A joint Chinese - Uzbek archaeological team has discovered in Srxondaryo , the southernmost province of Uzbekistan, bordered by Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, a 3.000 - year - old city that sheds new light on urban layout, construction and daily life during the early Iron Age as reported by Global Times, a daily tabloid based in Beijing,
The site of the discovery is known as Bandikhan II, a settlement founded in the 10th century BC and used until the 8th century B.C., situated within the Bandikhan Oasis, a key archaeological area in Central Asia.
The excavation, initiated in 2023 by Northwest China University, Termez State University and the Termez Museum of Archaeology, have made it possible to identify the structure of the city, including its eastern walls, a storage space and five interconnected rooms with evidence of use of fire.
The find reveals urban structures as the well - preserved, trapezoidal eastern wall, 6.15 metres wide at the base, 4.3 metres at the top and 2.1 metres high, built on compacted earth on a level layer of yellow soil.
This type of construction reflects the evolution of urban designs since the Bronze Age and shows similarities to other sites in the area of Bandikhan oasis, although it differs from contemporary localities such as Talashkantepa.
The findings provide key insights into life, building techniques and urban organisation in South Central Asia during the early Iron Age. So far, only a small part of the approximately 10.000 square metres that the city occupies has been explored, and the researchers plan to expand the excavations in future seasons.
The discovery alongside urban structures also reveals finds like bronze and ceramic objects, a lamp niche, a bed and remains of pottery, and stone tools , offering clues about life and organization in the early Iron Age.
The find is related to the Yaz culture, an early Iron Age civilization settled in Margiana, Bactria, and Sogdia (modern Turkmenistan/Uzbekistan), marking a transition from the Bronze Age with advanced multi - brick architecture, intensive irrigation, and distinctive hand - made or wheel - throw painted ceramics, often featuring friezes of triangles.
In
parallel, the collaboration between the Universities and the Termez Museum of Archaeology includes
an educational program in Termez on Silk Road archaeology, heritage
conservation and scierntific techniques, with classes, laboratories and
fieldwork for researchers from China and Uzbekistan.
According to experts, this initiative strengthens the protection of the
heritage of the Silk Road and promotes cultural exchange between the two countries.
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