Digital archaeologists discover hidden Medieval cities high in Uzbekistan’s mountains

Archaeologists have uncovered two medieval cities nestled in the mountains of eastern Uzbekistan, believed to have been bustling hubs of life over a thousand years ago.

These discoveries, named Tashbulak and Tugunbulak, are redefining our understanding of the Silk Road and how its trade routes traversed the challenging terrain of Central Asia.

Surprising discovery in Uzbekistan’s highlands

The journey to these discoveries began in 2011 when a team of archaeologists, exploring the grassy mountains of eastern Uzbekistan, came across burial sites and mounds spread across a plateau. Despite the inhospitable climate at around 7,000 feet above sea level, the researchers were astonished to find evidence of a 30-acre medieval city, which they named Tashbulak.

“This area is rich in pottery shards, a clear indication that it was once a thriving settlement,” said Michael Frachetti, an archaeologist at Washington University in St. Louis. The team was initially in search of traces of nomadic cultures but stumbled upon much more – an entire city.

Tugunbulak: Hidden Medieval giant

In 2015, the team encountered a forestry inspector who led them to another site near his home. To their surprise, they discovered the inspector’s farmstead was built on top of a medieval citadel. The site, which they named Tugunbulak, turned out to be even larger than Tashbulak, sprawling over nearly 300 acres.

Recent studies, published on Oct. 23 in Nature, have mapped out Tugunbulak using remote-sensing technology, revealing a massive medieval complex. “It’s a pretty remarkable discovery,” said Zachary Silvia, an archaeologist at Brown University. The findings suggest that this city played a significant role in the Silk Road network.

New perspectives on Silk Road

Conventional maps of the Silk Road depict trade routes avoiding Central Asia’s rugged mountainous regions, favoring low-lying cities like Samarkand and Tashkent. However, these discoveries indicate that medieval cities like Tashbulak and Tugunbulak, located in the Pamir mountains, were integrated into these vast networks.

Despite the harsh conditions, these settlements thrived from the eighth to 11th centuries. Archaeologists suggest that local metallurgy may have been the key to their success, utilizing the region’s rich iron ore and dense juniper forests for smelting. Excavations have uncovered kilns and coins from across modern-day Uzbekistan, indicating the cities’ roles as trade hubs.

LIDAR technology reveals hidden cities

To get a clearer view of these ancient urban centers, researchers employed LIDAR (Laser detection and Ranging) technology. Using a drone equipped with LIDAR scanners, they created detailed relief maps, revealing subtle ridges that marked the remains of walls, plazas and other structures.

“LIDAR helps us see what’s invisible to the naked eye,” said Frachetti. The technology, which has also been used to uncover hidden cities beneath rainforests, proved instrumental in mapping Tugunbulak’s vast complex, including a citadel, buildings, courtyards and fortified walls.

Revisiting Silk Road history

The newfound understanding of these cities challenges traditional perceptions of the Silk Road. “You can no longer look at these areas and perceive them as remote or less developed,” said Sanjyot Mehendale, chair of the Tang Center for Silk Road Studies at the University of California, Berkeley.

Mehendale, who joined the excavation efforts at Tugunbulak, emphasized that societies previously considered peripheral were integral parts of the Silk Road’s extensive trade network.

Rich cultural legacy buried in time

Archaeologists have just begun to scratch the surface of Tugunbulak. While some excavations have been conducted, much of the city remains buried under layers of sediment. However, researchers are determined to uncover more about the life, culture, and economy of these high-altitude urban centers.

The study of these cities has the potential to reshape our understanding of Central Asian history. “There is a lifetime of work ahead,” said Silvia, underscoring the vast scope of future archaeological exploration in the region.

The discovery of Tashbulak and Tugunbulak is a major step forward in understanding the complexity and reach of the Silk Road network. These findings highlight that trade routes extended into rugged, high-altitude regions, showing that the Silk Road was more extensive and dynamic than previously thought.

As further excavations continue, researchers hope to unlock more secrets of these once-thriving medieval cities, providing deeper insights into the interconnected world of the Silk Road.