Proto-urban Site of Sarazm

Map

Sarazm: A Window into Early Urbanization in Central Asia

The Proto-urban Site of Sarazm, located in north-western Tajikistan, offers a unique glimpse into the early stages of urbanization in Central Asia during the 4th millennium BCE. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010, Sarazm serves as a testament to the development of human settlements in this region, providing valuable insights into the social, economic, and cultural life of its inhabitants.

More to come…

UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

Sarazm, which means “where the land begins”, is an archaeological site bearing testimony to the development of human settlements in Central Asia, from the 4th millennium BCE to the end of the 3rd millennium BCE. The ruins demonstrate the early development of proto-urbanization in this region. This centre of settlement, one of the oldest in Central Asia, is situated between a mountainous region suitable for cattle rearing by nomadic pastoralists, and a large valley conducive to the development of agriculture and irrigation by the first settled populations in the region. Sarazm also demonstrates the existence of commercial and cultural exchanges and trade relations with peoples over an extensive geographical area, extending from the steppes of Central Asia and Turkmenistan, to the Iranian plateau, the Indus valley and as far as the Indian Ocean.

Encyclopedia Record: Sarazm

Sarazm is an ancient town and also a jamoat in north-western Tajikistan. It dates back to the 4th millennium BC, with C14 dates ranging from 3900-2100 BC, and is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The jamoat is part of the city of Panjakent in Sughd Region, and has a total population of 27,877 (2015). It consists of 21 villages, including Chimqal'a, Abdusamad, Bostondeh, Kamar, Kamar-Tash and Sohibnazar.

Read more on Wikipedia