Ak-Tepe

site of the Anau culture (from about 4000 to 2500 B.C.), 3.6 km southwest of Ashkhabad. Ak-Tepe went through consecutive stages as a small tribal village, a large tribal communal settlement, and a small family homestead. The dwellings of the last period were built of unbaked brick and had four rooms, specialized housekeeping areas, and a home altar and sanctuary. The inhabitants practiced agriculture, vine-growing, and animal husbandry and used bronze implements and ceramic articles. Several objects originated in northeast Iran.