Members of a scientific expedition led by a graduate student of the second stage of Samarkand Archaeological Institute Dilmurod Amanov conducted excavations near the cemetery of Khoja Rushoni, located in Mubarek district of Kashkadarya region. They discovered the ruins of an ancient village dating back to the 14th century.

When we heard about this news, we immediately set off. At the destination, we were met by the expedition's leader, Dilmurod Omonov. Excavations are being carried out on the hills. Work is in full swing. As the young archaeologist notes, each of these hills was a dwelling. There are many such historical places in Uzbekistan, but the ruins of the ancient village were found only here, in Kashkadarya.

“The objects we found date back to the end of the 13th – beginning of the 14th century”, says D. Omonov. – This falls on the end of the reign of the Chagatai in Central Asia and the beginning of the Temurids period, which is confirmed by the coins discovered during the excavations. A handicraft workshop, a pencil case, and numerous ceramic items found here testify that enlightened people and artisans lived in the village.

This area is located near the main road, Karshi – Bukhara. It is possible that in ancient times, it was here that the caravan routes from Bukhara to Kashkadarya passed.

– Dashnovs – special places for ablution, were found during excavations in houses, – says Sanjar Abdurakhimov, a researcher at Samarkand Archaeological Institute. – They are built with great skill at a height of 70-80 centimeters in the corner of the room. On top, they are lined with burnt bricks 22x22 in size and 3.5-4 centimeters thick, reminiscent of modern tiles. Ceramic pipes with an exit to the outside are installed under them. They are still well-preserved. So far, we have discovered 3-4 dwellings, mainly consisting of living rooms. The total area of the village is 600x400 meters.

According to the expedition's members, this village was prosperous in ancient times. The ruins of caravanserais may also be found here. The fact is that not far from this area are the ruins of the ancient city of Zanjirsaroy. It is unknown how long people inhabited it, but as a result of the capture by enemies and arson, life stopped here. So, during the excavations, layers of ash and arrowheads were found stuck into wooden products.

History still holds many secrets. We must study the history of our ancestors and bring this knowledge to future generations. We wish success to the archaeologists who work selflessly on this path.

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Ulmas Barotov, photos by Jamshid Norqobilov, UzA