Silk Road - the routes of archaeological discoveries

For the last years, followers of archaeological tours aim at visiting Uzbekistan, wish to get acquainted with rare finds found on the excavation of ancient settlements, to take part in archaeological expeditions, touch to the secrets of centuries.

The discoveries of archaeologists and historians of Uzbekistan, occupying a central place on the Great Silk Road allow to place an ancient culture of this country in one rank with brilliant civilizations of India, China, Iran, Egypt. With these countries, as researches showed, population of Movarounnahr as the territory between the great Asian rivers the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya was called, conducted a brisk exchange of cultural and scientific achievements and supported close business relations. The active participation in the study of the unique archaeological monuments and historical documents take part the scientists from Germany, USA, Italy, Russia, France, Great Britain, Japan, Poland and even remote from Central Asia Australia.

Cooperation between the leading archaeological schools of the world allows to reconstruct the original history of the civilization on our ancient land. The joint expeditions have discovered many secrets of the centuries. The material evidences can already be seen on the international exhibitions and in the museums.

Excavations of Kampyrtepa

We will start our journey on archaeological sights with a unique exposition of Termez archaeological museum. Finds of excavations, which are held peculiarly on the territory of ancient Termez and tens of archaeological objects of the southern Uzbekistan are displayed in the museum. In the past epochs, the southern part of this Central Asian state was a part of Bactria, Greek-Bactrian and Kushan states that had left traces in a world cultural heritage.

The samples of wall paintings, fragments of architectural solutions, perfect ceramics, rare coins, jewelry, manuscripts, implements are represented in the exposition. Among the unique finds - buddhistic sculptures, including image of Buddha. Finds are not accidental, Termez, where for centuries the various cultures and religions, traditions of Zoroastrism and Buddhism, Christianity and Islam coexisted, in the first centuries of common era Termez was an important center of Buddhist doctrine. This religion from the local monasteries, which were found by archeologists was distributed not only through the territory of Central Asia, but also far to the east to China and Japan. And, it is no wonder, that exactly the Japanese scientists showed a special interest to archeological researches in the south of Uzbekistan.

Fifteen years ago, the first group of scientists from Japan headed by the professor Kato arrived here. The purpose was a joint with the Uzbek colleagues excavations on the famous site Dalverzintepa, where sensational finds were made earlier. Among them - a treasure of hundred gold subjects, weight of which is thirty-six kilogramme. But neither weight nor gold price, not even the art value of subjects is not comparable with a huge value of detected coins, rings, bracelets and necklaces for a number of sciences studying material and art culture of mankind. On its scientific value a treasure, nowadays known under a name of Dalverzin is not inferior to a famous Amudarya treasure, which is a pride of the British museum. A place of a find is a house of the rich townsman. However, the treasure was hidden in the most ordinary-looking room, which archeologists had marked on the plan of excavation under a number thirteen. Family jewelry was walled up in a ceramic jug, which was covered with earth.

Today one of the archeological expeditions headed by the famous scientist academician of National Academy of sciences Edward Rtveladze conducts excavation of the unique archeological object fortress-city Kampirtepa located twenty kilometers away Termez. In this very place, on the route linking Bactria with India, there was an ancient ferry via the Amu Darya, and in the forth century B.C. here Alexander the Great crossed the river after conquering part of Central Asia. From here he headed for India using the way which later on became known as "Alexander the Great road". The commander himself on the place where the ferry was as some researches affirm had founded the city - Alexandria Oksikanskaya (Oxus in antique time was named the Amu Darya). There was found a material evidence in the form of a powerful fortification system, erected in the style of Hellenistic traditions and cultural layers with coins and ceramics dating back that epoch. All this was found under the structures of the citadel dating back Kushan period.

On Kampiertepa, Uzbek archaeologists managed for the first time in the world practice to open the upper building horizon dated the beginning of II century AD, all lay-out of the spread Kushan settlement. Circumstances were favorable due to the fact that Kampirtepa unlike the other ancient settlements was not blocked with later multi-meter cultural layers since the inhabitants had to leave city due to the possible wash out of the city.

Rare chance allowed for the first time ever to determine a structure and constituents of a settlement and to make a conclusion that the formation of complex structure cities in Central Asia began long before the Middle Ages. Kampirtepa, as excavations showed, occupied an area of twenty hectares and consisted of a citadel, city itself, trade suburbs, and additionally had the fourth part - port. The city was also divided into the quarters. They were cut into the streets 1,5 - 2,2 meters wide and more, along which the apartment houses, economic, trade, warehouses, cult and other construction placed. The study of the lay-out showed, that the town-planning culture of Uzbekistan is rooted in ancient traditions.

Among the things found there are the items from East Mediterranean countries as well as from Egypt, Iran, India, China. The scientists were especially happy with the finds of a bronze cult vessel, ivory comb with an image of woman and bird, coins, clay stamp with Parthian inscription.

Kampirtepa becomes one of the major tourist spots in Uzbekistan.

French archaeologists also contributed in studying of the southern Uzbekistan`s antiquity. They are conducting excavations together with the Uzbek colleagues on the territory of Old Termez. Owing to their job, they managed to find materials confirming its twenty-five century-old age.

Most important achievements of Uzbek-French expeditions are in Samarkand. Thirty-five kilometers from one of the most ancient cities of the world during the excavations of a settlement on the hill Koktepa there was found a tomb of the noble young woman who received in press the name "Sogdian princess". The researches found three hundred and thirty-three braid from gold plaques.

The scientists believe that this find enriched world cultural heritage with unique subjects of antiquity. Among the things that lay in ground for more than twenty centuries are the Chinese mirror from a mysterious alloy. This find is a clear evidence of business relations with China already at the beginning of the Great Silk Road.

The discoveries accompanied excavations of the most ancient part of Samarkand - Afrosiab Joint Uzbek-French expedition found out that Samarkand celebrated in 1970 its 2500 jubilee is 250-300 years older.

Archaeological digs in Samarkand caused scientific sensations last century. Among them - discovery during the   excavation of the palace on Afrosiab wall paintings of VI-VII centuries remarkable for their high art skill and brightness of paints. Here, under the yellow-gray hills, a quarter of a century before Samarkand academician archaeologist Yuri Buryakov found a set of seven ivory miniature chess statuettes. They made the most full set among the similar early ones. Two more statuettes were added to this set from the excavation of the aforementioned Dalverzintepa. The age of these statuettes has been established precisely - II century A.D. The scientists came to the conclusion that the chess statuette finds coincide with the routes of the Great Silk Road. Chess got to Europe from Samarkand via the northern branch of the Great Silk Road, not entering Byzantium.

The important results gave joint researches of the Uzbek and German scientists, which conducted excavations on the huge territory of the Kyzyl-Kum desert. The archaeologists were amazed with a scale of mountain works conducted here by the ancient miners. There were found ancient output going in depth of entrails on 10-12 meters, destroyed metallurgical stoves, metal splashing, hills of slags. The scientists determined that copper was extracted along the ancient channel of the Syrdarya river and tin - at the feet of Zirabulakski and Ziyaeddin mountains, to the east of the ancient village Karnab. Stones for millstones intended for ore decomposition were brought from the other ancient village - Karmana.

The importance of this discovery is difficult to overestimate. It is suffice to say that on period of rise mining and smelting production in the Kyzyl-Kum desert falls on a time of the first civilizations birth in Movarounnahr, first state formations of ancestors of Uzbek people - Sogd and Khorezm, mentioned in the sacred books of Zoroastrians - "Avesta". An important economic base of these states was their own metallurgy. Tin utensils, as geographers of the past centuries informed, were delivered from Movarounnahr to the world markets and were in great demand over there.

At the exacavation

Previously mentioned Karmana located on the ancient road from Samarkand to Bukhara is also famous for its architectural monuments. Two years ago, the excavations of the famous architectural masterpiece of the XI-XII of centuries - Rabat-i-Malik ("King`s fortress) were finished here. This building, from which only the impressive portal has been preserved for a long time was considered as caravan -saray. Excavation conducted by the famous Tashkent specialist in the field of ancient architecture Nina Nemtseva reveled that here along with living premises were the mosque with mikhrab niche and the walls, decorated with a ganch carving and also the comfortable bath and sardoba - covered well twelve meters deep. Source pure and cool water was covered with a dome diameter of which is thirteen meters. It allowed to make a conclusion that Rabat-i-Malik was a steppe residence of the governors from Karakhanid dynasty, and after a destructive invasion of Gengiz Khan to Central Asia transformed into a usual caravan-saray.

Today Rabat-i-Malik located on a brisk road has a good perspective to turn into one of the most important tourist sights of the Great Silk Road. A promising perspective has a town called Paikend located sixty kilometers away Bukhara. Excavations in this town have already been conducted for more than twenty years by the Uzbek archaeologists together with the Russian colleagues from State Hermitage (St. Petersburg).

Paikend, as well as the ancient settlement of Karmana is located on the border with the Kyzyl-Kum desert. But once prospering city suffered a sad fate - 800 years ago it was filled up with sand and vanished from the face of the earth. Before the tragedy, this city on the Great Silk Road was so famous that if any person from Bukhara was asked in Baghdad, where he was from, he answered: "I am from Paikend". Men's population of the city was mostly involved in the international trade. Main goods was silk - local and Chinese. To get the latter, the caravans to the Great Chinese wall were equipped. And from here caravans headed for Afghanistan, India, the Caucasus, the Ural, Volga. The caravans carried fast horses, Lucerne seeds, young plants of fruit trees, glass, pottery. Paikend merchants managed to get to Japan, Vietnam and to Ceylon. It was possible to meet Arabian, Indian, Chinese, Afghani, Persian, European merchants on the bazars of their native town. The town was famous for the manufacture of its own handicraftsmen - glass-blower, potters, armourers… People of Paikend achieved a high level in use of common convenience. Their dwellings had wash-stands, bathrooms, toilets… And moreover Paikend is famous for being the first in Central Asia city - republic governed by the rich merchants.

Paikend was protected with high-power fortifications and watch towers located at a distance of 60 meters from each other. The most surprising thing is that the city was protected by female troops. But we do not have to surprise since most of the men were absent for a long time on business. Local women were always known as very independent. At early stage of city`s existance (IV - I centuries B.C.) they even chose their husbands themselves, and not one but several. Girls since very childhood years were trained not only riding a horse, but also to shoot. The fact scientifically confirmed by excavations: archeologists have found some small refined bone rings. They were not used as ornaments. The solution was simple-ring was put on by a woman on the middle finger and was used in order to stretch bow-string.

In the XIII century Paikend was the first which faced invasions of Arabian troops. After a two-month siege the city was seized by cunning, and its inhabitants were taken into slavery. Conquerors got innumerable riches - gold vessels and silver, two pearls with the size of pigeon egg, golden statues of Buddha (they were melted down in ingots), arsenal of the magnificent weapon. The latter was distributed between soldiers. Having come back on the ashes, men had redeemed their women and children and restored the city. It was made as the historians say, for a very short time. However, irreparable injury to Paikend was done not by conquerors, but by drought. It was caused due to the fact that the level of water in a lower Zerafshan river sharply decreased. The townspeople did their best to return water, dug channels, but could not resist a nature and therefore had to move to other places.

Today buried under loose sand the city is being dug out. Archaeologists managed to find the base of minaret of the IX century diameter of which is 11 meters, which is the whole meter exceeds the size of the basis of famous minaret Kalyan (beginning XII centuries) in Bukhara - the highest in Central Asia. Judging by the basis of the minaret in Paikend was higher. Time did not spare it. The reason is the building was made of adobe bricks. The builders of Kalyan had taken into account a sad experience already used fired bricks.

Among the archaeologists` finds - very first in Central Asia drugstore. It was discovered in the center of Paikend. While excavating together with glass cans for phlebotomy and a cup with wax remainders, the scientist managed to find two documents in the Arabian language. The managed to define the date of writing - June 30, year 790. Archaeologists also dug out the perfect samples of glass items and glazed utensils. One of pots says "eat and drink as you please". All these finds will take a worthy place in a museum of "History of Paikend"

Ceramics of Kushan kingdom

The ancient city is preparing for a new phase of its life as a large center of international tourism. It is planned to construct a hotel for travelers in accordance with a sample of medieval caravan-sarays and to found the youth base. With the support of UNESCO, it is expected to transform Paikend into historical-landscape museum-reserve.

One more city buried by the sands of the Kyzyl-Kum - Akshahankala - the fans of antiquity have a chance to visit already in lower of the Amu Darya. The site of ancient settlement is located one hundred and forty kilometers away the capital of Karakalpakstan - Nukus, and about twenty kilometers away Beruni town. Excavations of Akshahankala are being conducted since 1995 by the scientists of the Karakalpak department of Uzbekistan`s Academy of Sciences and Sydney university.

Akshahankala was since the IV centuries B.C. a capital of one of the most ancient Central States - Khorezm. The desert filled it up with sands preserved rare archaeological monument for the succeeding generations. City`s area exceeds forty hectares, expansion of the surrounding wall is more than three kilometers. In the center of a settlement, the archaeologists found necropolis with burial places of the governors of ancient Khorezm and temple building. In fortifications, angular and lateral towers at the height of three-storied building were dug out first. Inside of the ancient city, the quarters of entire building have been discovered. The rich material for a science promises to give a study of filled up with the heavy sand, remainders of the ancient irrigation systems in the surrounding city oasis.

Eight kilometers away the ancient capital, joint Karakalpak-Australian expedition is digging out one of ancient Zoroastrian sanctuaries of Khorezm - Temple of Fire. In the center of it, on a platform of adobe bricks there is a dark arched premise, where once, a sacred light was constantly supported. An impressive complex of opened from the above premises is placed around. Inside each of them - there is altar for sacrifice. In days of religious holidays, a flame in altars was inflamed from a main sacred light.

The materials extracted during excavations have a special value, they give the "material" basis for renovation of traditions of one of the most ancient religions of the world - Zoroastrism.

The most valuable materials for a science were found by the archaeologists in the Ferghana valley and Tashkent oasis. Here too, there is a chance to show the curious travelers very interesting finds. The scientists from various countries already showed an interest to them. English researches, for example, paid attention to the items from medieval Ferghana steel, which quality does not concede to high-quality modern alloys. There is hypothesis that a native land of Damascus steel is the territory of modern Uzbekistan. The weapon from here on caravans was delivered to markets of Damascus. The place it of its sale also was accepted for a place of its production.

Antiquity lovers can expect to see many other unique finds.

All Tourist Gems of Uzbekistan