Anau, Turkmenistan


Anau is a city in Turkmenistan. It is the capital of Ahal Province and is 8 km southeast of Ashgabat which is connected via the M37 highway.
The name Anau is from Persian Âbe nav meaning "New Water".
In 2003, the city built a new stadium, and in 2005 a major museum called 'Ak Bugday Museum', housing artifacts recovered from the area.

Archaeology

The Chalcolithic Anau culture dates back to 4500 BC, following the Neolithic Jeitun culture in the cultural sequence of southern Turkmenistan.
Anau was excavated by a joint Turkmen-US archaeological expedition in the 1990s and 2000s.
Anau was a stopping point along the famous ancient Silk Road. Fine painted potteries are found here.