ABSTRACT
Since the discovery of the Oxus Civilization and the vast network of exchanges that it brought to light, several hypotheses have been advanced as to its name in the Mesopotamian cuneiform records. The different identifications that have been proposed are reviewed here and their weaknesses underlined. Written sources show that the relations between Central Asia and the Near East were mostly indirect and make one consider the segmented character of the trade networks, and the limits of textual documentation.
