Medieval Cities Unearthed in Uzbekistan Mountains
In a groundbreaking discovery, archeologists have uncovered the remains of two medieval cities nestled in the grassy mountains of eastern Uzbekistan. This remarkable find has the potential to reshape our understanding of the legendary Silk Road.
Traditionally, the Silk Road was believed to connect lowland cities for the exchange of goods and ideas between the East and West. However, utilizing remote sensing technology, archeologists have now identified at least two highland cities situated at a pivotal crossroad of the trade routes.
One of these cities, Tugunbulak, a sprawling metropolis spanning over 120 hectares, was perched at an altitude exceeding 2,000 meters above sea level – a height considered inhospitable even in modern times.
“The history of Central Asia is undergoing a transformation with this groundbreaking discovery,” remarked archaeologist Farhod Maksudov, a key member of the research team.
The team posits that Tugunbulak and the smaller city, Tashbulak, flourished between the 8th and 11th centuries during the Middle Ages, under the rule of a formidable Turkic dynasty.
Today, only 3% of the global population resides above such altitudes, with cities like Lhasa in Tibet and Cusco in Peru serving as rare exceptions.
Lead by Maksudov and Michael Frachetti, an archaeologist from Washington University in St. Louis, the discovery was made possible through the use of drones and lidar remote-sensing technology, which generates detailed 3D maps of the terrain using reflected light.
Published in the prestigious scientific journal Nature, the research has been lauded by experts for shedding light on the ancient lifestyles of nomadic communities.
The initial discovery of Tashbulak in 2011, followed by the revelation of Tugunbulak four years later, presented significant challenges in convincing the academic community of their existence.
Excavations in Tugunbulak have unearthed walls, guard towers, and intricate architectural features, suggesting that the communities may have settled there to harness strong winds for iron smelting, a process facilitated by the region’s rich iron ore deposits.
However, this extensive iron production may have led to environmental degradation, with deforestation causing flash floods and avalanches in the area.
Remarkably, the discovery of these high-altitude urban sites challenges conventional scholarly expectations and offers a unique glimpse into the interconnectedness of medieval civilizations in Central Asia.
Described as an “amazing treasure trove” by global history professor Peter Frankopan from Oxford University, these findings underscore the intricate web of connections and resource exploitation that characterized the region over a millennium ago.
Archaeologist Zachary Silvia from Brown University commended the team’s work as an “immense contribution” to the study of medieval urbanism in Central Asia, emphasizing the rarity and significance of high-altitude settlements in the archaeological record.
The painstaking efforts of these researchers have not only unveiled the secrets of ancient cities but have also opened a window into the complexities of life in the mountains along the Silk Road. – BBC
