Excavations of Ancient Site of Afrasiab at Samarkand Uzbekistan

Samarkand: 10 Oct 2022 – Scientists refer to the beginning of Samarkand VIII – VII centuries BC. It was at this time on the northern edge of modern Samarkand there is an ancient settlement Afrosiab. The area of settlement is more than 200 hectares.

From the north and east, it was protected by the cliffs of river channels, to the south and west by deep ravines. It is believed that Afrasiab was the ancient capital of the Sogdiana – famous Marakanda. The ancient city got its name – in honor of the legendary king of Turan – Afrasiab and one of the heroes of the poem of the great Persian poet Ferdowsi “Shahnameh”.

During the reign of the Achaemenid Persian Empire (VI cent. BC) the city was surrounded by a high wall with massive internal corridors and towers.

Persian Empire in the IV century BC surrendered to the army of Alexander the Great. In 329 BC Greek phalanx entered to Marakanda. Macedonian hike to the East for several years was arrested Sogdians revolt under the leadership of Spitamen, the suppression of which, Alexander destroyed Marakanda. The revival of Sogdiana was at Seleucids.

Now Afrasiab – a huge cluster of barren hills. But in the past it was full of life, noisy markets, working artisans. This explains the keen interest of scientists to Afrasiab.
Archaeological investigations at the Afrasiab were carried out from the end of the XIX century. Archaeological studies have confirmed that several centuries before the BC Samarkand was one of the largest shopping and cultural centers of Central Asia.

On the mound of clay, samples were found terracotta statuettes, fragments of ossuaries, glassware, a variety of tools, jewelry, and coins.

It was found that the city of cobbled streets intersecting lines and divided into quarters -Huzar, was surrounded by thick defensive walls, inside of which was the citadel – Shakhristan, temples, houses and workshops.

For example, in the exposed buildings, dating from VI-VII centuries, the walls were decorated with highly artistic paintings, made with bright colors of clay adhesive plaster. In one room were found a kind of genre paintings, which are located on the walls in three tiers. They were shown a procession of men and women in festive fancy costumes, accompanied by real and imaginary animals, bearing rich gifts.

On the walls of that palace of the city was found a large composition, depicting the procession, headed by a figure on a white elephant, which apparently represented a princess or queen. Apparently, the wedding procession was depicted as an elephant to his bride to the palace of the princess sent, accompanied by friends and important dignitaries.

Also, in Afrasiab was found a large hall, decorated with wooden sculptures, charred by fire, killed the town thirteen centuries ago. When excavations were also found as landscape characters.

In the IX-X centuries, when Samarkand was one of the cultural centers of the Islamic East and the first capital of the Samanid dynasty, in the western part of Afrasiab was built the magnificent royal palace. By the X century, the area of the inner part of the city reached 220 hectares. The south side was placed in a suburb of bazaars, mosques, baths, and caravanserais. The city was built by water from lead pipes “Arzis” and had launched the production of paper.

In the XI-XIII centuries, Samarkand became the capital of Karakhanids and was surrounded by new defensive walls. In the citadel was built the palace of Karakhanids.

At the beginning of the XIII century, Horezmshah Mohammed conquered Samarkand and built a new palace on the site of the palace of Karakhanids. In the XIII century, the Khorezm state was conquered by Genghis Khan, and Samarkand was captured by the Mongols. During the civil war on the second half of the XIII century, Samarkand suffered greatly, and this led to a complete desolation of the settlement in Afrasiab.

In the future, Samarkand will be developed on the site of the former “rabad” – the city suburbs.

In the Museum of City History, located on the site of Afrasiab collected artifacts of different periods of the ancient history of Samarkand – ossuaries, the remnants of ancient swords, knives, arrows, coins, pottery, and unique frescoes were discovered during excavations at the ancient settlement.

After visiting the museum, you can also wander around Afrasiab, from the height of the hills to admire the panorama of the old city, its blue domes and minarets. Here, with the sounds of wind and the rustle of grass your thoughts will seamlessly transfer into the past.