The city of Sultan Kala, Merv, Turkmenistan: communities, neighbourhoods and urban planning from the eighth to the thirteenth century  

The relationships between urban space and societies are complex, and still inadequately researched, especially with respect to different political, social and ideological settings. As archaeologists, we are often primarily dealing with below-ground data, which places an emphasis on the analysis and interpretation of plan and layout, rather than standing architecture. But we need to integrate this understanding of urban layout and form with the visualisation of space, and experience, as a context for social action.