A 3000-Year-Old Silk Road City Full of Treasures Found in Uzbekistan 0 10

A Chinese-Uzbek group of archaeologists has discovered a 3000-year-old city along the Silk Road, filled with numerous valuable artifacts. As reported by interestingengineering.com, the archaeological complex Bandikhan II, covering an area of about 10,000 square meters, was discovered in 1969 and is located in the Bandikhan oasis in the Surkhandarya region of southern Uzbekistan, which is known as an archaeological treasure trove containing many ancient burial mounds.

Only recently, in 2023, did the team begin excavations at Bandikhan II, which served as an important center on the legendary Silk Road.

During the excavations, archaeologists uncovered the remains of the eastern wall, numerous structures and rooms, as well as many artifacts. These findings allowed researchers to identify the city as belonging to the Yaz culture. To date, archaeologists have only explored 300 square meters in the eastern part of the ancient city. However, they confirmed that this is the largest and best-preserved settlement in the Bandikhan oasis, with foundations dating back to the early Iron Age.

The well-preserved eastern wall has a trapezoidal cross-section. Inside the city, scientists discovered a detailed picture of everyday life, including five interconnected rooms. One of these rooms was used for sleeping and contained a niche where a lamp was placed. This conclusion was drawn based on the hardened inner surface, which indicated repeated firing.

Among the artifacts found were fragments of pottery, including ribbed jugs, bowls, and flat-bottomed dishes. The shapes and decorations of these items matched findings at other Yaz archaeological sites.

The stone tools found, including millstones, mortars, pestles, and others, indicate that grain was processed on-site. Additionally, bronze knives and arrowheads, as well as shells, were discovered. The first excavations in this Silk Road city yielded impressive results, sparking interest in future excavations, and researchers plan to expand their work in the upcoming seasons.