioned in the sources of the 10th century in the form Andukan [Ibn Haukal, p. 513; as-Samani, vol. 1, p. 364]. This name has etymology from the Türkic word andi and Sogdian kan, that together means ‘‘riverbank city ‘‘ [Muhammadjonov, 2002, p. 23]. The word andi is also derived from the ethnonym Andi, or another Türkic word meaning ‘‘island’‘, and ancient Persian djan/gan (soul) [Turgunov, 1987, p. 130-136]. Per a local legend, the ancient name of Andijan was Adak, which in Türkic means ‘‘island overgrown with plants’‘ [Radlov, vol. 1, p. 479].

Toponym Isfara, which is mentioned in all sources in the form Asbara (Aspara, Ashpara) [al-Istakhri, p. 334; Ibn Haukal, p. 513-515; at-Tabari, ser. II, p. 1440-1441], has etymology from the Türkic word Aspara, which belongs to the most ancient Türkic anthroponyms, going back to the names of the objects of ancient cults [Musaev, 1984, p. 209]. The name Isfara is Arabized form of the Türkic name [Katib Celebi, p. 257]. The city with name Asbara is also mentioned in the vicinity of Taraz [Ibn Hordadbeh, p. 65]. In the sources of the 15th century are mentioned a river and A city with the name Aspara (Ashpara) in the Mirki area [Yazdi, p. 117]. In the beginning of the 20es century the name Ashpara also had the mountains in the Chu river basin [Valihanov, 1961, vol. 1, p. 310, 316, 458]. The Byzantine sources mention city Aspar-hrak [Moravcsik, 1958, p. 75].

Among the toponyms mentioned in the documents of the 16-17th centuries, are notable the names of Urun-Tegin aryk (channel), settlements Hakan and Ekin-Tegin or Igen-Tegin in the vicinity of Andijan [Nabiev, 1960, p. 26; Materials, p. 148]. In the 15th century one of the Andijan gates was called ‘‘Hakan gate’‘ [Babur-name, p. 77, 121]. In the modern toponyms of Fergana, in only one area of the Fergana, an overwhelming majority of the toponyms (approximately 1000 from 1260) have Türkic language etymology [Gubaeva, 1969, p. 95-96].

Horezm

The main cities of Khoresm Kas (Kat) and Gurgandj are called ‘‘gates to Guz Turkestan’‘ [Hudud al-Alam, p. 121, 122].

88

Ethymology of the toponym Khoresm (also Chorasm, Horasm, Horesm, Huaras, Huarasm, Khuaras, Khwarazm, Khwarizm, Kwaresm, Kwarezm) in one opinion is derived its origin from an ancient Iranian base [Tolstov, 1948, p. 74-75]. The name Huvarazm (Huvarizm) also has etymology from the Nenets (Russian derisive ‘‘Samoed’‘="Self-eating") languages of the Eastern Ural with a meaning ‘‘stony’‘ [Yailenko, 1988, p. 133]. Also, another opinion is that this word comes from the Türkic roots huar (water) and as (ethnonym) with an affix of belonging in the singular personal case -m (huarasm) and designates ‘‘river people’‘ [Zakiyev, 2002, p. 425-432]. The name Khoresm can also be connected with the name of the (Türkic) Yurük tribe Horzum, and the clan Herzem of the tribe Saryk [Yeremeyev, 1970, p. 139].

On the Catalan map (14th century) the name of the city Urganch is mentioned in the form Organchi (Urganchi) [Fedchina, 1967, p. 19], which contains affix -chi. On the pre-Islamic coins of Khoresm the name of this city is recorded in the form Urganach [Muhammadi, 2000, p. 91]. The origin of this toponym is linked with the word gurg ‘‘wolf’‘ [Lurie, 2004, p. 72].

In the Khoresm territory are toponyms which were not possible to etymologize from any modern languages, which demonstrates their very ancient origin. To them belong toponyms Khiva and Fir. The fortress Fir (Fil) have consisted of three parts and was constructed in the 4th century near the capital of Khoresm the city Kat [at-Tabari, ser. II, p. 1238, 1281; Biruni, 1957, p. 48]. By some reports this was also called the city Samarkand [at-Tabari, ser. II, p. 1240]. The name of the city Khiva [al-Istakhri, p. 299, 302, 341; Ibn Haukal, p. 478, 519; al-Moqaddasi, p. 49, 287, 344] in the sources is also given in a Türkified form Hivak [Mustawfi, p. 258].

Per Ptolemy, on the other side of Ox, in the lower course of Yaksart, on its left the bank lived people Ariak, which was identified with the Aryan tribe. The ethnonym Ariak has also etymology from the Türkic word ariyak (nariyak), which means ‘‘those beyond the river’‘, it also was used as a toponym Ariyak, i. e. ‘‘that beyond the river’‘. Precisely from this name were copied the calques of the Greek toponym ‘‘Transoxania’‘ and Arabic ‘‘Maverannahr’‘ [Popov, 1973, p. 142; Satybalov, Popov, 1956, p. 109-112]. This indicates that Ariaks were Türkic-speaking, like a part of the left-bank population of Amu Darya. Otherwise they would not call the right-bank inhabitants Ariyaks in Türkic. And in our time the Uzbeks from the left bank of the Khorezm and Karakalpakstan area call the Uzbeks on the right bank of Khoresm ariyaklar, ariyakdagilar or ariyanchilar, i. e. ‘‘those beyond the river’‘ [Ahmedov, 1987, p. 60].

89

In the al-Djurdjaniya area is mentioned the settlement Ardaku [Ibn Fadlan ‘‘Travel’‘, p. 58]. At a distance of two days of travel from al-Djurdjania in the direction of the Bulgar was a rabat Zamdjan which was also called Bab at-Turk, i. e. ‘‘Gates of Türks’‘ [Ibn Fadlan ‘‘Travel’‘, p. 56, 59]. The main city of Khoresm Kat (Kas) was called ‘‘gates to Guz Turkestan, collection place for the goods of the Turkestan, Maverannahr, and Khazar area Türks, and gathering place of merchants’‘. A likewise gate to the Turkestan and a gathering place of merchants was the city Gurgandj, whose inhabitants were famous for their bellicosity and arrow-shooting art [Hudud al-Alam, p. 216]. The steppes to the north of Khoresm were called Kipchak [Grigoriev, Frolov, 2001, p. 260, 280].

The medieval sources mention in the Khoresm the city Kurdar (Kardar) [al-Istakhri, p. 299, 303, 341; Ibn Haukal, p. 430, 460, 478, 519; al-Moqaddasi, p. 49, 286, 343; at-Tabari, ser. II, p. 1525, 1847; Hudud al-Alam, p. 122; Ibn Hordadbeh, p. 68], settlements Bara-Tegin [al-Istakhri, p. 299, 303, 341; al-Moqaddasi, p. 286, 288, 343] ⁷³ and Karatakin [Ibn Haukal, p. 461, 462, 478, 480; al-Idrisi, vol. 8, p. 699], or Deh-i Kara-Tegin [Hudud al-Alam, p. 122, 371; MITT, p. 216], the port of Guzzes Mangyshlak ⁷⁴, the city Suburna 20 farsahs (140 km) from Gurgandj [Ibn al-Asir, vol. 11, p. 169], settlement Shurah-Khan (Shu-rahan) [Baihaki, p. 825, 877], locations Handahan [Ibn al-Asir, vol. 10, p. 111], Abuksha [al-Istakhri, p. 304; Ibn Haukal, p. 480; al-Moqaddasi, p. 370], Balkhan [al-Moqaddasi, p. 343], rabats Mash [al-Moqaddasi, p. 343], Tugan [al-Moqaddasi, p. 343], location Vaikhan [al-Moqaddasi, p. 49, 276, 288, 343, 344], and also toponyms Barkan [as-Samani, vol. 2, p. 156], Bagirkan [al-Moqaddasi, p. 343], Mizdahkan [al-Idrisi, vol. 8, p. 697, 698], Halidjan [al-Idrisi, vol. 8, p. 698], Okuz, Yar and lake Hyz-tengizi (Maiden Sea), i. e. the lake Sary-kamysh [Biruni, 1966, p. 96; Biruni, 1973, p. 470; Kashgari, vol. 1, p. 432; vol. 3, p. 172]. Ibn al-Asir mentions in the Khoresm a toponym Su-Kara (Kara-su) and notes that in translation it means ‘‘black water’‘ [Ibn al-Asir, vol. 12, p. 86]. The same toponym is mentioned in the 10th century in the form Sakara. So was called the river crossing on Amu Darya downstream from the Amul [al-Moqaddasi, p. 292]. Northwest from the Karatau mountains in the Syr-Darya basin is mentioned a mountain under a name Susyk-Kara [Vainberg, 1999, p. 200-201]. The name of the city Dargan in the Khoresm [al-Istakhri, p. 299, 338; Ibn Haukal, p. 478; al-Moqaddasi, p. 49, 287, 289, 292; Gardizi, p. 91] also can be linked with a title tarhan. From the Türkic languages are formed such toponyms as Aihan, Kum, Kuchag, Timurtash, and others. [Boboyorov, 2005, p. 128].

73 In the Seistan is also mentioned a settlement Djarvatakin or Karvatakin. [as-Samani, vol. 3, p. 240].
74 In the 10th c. Mangyshlak is also mentioned under its Persian name Siyah-kuh [al-Istakhri, p. 8, 190, 218, 219; Biruni, 1966, p. 96; Biruni, 1973, p. 470; Kashgari, vol. 1, p. 432; vol. 3, p. 172]; Ibn al-Asir was called a city [Ibn al-Asir, vol. 10, p. 111], al-Kalkashandi was called a territory adjoining Khoresm [Grigoriev, Frolov, 2001, p. 282].

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