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FROM THE HISTORY OF THE EXPLORATION OF THE TASHKENT OASIS
Yuldashev Jamol Juraboyevich
Senior Teacher at the Jizzakh Regional Center for Pedagogical Mastery
Annotation:
This article analyzes the research conducted in the 1950s and 1960s on the study of
the oasis. It provides information on archaeological expeditions, historical and ethnographic
research, as well as the contributions of local historians and amateur archaeologists to the study
of the region. The discovered cultural monuments, the significance of excavations, and the
scientific conclusions drawn from these studies are also examined.
Keywords:
archaeology, history, ethnography, expedition, local historian, amateur archaeologist,
cultural monument, excavation, scientific research, museum, collector, orientalist, academy of
sciences, numismatics, source studies, ancient cities, archaeological findings, scientific
expedition.
The physical and geographical characteristics, natural resources, and diversity of raw
materials of a particular historical and cultural center ultimately played a significant role in
shaping social, economic, and trade relations in the region. Initially, valuable natural resources
were exploited, followed by the use of household items and materials widely employed in daily
life, contributing to the local economy. These resources were also exported to neighboring areas,
facilitating scientific and technological advancement and the development of scientific, cultural,
historical cities as economic hubs, powerful states, and international trade relations and
integration.
One such region in Central Asia with abundant natural resources and favorable
geographical location is the Chach region. This region has significant economic potential due to
its fertile lands in the Chirchiq and Ohangaron valleys, vast well-irrigated pastures suitable for
livestock, and extensive areas along the left bank of the Syr Darya river. Since ancient times, the
region has been renowned for its mining activities and craftsmanship. Precious stones and
colored metals such as gold were mined in Qushbuloq, and silver was mined in Lashkerik,
contributing to the region’s prominence during antiquity. Turquoise mining in Ungurlikon also
played a significant role in Chach’s history and its position as a major hub on the Silk Road in
later periods.
The archaeology of the Tashkent oasis and the history of its ancient cultures have been a
subject of study for many years. Y. F. Buryakov has noted that trade between ancient Eastern
countries started sporadically in the era of the first civilizations. Scholars have named roads
identified from the Bronze and Early Iron Ages after the most valuable goods of that time. For
traders, certain routes were identified as convenient and relatively safe, such as the Lapis Lazuli,
Fur (Olmakhon), and Nephrite routes. The Lapis Lazuli route, which carried Lapis lazuli from
Badakhshan to Iran and Syria, was actively used in the mid-first millennium BCE, according to
archaeological evidence. During the Achaemenid period, the “Royal Road” facilitated the
transportation of gold, carnelian, lapis lazuli, and salt from Sogdiana and Bactria to Susa, the
capital of Persia. [1, 18-45]
During the archaeological surveys and excavations carried out in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s,
80s in the Tashkent oasis, burial mounds associated with the late Bronze and Early Iron Age
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pastoralist culture were discovered. Additionally, settlements with a settled agricultural lifestyle
were identified. This early settled farming culture, which developed based on simple irrigation
techniques, was locally known as Burghulug (introduced into the scientific community as
Burganlik). To date, more than 25 villages related to this culture have been identified and studied
in the Chirchik and Ohangaron river basins. One of the largest villages of the Burghuluk culture,
Shostepa, was discovered in the southwestern part of modern Tashkent near one of the branches
of the Yun river. Its location close to running water and fertile soil made it highly suitable for
settled life.
It is well documented that the ancestors of today’s Central Asian people underwent all
major social, economic, cultural, and interactional processes that shaped human history. Since
the post-World War II era, particularly from the 1950s and 1960s, several Paleolithic sites in
Tashkent have been systematically explored, and this research is still ongoing.
According to official scientific sources, the territory of Uzbekistan is a significant
historical region where some of the earliest ancestors of humankind lived. In the 1930s, for
example, Soviet archaeologist A.P.Okladnikov conducted excavations in the Selungur Cave
located in the Sukh district of the Fergana valley. His findings included stone tools and ashes
dating back to approximately 40,000-30,00 BCE, which belonged to late Paleolithic tribal
societies. [2, 38-62] Subsequently, Uzbek archaeologists, led by U.Islomov, re-excavated the
site and discovered numerous Early Paleolithic stone tools and animal bones in lower cultural
layers.
In his early publications on Selungur, Islomov proposed that the site may have been
occupied by early humans during the first phase of the Acheulean period. By the early 2000s,
international analyses concluded that the site dated back more than one million years. Selungur
holds great scientific significance not only for Uzbekistan, but also for the broader Central Asian
region, as it provides valuable evidence of human evolution during the earliest prehistoric eras.
The discovery of human remains at the site, dated to the period of Sinanthropus, is considered
one of the most significant archaeological findings. Since these remains were discovered in the
Fergana Valley, they were tentatively named Fergananthropus or Fergana Man. [3, 24-25]
However, experts acknowledge that this term has not yet been fully accepted by the international
scientific community and further research is needed to confirm its validity.
Thus, Central Asia, in particular the Fergana Valley, was a favorable region for
Paleolithic humans due to its geographic location, climatic conditions, and paleo-ecological
factors. Evidence suggests that it was inhabited as early as the Pithecanthropus era, making it one
of the earliest settled regions in the initial stages of the Stone Age. The discovery of human
remains in Selungur was a key factor in establishing Uzbekistan as a globally recognized region
where early humans originated.
Although the skeletal remains of Selungur’s hominid are poorly preserved,
anthropologists V.P.Alekseev and T.Q.Khodjayev demonstrated that the skull cap found on the
site is morphologically very old and consistent with other early hominin finds in terms of
chronology. The so-called “Fergana Man” fills an important gap in the genealogical line of
human evolution between Pithecanthrops and Neanderthals on a global scale.
From the 1940s onwards, research also began in the mountainous and foothill regions of
the Tashkent Oasis, which shares similar climatic conditions and natural resources with the
Fergana Valley. One of these sites from the Late Early Paleolithic period, about 200,000 years
old
was
discovered
about
10-12
kilometers
west
of Angren, and it was named Kulbulok. In 1962 this cave site was identified and,
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a year later, renowned Uzbek paleontologist M.R.Kosimov began long-term excavations there.
Decades
of
research
have
revealed
that
Kulbulok
was
not
just
a cave settlement, but an open-air habitation site with 33 cultural layers. These layers contain
artifacts from nearly all periods of the Stone Age, including the early, middle and late Paleolithic
and the Mesolithic phases. The discovery of such a stratified prehistoric site is extremely rare in
Paleolithic
archaeology.
Kulbulok
has been recognized as a unique reference point of great scientific significance
for resolving chronological issues in Central Asian Paleolithic research, examining the
characteristics
of
early
stone
tool
crafting,
and
addressing
problems
in paleoecology. [4]
According to specialists, early Paleolithic humans lived in primitive hordes. The Middle
Paleolithic period (Mousterian), approximately 120,000-100,00 BCE to 45,00-40, BCE, marks
the final stage of the primitive horde era. This period, commonly referred to as the Neanderthal
Age in historical studies, saw humanity’s earliest ancestors spread across vast territories,
beginning the process of settling new lands.
The first Neanderthals-era site in Central Asia was discovered in 1938 by
A.P.Okladnikov at Teshik-Tash Cave in Baysuntau Mountains. This site has significant scientific
importance for Central Asian Paleolithic studies. Excavations at the cave have uncovered
numerous stone and bone tools, as well as a burial of a 9-year-old boy under a stone wall inside
the shelter. The grave was surrounded by animal horns identified by paleozoologists as
belonging to argali (wild sheep) and Bukhara deer that had been hunted.
The burial practice, including placing animal horns around the grave, suggests that
elements of religious beliefs began to emerge during the Neanderthal period, marking the first
steps towards spiritual life. Following the discovery and detailed study of the Teshik-Tash cave
in Surkhandarya, several other sites from this period have been identified across Central Asia,
particularly in Uzbekistan.
Following World War II, archaeological research and excavations intensified in Uzbekistan,
including in the Tashkent oasis. Efforts were focused on discovering and studying Stone Age
sites, particularly in mountainous regions such as the Chirchiq and Ohangaron river basins. In
1942, while constructing the Bozsu hydroelectric station, an engineer named N.M.Sokolov
discovered stone tools accidentally. This led to excavation work being conducted by senior
geology students A.V.Golovachenko and O.I.Islomov from Central Asian State University, who
uncovered several more stone tools that researcher V.Parfyonov later dated to the Stone Age
period. The site, named Bozsu-2 in archaeological literature, became the focus of further studies
in 1956 under the leadership of renowned archaeologist and academician A. P. Okladnikov. His
team discovered a variety of stone artifacts, including flakes, scrapers, blades, and finished tools.
These tools, made from semi-transparent brown and yellow flint, were later analyzed using
isotopic methods, dating the site to approximately 38,000 BCE. Okladnik and Islomov classified
Bozu-2 as belonging to the Upper Paleolithic in terms of archaeology and the third phase of the
Mirzachul geological formation. [5, 51-60]
Between the late 1950s and early 1970s, almost 15 years of intense research in the Bozsu
canal basin resulted in the identification and exploration of numerous Paleolithic sites, including
Bozu 1-6, Korakamish, and Zeh. Excavations at Shoymkoprik (Buz-1) and Bozu-2 between 1958
and 1960 produced approximately 250 stone tools, including multifaceted cores, blades, flakes.
Among them, scrapers and knives characteristic of the Late Paleolithic era were particularly
abundant [6, 38-43].
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In 1957, thanks to the initiative of G.V.Parfyonov, a group of school students went on an
expedition led by him and discovered the Khojakent I cave site. This site, located near the village
of Khojakent at the confluence of the Chatkal and Ugam rivers, was determined by A. P.
Okladnikov and R. Kh. Suleimanov as belonging to the Middle Paleolithic (Moustérien) period.
[7, 63-67]
In 1960, M.R.Qosimov and A.R.Mukhammadjonov, researchers from the Institute of
History and Archaeology at the Uzbek Academy of Sciences, discovered and studied the Tusyo
site in the Koratutbosh Gorge of the Kuksay Mountain Range. They identified a dump site where
unusable stone artifacts and waste from toolmaking were discarded after surveying the area.
More than 40 stone tools crafted from flint-bearing schist were recovered from these mountains.
According to R.Z.Ibragimov’s study of Stone Age archaeology in the Tashkent Oasis, these tools
were large and heavy, with surface patination from natural weathering. This site likely served as
a raw material quarry for Mousterian era stone tool production. [8]
Under the leadership of A.R. Mukhammadjonov, the Bustonliq archaeological team from
the Uzbek Academy of Sciences conducted research in the Upper Chirchiq River basin. Their
work led to the discovery of several cave and open-air settlements, including Khudoydod Vali I–
IV, Todakhotin, Zakhsay and Obirahmat. In 1962, during the spring field season,
Kh.N.Nasriddinov carried out excavations at Obirahmats cave settlement under the indirect
supervision of A.P.Okladnikova.
The trench was 4x3 metres in size and dug to a depth of 1.1 metres, revealing four layers
of cultural deposits. The finds – such as points, scrapers, retouched blades and flakes – were
mainly found in the lower levels, dating them back to the Middle Palaeolithic. Many of the tools
showed secondary retouch, and some of the scrapers were made using techniques typical of Late
Palaeolithic period. [9, 21-27]
Since 1965, an expedition led by R.Kh.Suleimanov, a researcher at the Institute of
History and Archaeology, continued investigations at the Obi-Rahmat site. During excavations, a
cave was dug to a depth of 9 m, revealing 21 cultural layers and thousands of stone tools.
R.Kh.Suleymanov focused on statistical analysis of stone tools, and it was observed that
weapons in the middle and upper layers showed gradual improvement compared to those in
lower layers. Based on this analysis, the researcher divided cultural layers into five complexes,
or habitation phases, with the lower layers attributed to the final stage of Mousterian, middle
layers classified as transitional from Mousterian to Early Upper Paleolithic, and stone tools from
Chotqol and Paltov similar to Obirahmats. [10, 11]
Notably, Middle Paleolithic sites such as Obirahmat, Khojakent and Paltov caves and
gorges in the Tashkent oasis, Kölbuloq freshwater source, Kotirbuloq, Zirabuloq and
Khojamazgil springs in middle reaches of Zarafshan river (Samarkand oasis) as well as Uchtut,
Qizil Nura and Omonqoton at Takhti Qaracha pass have all been identified in post-Soviet
Republics of Central Asia. In total more than 50 sites have been found in these regions. [12, 26-
27]
The stone tools recovered from these sites, as well as the bone artifacts, exhibit similar
functions and characteristics. These assemblages include hand axes, stone knives, pointed and
bladed microliths, and stone cores (nuclei). Based on the study of these layers and cave
dwellings, specialists have determined that Middle Paleolithic humans specialized in a lifestyle
centered on hunting and gathering (collecting wild fruits and edible plant roots). A significant
contribution to these studies was made by A.P.Okladnikov and his students, including O.Islamov,
M.R.Qosimov, and R. Kh.Suleimanov.
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Especially during this period, the discovery of the burial of a 9-year-old Neanderthal
child in the Teshik-Tash cave became a sensational scientific breakthrough in the fields of
ancient history and biology. This finding provided crucial evidence regarding human origins and
migration across the Earth, scientifically disproving the then-prevalent "Eurocentric" theories,
which were unscientific, false, and baseless claims.
The Ahangaran River Valley in the Tashkent Oasis was considered a region inhabited by our
ancestors during the Stone Age. M. E. Masson discovered and studied paleolithic settlements in
this area nearly a century ago. In particular, a stone tool made from gravel was found on the bank
of the Almalyk River near the village of Jonibek in 1932. The tool had a pointed shape on one
side and was assumed to be used as a weapon for hunting. [13, 10-13]
During the autumn of 1962, a group of school students led by the local amateur historian,
O.M.Rostovtsev, identified several Stone Age settlements, sites and artifact locations in the
basins of Kizilolma, Ghishta, and Qarabogsa in the Chatkal mountains, as well as near the
village of Samarchuk. In response to these findings, a special research team from the Institute for
History and Archaeology at the Academy of Sciences in Uzbekistan conducted further
exploration in the eastern part of Chatkal. As a result, several stone-working workshops were
found. According to specialists, these workshops were found in areas where Paleogene and Burg
geological deposits had been exposed due to various natural factors. Settlements, including
Kizilolma I, II, III and IV, were identified on both banks of the stream and in the area of
Samarchuk village. The Ghisht I and II sites revealed weapons and tools from all periods of the
Stone Age including the Neolithic [14, 21-27].
In the 1960s, thanks to the increased focus on discovering and studying Paleolithic sites
in the mountainous regions of Tashkent Oasis, significant results were achieved. Particularly,
during 1966-1967, the Chatkal-Qurma expedition team from the Institute of History and
Archaeology discovered and excavated the Kuhisam site on the right bank of Nishbashay, near
Angren, under the leadership of Yu.F.Buryakov. Specialists uncovered a large number of Middle
Paleolithic stone tools under the upper layers covered by medieval cultural deposits, including
flint tools, discoid and Levallois-core flakes, single- and double-strike platform cores, and blade
fragments, which exhibited Levallois characteristics in their core preparation process. [15, 11-14]
According to the scientific conclusions of N.Kh.Toshkenboev’s expedition, the Kuhisim
site was used as a workshop for producing stone tools and weapons, particularly for nearby
Kulbulok settlement. In conclusion, during the 1950s and 1960s, nearly 20 caves, open-air
settlements and stone tool workshops from ancient times were registered in the Tashkent oasis.
Most of these places were studied and presented to the scientific community. The geographic
distribution of these locations was concentrated in mountains and foothills, with emphasis on
areas with preserved cultural layers. Chronologically, they date back to early, middle, and late
Paleolithic times, with Kulbuloq’s stratigraphy confirming its importance in Central Asia’s
broader cultural context.
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