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 DOI: https://doi.org/10.37547/history-crjh-02-07-01 
ISSN 2767-472X 
©2021 Master Journals 

   
  Accepted 02th July, 2021 &  Published 07thJuly, 2021  

 

 
 

 

CURRENT RESEARCH JOURNAL OF HISTORY                           
ISSN – 2767-472X 

1 

   https://masterjournals.com/index.php/CRJH 

 

ABOUT KESH TOPONYM AND ITS LOCATION 
 

Shokir Parmanov 

Lecturer The Faculty Of History, National University Of Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan 

 

INTRODUCTION 

The first information about the Kesh Valley 
relates to the details of Aleksanadr 
Makedonsky's campaign to Central Asia. The 
document, written in the Aramaic language 
found in Afghanistan, contains information on 
Kesh [1]. Ancient antiquity is comparable to the 
Kesh valley by some researchers (E.V.Rtveladze, 
A.Sagdullaev) in the Nautaka region, mentioned 
in the works of Greek authors. Nautaka 
(Navtaka) is philologically translated as "new 
building", "new place"[2]. 

The investigator Franz Grene clarifies the 
Nautaka toponym as "nava-taka" - "a river of real 
land." From Samarkand to the Iron Gate passed 
through the cities of Jom, Podayogtepa, 
kaltaminor and Okrabot. They, in turn, crossed 
nine rivers (from north to south, Kum River, 
Ayoqchidarya, Kashkadarya, Oksuv, 

Tanhozdarya, Kyzyl-Darya, Langar, Grand 
Uradarya, Small O'radaryo) [3].  

There are two different views on the subject of 
Nautaka's location. The first group of scientists, 
M.E.Masson, R.H.Sulaymonov, According to 
M.Kh.Isomiddinov, Nautaka is considered as the 
ancient city of Ergurgon. 

THE MAIN RESULTS AND FINDINGS 

According to the second group of scientists, 
Nautaka is an ancient Kesh city. The supporters 
of this viewpoint are close to reality. Near the 
city of Erkurgan wasn’t  the high rocks of the 
Greek historians, A.Sagdullaev claims that 
Alexander named Nautaka when he occupied the 
ancient Kesh. 

S.K.Kabanov does not comment on these two 
views in written sources, but argues that 
Nautaka and Xenippe are at the top or bottom of 
the current Kashkadarya region. K.Kabanov 

ABSTRACT  
 
This article focuses on the Kesh toponym and its localization by researchers, with particular emphasis on the 
location and localization of the Nautaka area, which is cited in written sources. In particular, recent 
archeological excavations have focused on the localization of the Nautaka area, which has caused 
controversy among researchers as to whether it corresponds to the present-day Shakhrisabz and Karshi 
regions. The Nautaka area mentioned in the written sources can be localized today with the Kesh 
(Shahrisabz) area. 
 
 
KEYWORDS: - Nautaka, Kesh, Ksenippa, Nakhshob, Kesh, Shakhrisabz, Oksuv, M.E.Masson, A.Sagdullaev. 



CURRENT RESEARCH JOURNAL OF HISTORY 2(7): 01-04, July 2021      
 DOI: https://doi.org/10.37547/history-crjh-02-07-01 
ISSN 2767-472X 
©2021 Master Journals 

   
  Accepted 02th July, 2021 &  Published 07thJuly, 2021  

 

 
 

 

CURRENT RESEARCH JOURNAL OF HISTORY                           
ISSN – 2767-472X 

2 

   https://masterjournals.com/index.php/CRJH 

views Nautaka as Xinhpapan as a region rather 
than a city. 

There are two sources in the written sources - 
Nautaka and Xenippa, "says S.K. Kabanov, they 
are called historians and archeologists in the 
Kashkadarya valley. These regions, of course, 
coincide with the two ancient peaks of the 
vineyards - Shakhrisabz and Karshi at the top 
and bottom of the oasis. But there is a difference 
in opinion of the researchers on the fact that 
these names fit into the present. According to 
S.Kabanov, Nautaka is the upper part of the oasis, 
and Xenippa is the lower part, ie Ksenippa - 
Nakhshob (Karshi), and Nautaka - Kesh 
(Shakhrisabz) [4]. 

And M. E. Masson supports this idea, namely, the 
upper part of the Ksenippa valley, and Nautaka. 
The ancient scientist also notes that Navtak - the 
main city of the lower provinces - will be 
replaced by the ruins of Erkurgon[5]. 

The history of the city of Nautaka - Kesh can be 
found in Chinese written sources. Chinese 
historians cite different names. One of the 
Chinese chronicles "Tyanshu" was mentioned in 
the events of the 656-660 years in the form of 
Kesh toponimi Kyusha[6]. 

History of the Han dynasty of the Chinese origin 
Xanshu contains rich information about the 
history of the ancient statehood of Uzbekistan. In 
Xanshu, in the 2nd century BC, one of the five 
smaller city khanates within the Khanate state 
referred to the Sushie gou as the Ches khanate or 
the fortress, and its center, the city called Sushie 
Cheng, as Shahrisabz[7]. Another source in 
Beyshi is the Shi or Shi language. He was led by 
Di-Chje, who first established diplomatic 
relations with the Chinese ruler Da-yi (605-616) 
in Sughd[8]. 

Chinese historians write the Kesh (Shi) as "shi", 
while in the past they were pronounced as 
"Siesiau", "Siausie", "Sie". According to N. 

Bichurin's transcript, this inscription is in the 
form of "shi", but it does not mean that Chinese 
sources are not the same as the old cache[9]. 

The cave's toponym was originally found in the 
writings of the Sassanid ruler, Shopur I (242-
273). Here, Shopur I describes the borders of its 
state, including the borders that reach Central 
Asia's Kash, Sogd and Shash mountains. 

Kyusha in Tiananshi was noted in the events of 
656-660 years. The same name appears here in 
the coins of the King of Kesh, Ikhrid, who ruled in 
the middle of VIII century. 

So, aforesaid information is witness to existing  
the name of Kesh from BC III toBC VIII, however 
this toponym wasn't used before BC III that's 
wrong idea. According to Sh.Kamoliddinov, the 
name of Kesh  firstly was used the end of VII age 
and the early of VIII age in there three 
differences of the town:Kash, Kish and Kesh are 
mentioned. In the sogd texts of the coins  is  
always given without wovel as KS. In scientific 
literaries  the name of Kesh expressed but Yokut 
thought about the toponym which its real name 
is Kish or Kiss,accordang to Ibn Mukul.(1080-
1081) [10].Yogut is mentioned that Kesh is the 
prononounciation of the arabian. In accordance 
with Yokut, it's pronounced  it among local 
people as Kesh XI century[11].  

We can met the full writing in the form of 
Szyuyshuana as well as Szyuysha-Kyuysha in 
Chinese language[12]. These two forms might 
have existed at the same time, but later in the 
VIII the century the short form of the name Kesh-
Kish appeared instead of Keshan -Kishun. 

It was investigated that the old name of Tashkent 
was called as a form of  Choch which had been 
called Chochon[13]. 

Many researches considered that Kash and Kesh 
names which means the same place,in 
Kashkadarya valley. According to V.P. Luko's 
opinion, it was assumed that place might have 



CURRENT RESEARCH JOURNAL OF HISTORY 2(7): 01-04, July 2021      
 DOI: https://doi.org/10.37547/history-crjh-02-07-01 
ISSN 2767-472X 
©2021 Master Journals 

   
  Accepted 02th July, 2021 &  Published 07thJuly, 2021  

 

 
 

 

CURRENT RESEARCH JOURNAL OF HISTORY                           
ISSN – 2767-472X 

3 

   https://masterjournals.com/index.php/CRJH 

been Koshgar[14]. 

You can meet the only form "Kish" in the work of  
"Hudud al-alam". You can also come across to the 
words "Keshliklar" and "Keshda yashovchilar" in 
sogdian sources Mug' of Tadjikistan[15].  

CONCLUSION 

In conclusion in the works of historians and 
geographs of the Middle  age had less 
information about Kesh, but they informed that 
the walley was rich in natural sources and had 
many villages as well as cities. The information of 
manuscripts give such opportunity to estimate 
historical-cultural process of that time as well as 
archeological investigations[16]. 

Sources of Temurids period inform about the 
history of Kesh(Shakhrisabz). They are based on 
the activities of Temurid's state. The name 
"Shakhrisabz" begin to be used as well as "Kesh" 
in that time. But the name "Shakhrisabz" was 
firstly used in the topographic maps of Russia as 
a toponym. 

REFERENCES 

1. Саул Шакед. Раннее упоминание о 
городе Нахшаб // Қарши шаҳрининг 
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Тошкент – Қарши, “Фан”, маъруза, 2006, 
34 – б.; Франц Грене. Новые 
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античного периода. // Қарши 
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8. Бичурин Н.Я. (Иакинф) Собрание 
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CURRENT RESEARCH JOURNAL OF HISTORY 2(7): 01-04, July 2021      
 DOI: https://doi.org/10.37547/history-crjh-02-07-01 
ISSN 2767-472X 
©2021 Master Journals 

   
  Accepted 02th July, 2021 &  Published 07thJuly, 2021  

 

 
 

 

CURRENT RESEARCH JOURNAL OF HISTORY                           
ISSN – 2767-472X 

4 

   https://masterjournals.com/index.php/CRJH 

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тутган ўрни, ҳал. Илмий кон., 
маърузалар, Т., Фан, 2002, 15 б. 

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VOLUME 9, ISSUE 04, APRIL 2020. P. 745-
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19. Ochildiyev, F. (2019). TRADE RELATIONS 
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SECOND HALF OF THE XIX CENTURY-THE 
BEGINNING OF THE XX CENTURY//Social 
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20. Оchildiev, F. B. (2020). Social relationship 
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21. Parmanov, S. E. (2019). The urban culture 
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