Lost Silk Road cities discovered in Uzbek mountains

In a remarkable archaeological discovery, researchers have uncovered the remains of two ancient cities in the mountainous region of eastern Uzbekistan. This finding could change our understanding of the Silk Road, a historic network of trade routes that connected the East and West, facilitating the exchange of goods, culture, and ideas. Traditionally, it was believed that the Silk Road primarily linked lowland cities, but the use of advanced remote-sensing technology has revealed at least two highland cities that played a crucial role in this trade network. One of these cities, Tugunbulak, is particularly significant, covering an area of at least 120 hectares and situated over 2,000 meters above sea level. This altitude is considered inhospitable for human settlement even today, making the discovery all the more intriguing. Archaeologist Farhod Maksudov, who is part of the research team, stated, 'The history of Central Asia is now changing with this finding. ' The team believes that Tugunbulak and a smaller city called Tashbulak were vibrant settlements during the Middle Ages, specifically between the 8th and 11th centuries, when the region was under the control of a powerful Turkic dynasty. Currently, only about 3% of the world's population resides at such high altitudes, with Lhasa in Tibet and Cusco in Peru being among the few examples. The research, led by Mr. Maksudov and Michael Frachetti from Washington University in St. Louis, utilized drones and a remote-sensing tool known as lidar, which employs reflected light to create three-dimensional maps of the environment. Their findings were published in the scientific journal Nature, and experts not involved in the study have praised its significance in enhancing our understanding of the lifestyles of nomadic communities in the past. The team initially discovered Tashbulak in 2011 while trekking through the mountains. They found burial sites, thousands of pottery shards, and other evidence indicating that the area was once populated. Although historical records hinted at the existence of cities in the region, the researchers were surprised to uncover a 12-hectare medieval city located approximately 2,200 meters above sea level. Mr. Frachetti expressed his astonishment, saying, 'We were kind of blown away. ' The journey to these sites was challenging, as the team faced strong winds, storms, and logistical difficulties. Four years later, a local forestry administrator informed the team about another site near Tashbulak. The official mentioned, 'I think I have some of those kinds of ceramics in my backyard. ' When the team visited, they discovered that the official's house was built on top of a medieval citadel, meaning he was living on a significant archaeological site. One of the most challenging aspects of this discovery was convincing the academic community of the existence of these cities. Mr. Frachetti explained, 'We would say to people that we found this amazing site, and we would get scepticism, that maybe it's not so big, or it's just a mound, or a castle. ' The team had to find ways to document the cities scientifically to illustrate their significance. Lidar imaging played a crucial role in revealing the walls and other architectural features of Tugunbulak. In 2022, the team returned with a drone equipped with a lidar sensor, which allowed them to uncover walls, guard towers, and intricate architectural features in Tugunbulak. The researchers suggest that communities may have chosen to settle in Tugunbulak and Tashbulak to take advantage of the strong winds, which could be used to fuel fires for smelting iron ores abundant in the region. Preliminary excavations have also revealed production kilns. Mr. Maksudov noted, 'Whoever had iron in their hands in medieval time was very powerful. ' However, this reliance on iron production may have contributed to the communities' decline. The area was once covered by dense juniper forests, but the deforestation for iron production may have led to environmental instability, resulting in flash floods and avalanches. Typically, scholars have expected to find evidence of settlements in lower valleys, making these high-altitude discoveries remarkable. Peter Frankopan, a global history professor at Oxford University, remarked, 'What an amazing treasure trove. that shows the deep interconnections criss-crossing Asia, as well as the links between exploitation of natural resources more than a millennium ago. ' High-altitude urban sites are exceptionally rare in the archaeological record due to the unique challenges faced by communities living in such environments. Zachary Silvia, an archaeologist at Brown University, emphasized that the team's work provides an immense contribution to the study of medieval urbanism in Central Asia.