Аңдатпа
The article presents the results of archaeological excavations of cultic monuments identified in the vicinity of the Babish Mola settlement, located in the lower reaches of the Syr Darya River. Archaeological investigations conducted in 2023–2024 at the sites Babish-Mola 8, 10a, and 10b have demonstrated the sacred character of these structures. Although the number of archaeological finds is limited, ceramic fragments characteristic of the Hellenistic period and the Chirikrabat archaeological culture are clearly represented. The authors pay special attention to the symbolic meaning of the square-shaped altars found within these constructions. In both archaeological and mythological contexts, the square form is interpreted as a representation of the “middle world” – the inhabited space of humans in the worldview of ancient Indo-European peoples. One of the noteworthy discoveries is a stone object of phallic character found at the Babish Mola 10b site. This find suggests a possible connection to rituals associated with a fertility cult. Overall, the cultic structures discussed in the article are interpreted as sacred sites associated not with fire worship, but with ideas of fertility and the generation of life.