American Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Sciences ISSN (E): 2832-8019 Volume 5, | Oct., 2022 P a g e | 90 www.americanjournal.org HISTORY OF THE STUDY OF ANCIENT PROTECTIVE STRUCTURES OF THE FERGANA VALLEY Normatov Sherzod Docent, Karshi State University Uzbekistan, Karshi A B S T R A C T K E Y W O R D S This article describes the study of the protection of the Ferghana Valley based on historical sources. Sopolli, Sarazm, Pargana, Da-yuan Eski Ahsi, Fragonik, Mugkala, Eilaton, Chust monument, Shurabashat, Marhamat, Miktikurgan, Chuntepa Greco-Roman authors do not provide information about the ancient Ferghana located in the basin of the upper Syr Darya and its tributaries. Written information about Fergana (Pargana) is given for the first time in Chinese sources - Zhang Qian's data, Sima Qian's "Historical Memoirs", Ban Gun's "History of the First Han Dynasty". In these sources, this country is mentioned under the name "Da- yuan" or "Dawan". The word Fergana (Pargana) is written in the form of "Fragonic" in Sughd sources and means "valley between mountains, surrounded by a ravine", while in Chinese sources "Da-yuan" means "valley between mountains" [1]. The history of the study of ancient Fergana monuments begins in the last quarter of the 19th century. For example, N.I. Veselovsky came to the Ferghana Valley in 1884 on the assignment of the Russian IAK (Russian Imperial Archaeological Commission). The scientist studied the finds found by the local people from the Old Akhsi (Akhsikent) monument, got acquainted with the Old Akhsi monument, carried out small excavations on the mounds, which were supposed to be defensive structures, and obtained ceramic materials, mainly dating back to the Middle Ages [2]. After that, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, members of the Turkestan amateur archaeologists' circle conducted some investigations in Old Akhsi and Mughal [3]. The results of these studies ended only with medieval pottery, and there was no information about the defense structures and the socio-economic life and cultural relations of the more ancient period. From the first quarter of the 20th century, researches using certain archeological methods began in the historical and cultural regions of Central Asia. In particular, in the early 1930s, V. A. Latinin conducted archaeological research in the northeastern and southwestern regions of the Fergana Valley [4]. The scientist conducted search and partial excavations in several monuments in these areas and proposed a periodization of the protection structures and ancient culture of the valley. Later, in connection with the construction of the Great Fergana Canal, a group of scientists led by M.E. Masson conducted research in the canal construction areas [5]. As a result of these studies, a number of monuments of the American Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Sciences Volume 5, Oct., 2022 P a g e | 91 www.americanjournal.org valley from the Bronze Age to the Middle Ages were identified, and the study of their culture, comparative comparison, and determination of their origin began. In the early 50s of the last century Yu.A. He studied the old town of Dalvarzin in the Zadneprovsky valley, compiled a history of the monument and later published information about the defensive structures[6]. As it turns out, the old city was surrounded by a protective wall 4-6 meters thick, which was preserved at a height of 2.5 meters. In 1950, the Chust monument was opened by E.M. Voronets, and stationary archaeological research was continued in the following years. According to research, the territory of the Chust monument is 1.5 hectares surrounded by a wall, 1.5 meters thick and 286 meters long [7]. According to the researches of Yu.A. Zadneprosky, the old city of Eilaton was built in 1000 BC. It dates back to the VI-IV centuries and is surrounded by two rows of walls with rectangular towers [8]. According to T.G. Oboldueva, the walls of Eilaton are similar to Dalvarzin defensive structures in some aspects (size of raw bricks, laying) [9]. A. N. Bernstam Koson conducted research in monuments such as Mug'tepa, Eski Akhsi, Pop, Ayritom, Munchogtepa, Balandtepa [10], collected valuable information about the historical and cultural processes of the ancient period, including defense structures, and introduced them to science. [11]. Yu.A. Zadneprovsky, while conducting research in many ancient cities and settlements of the Fergana Valley, made many clarifications on the dating of monuments. Many historical and cultural issues such as the protection of cities and fortresses in the valley, the roots and origins of the unique culture, economic and cultural relations of the valley population, internal and external migration processes, issues of internal and external influence on the culture of the valley, the importance of ancient roads and directions in the development of the cultural life of the region. issues of its development are directly connected with Yu.A.Zadneprovsky's researches in Ferghana [12]. The scientist's research of ancient protective structures in monuments such as Eilaton, Shorabashat, and Marhamat is particularly noteworthy. A. A. Anarbaev's scientific research should be highlighted in the study of ancient monuments of the Fergana Valley. In his long-term scientific research and research, the scientist studied the ancient and medieval urbanization processes of the Ferghana Valley, the issues of the first statehood in the valley, the irrigation system of the valley cities, ancient roads and directions, issues of socio-economic and cultural life[13], Akhsikent (Old Akhsi). created a fundamental research work[14] on the history and culture of the city of Khona. N.G. Gorbunova's research on monuments such as Karkidon, Miktiqurgan, Chuntepa in the Karkidon oasis in the valley is also noteworthy [15]. According to research, the monument of Karkidon occupies an area of 1 hectare in the shape of an irregular rectangle and is surrounded by protective walls dating back to the II-IV centuries. The minaret is square in shape, the building materials are mud, raw brick and pakhsa[16]. Miqtitepa features an irregular rectangular shape of 1.5 hectares. A defensive wall with rectangular towers (possibly with internal structures) has been identified on the west, south and east sides of the monument. The thickness of the protective walls is up to 10 meters, and the preserved height is 4.5 meters. The "large tower without internal rooms" of the monument served as a fortress. The 4-meter- thick wall is built on a 1-meter-high earth foundation with right angles (lower layers)[17]. Chuntepa has a square plot with sides of 50 meters. It was determined that the monument went through three stages of development dated to the I-IV, VIII, XI-XII centuries. The defensive walls of Chuntepa, American Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Sciences Volume 5, Oct., 2022 P a g e | 92 www.americanjournal.org with hollow bulwarks (baynitsa), were built of thatch more than 2 meters thick. Two corridors were also opened inside the protective wall, which was kept at a height of 2.5 meters [18]. In 2002, N.G. Gorbunova and T.G. Information about Kalamishtepa, dated II-III centuries, located in Boz district of Andijan region, was published by Oboldueva. According to the results of the data, this monument with a total area of 15-16 hectares has a circular shape, consisting of two parts (western and eastern) with an arch in the center. The rectangular arch here is built of raw brick on a 2-3 meter natural foundation. Its cruciform roof with right-angled towers and pillars and the outer wall thickness of 1.2-1.3 meters have been determined[19]. In the 1970s and 1980s, B. Abulg'ozieva carried out research in the protected Sartepa and Kurgantepa monuments of Andijan region. The ancient city of Sartepa is located 50 km north-west of Andijan, on the high bank of the Black River. An irregular pentagonal arch has been opened at a height of 10 meters, covering an area of 1.7 hectares. The entrance to the arch is protected by a rectangular tower on the northeast side. Three building layers of the old city from the 1st to the 8th centuries have been identified. All three layers had external protective walls [20]. Kurgantepa BC. Dated to III-I-VIII century AD. B. According to Abulgozieva's research, the old city occupied an area of 16 hectares and was surrounded by 16-meter-thick walls with towers in the corners, an arch in the southern part, and a gate in the eastern part. The arch of the mound is rectangular in shape and is surrounded by a 5-meter-thick wall on the base. No cracks were detected in the protective walls[21]. The studies conducted in Bilovurtepa became important in the study of the voxa system of protection. The eastern wall of the castle, the inner pool and the arch were explored. As a result, three construction periods dated to antiquity and the early Middle Ages were determined, and the construction materials and techniques of antiquity, the shape of the arch, the towers with internal rooms, and archery cannons were studied. Analyzing the geographical location of the monument, Yu.A. Zadneprovsky came to the conclusion that Bilovurtepa is a well-protected ancient city, and in the ancient Osh defense system, the capital city of Ferghana was built to protect the ancient city of Mingtepa[22]. B. Kh. Matboboev, while studying the protective structures of the urban centers of the Fergana Valley in the ancient period, admits that during this period there were qualitative changes in the protective structures of the cities, "certain laws of protective structures were formed." According to the scientist, the protective structures of Mingtepa (Markhamat) went through two periods: the stages of formation and performance of tasks. There are towers with inner rooms on the defensive walls, and the only defense system of the valley was observed in the old city[23]. The historiographical analysis of the history of ancient monuments in the Fergana Valley shows that many studies have been carried out on the past history and material culture of the valley, the processes of urbanization in the region, the protection of cities and fortresses, types and forms of culture, periodization issues, stages of cultures and characteristics of the valley, issues of statehood in the valley. increased. However, in these studies, the place and role of the Fergana Valley in the system of economic and cultural relations of Central Asia during the ancient, ancient and early Middle Ages, the position it occupied, the importance of protective structures in these processes, were not considered in general or were not considered as a separate research object. American Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Sciences Volume 5, Oct., 2022 P a g e | 93 www.americanjournal.org References 1. Eshov B. 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