Uzbekistan 20



So onward we go towards Bukhara with a stop off at the Chor Bakr Necropolis a few miles outside the town.

Before then we have a minor traffic jam involving a heard of goats and spotted the end of the pipeline not sure where it starts but this is possibly where it ends

 


The Necropolis (city of the Dead which is a fancy title) is very well presented although the hawkers seem to have got the sent of money and seem to be a little more push then normal.


The memorial complex of Chor-Bakr was built over the burial place of Abu-Bakr-Said, who died in the year 360 of the Muslim Calendar 970 AD to you an me, and who was one of the four of Abu-Bakrs (Chor-Bakr) Fazl, Ahmed and Hamed, all direct descendents of the Prophet Muhammad (which believe me was quite a big deal both then and now). They appear to have forgotten exactly which tomb is which but not sure that matters too much.


The complex includes the necropolis of family tombs of wealthy who by being buried close by hope for salvation through association, there are several courtyards with enclosed with walls surrounding the area.



Note in central Asia people are not buried under the ground (well not until the Russians insisted anyway) they place people on the ground and then build a shell over them it is at first a little spooky but its just what they do.

 


   

Some of the other building in the complex seem to have been given over to local crafts people who have set up small workshops in them which at first seemed a little odd but on reflection sounds like an excellent idea.