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FROM THE HISTORY OF THE FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE
SCIENCE OF ARCHAEOLOGY IN UZBEKISTAN
Gulchehra Ismailovna Muminova
Teacher of Jizzakh State Pedagogical University
Bosimova Dildora Abduvali kizi
Student of the Jizzakh State Pedagogical University
Annotation:
This article discusses the emergence of the science of archaeology and its
introduction and formation in our homeland, the emergence of archaeological personnel here,
and the first archaeological research carried out in our country. Although archaeology is
relatively young in terms of its formation as a science compared to other fields, its introductory
roots go back to ancient historical periods.
Keywords:
Science of archaeology, philosopher Plato, founders of Russian social humanitarian
science, amateur local historians, Gulomov school, archaeology of the 1970s-1980s, material
culture of Uzbekistan, Journal of Archaeology of Uzbekistan, International expeditions.
INTRODUCTION
Archaeology is a social and humanitarian science with a great historical significance on a global
scale, having gone a long way in its formation and development. It is known from sources that
humanity began to be interested in the history of the ancient past, the study of examples of
material culture and art in ancient times. The Greek philosopher Platon (Aflotun) used the term
“archaeology” in his work as early as the 4th century BC in the sense of "events that took place
in ancient times. There is information that in the 6th century BC, the Babylonian ruler Nabonidus
conducted excavations at ancient sites, and that regular search excavations were also carried out
in Ancient Rome. Thus, although archaeology as a science is relatively young in terms of its
formation compared to other fields, its preliminary roots go back to distant historical periods.
It is known that in the late 18th and first half of the 19th centuries, it was not customary to
conduct excavations in ancient places and ancient sites in Turkestan. This situation can be
explained by the spiritual and religious outlook of the local population. Because, according to the
Islamic precepts and Sharia rules that prevailed in the spiritual life of the country, digging up old
places, holy shrines, ancient cemeteries and sites, and disturbing the souls of the deceased was
considered a “grave sin”. However, these ideas do not give the non-scientific meaning that the
population of Turkestan at that time was not interested in their past history, samples of material
culture left by their ancient ancestors, had certain knowledge about them, and scientific concepts
were incomplete.
MAIN PART
Therefore, after the Turkestan region was conquered by the troops of Tsarist Russia and the three
khanates in it were turned into vassal states, there is clear information that Russian specialists,
who began to actively study the past history and culture of the peoples of the region from the 70s
of the 19th century, established cooperative relations with the leading intellectuals and
progressive scholars of the local population for the successful implementation of these studies.
N.I. Veselovsky, V.V. Bartold, E.F. Kal, A.N. Samoilovich and many other well-known
scientists, who were considered the luminaries of Russian social and humanitarian science at that
time, repeatedly emphasized in their memoirs and even scientific works that they received great
practical instructions, valuable guidance, and advice from local regionalists, collectors, and
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antiquities enthusiasts in their research on Turkestan.
Nevertheless, the archaeological research conducted in Turkestan at the end of the 19th and
beginning of the 20th centuries was of great importance for the historiography of Uzbekistan.
The first steps were taken in the study of the ancient material cultural monuments of the people
of Central Asia, including the Uzbek people. In these processes, the first works of the advanced
intelligentsia of the local people, amateur local historians and archaeologists who were interested
in the past monuments of their homeland, such as Mirzo Kasimov, Akram Askarov, Mirzo
Abdulla Bukhoriy, Abu Said Makhsum, Turdi Mirgiyozov, who collected ancient artifacts,
antiques, and chakatangas, were formed[Shirinov T., Berdimurodov A., Pardayev M.,2010. p.4-
6].
In the archaeological research conducted in Turkestan at the end of the 19th and beginning of the
20th centuries, archaeologists such as V.V. Bartold,
V.L. Vyatkin, N.I. Veselovsky,
N.F. Sitnyakovsky, A.A. Zimin actively participated. During this period, a sufficient number of
samples of ancient material culture were collected in the archaeology of Turkestan, but there
were major problems in its periodization, in the creation of “chronological scales”.
The periodization of archaeological objects was determined on an approximate basis, in a simple
way, by broad period dates, in particular, the finds were mainly called by such terms as “pre-
Muslim”, “pre-Mongol”, “Timurid era” and thus the period date of the monuments was recorded.
The scientific results of archaeological excavations conducted during this period were not
specifically addressed as a problem of directing them to the study of the ancient history of the
country and its replenishment. Although researchers widely used historical written sources in
archaeological excavations, they did not pay much attention to this [Proceedings of the
Department of History of Culture and Art of the East. p. 53].
Also, the methodology for excavating archaeological monuments in Turkestan was not fully
developed during this period, the main reason for this was the peculiarity of the archaeological
monuments of the region, the fact that ancient architectural structures were mainly built of mud
and mud brick. However, at that time, excavations were being carried out relatively successfully
in other regions of the Russian Empire, in particular in the archaeological monuments of the
Black Sea and Transcaucasia, where ancient architectural structures were mainly built of stone
and baked brick. Archaeology in Uzbekistan mainly completed its formative stage in the 20s-30s
of the 20th century.
During this period, V.L. Vyatkin excavated the ruins of the city of Afrosiab (1925; 1929, 1930),
B.P. Denike excavated ancient Termez (1926-1927),
M.E. Masson excavated some
monuments of the Ahangaran Valley (1925-1928), the ruins of Airi Tom (1932-1933). In the
1930s, large-scale excavations were carried out by A.Yu. Yakubovsky in the Zarafshan Valley
(1934, 1939),
M.E. Masson in ancient Termez (1936-1938), V.A. Shishkin in Tali-
Barzu (1936-1939), in Varakhsha (1937-1939), S.P. Tolstov and Ya.G. Gulomov in the ancient
Khorezm oasis (1937-1950), A.P. Okladnikov in the Teshiktash and Machai caves (1938-1939),
V.V. Grigoriev conducted research in the ruins of Kavunchitepa (1934-1937) [Shirinov T.,
Berdimurodov A., Pardayev M.,2010. p.6-8].
The collected archaeological materials proved the extreme antiquity of the history of Uzbekistan,
served as an important source in its periodization, new archaeological cultures - Kaltaminor,
Tozabogyop, Amirabod, Qavunchi cultures - were studied and introduced into scientific
circulation. As a result, the scientific world became aware of the fact that a unique cultural life
had been created in the historical and cultural regions of Bactria, Khorezm, and Sughd since
ancient times. In particular, as a result of research conducted in 1938, the discovery of a
Neanderthal-type human, “homo sapiens” skeleton in the Teshiktash cave was considered a great
discovery in the archaeology of Uzbekistan and aroused great interest among scientists around
the world. Through this discovery, the scientific world recognized that the land of Uzbekistan is
one of the most important and ancient places where anthropogenic processes took place on Earth
(Muhammadjonov A., 2000. p. 434).
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The opening of the Department of Archaeology at the Central Asian State University (1940), the
establishment of the Department of Archaeology at the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, and
later the Institute of History and Archaeology (1943), played a significant role in the
development of archaeology in the republic, especially in the training of specialists in
archaeology, especially local personnel.
Many of the students who studied at the Department of Archaeology later became famous
archaeologists not only in Uzbekistan, Central Asia, or the countries of the former Soviet Union,
but also in the world. The following people studied at the Department: B.A. Litvinsky, V.M.
Masson, V.I. Sarianidi,
Y.F. Buryakov, E.V. Rtveladze, O.B. Obelchenko, B.D. Kochnev,
R.H. Sulaymonov, A.S. Sagdullayev, S.B. Lunina, G.V. Shishkina, S.R. Pidaev,
B.A.
Turgunov and many other specialists made a worthy contribution to the development of
archaeological science.
Since the 30s-40s of the last century, local personnel began to enter archaeology. The life path,
scientific and pedagogical activities and scientific heritage of Ya.G. Gulomov, who played the
role of the “first swallow” in these processes, serve as a high example for the next generation of
Uzbek archaeologists. Y.G. Gulomov’s scientific activities were multifaceted, and his focus was
on studying the problems of three main areas of the history and archaeology of Uzbekistan.
These are: the history of irrigation in Uzbekistan from ancient times to the present day;
archaeology and history of the tribal community system of Uzbekistan, the history of Central
Asia from ancient times to the October Revolution.
To solve these scientific problems, Y.G. Gulomov led a number of large archaeological search
expeditions that operated in a large part of our republic. As a result, important discoveries such
as the study of irrigation networks that served as the cornerstone of the Khorezm civilization, the
discovery of the Neolithic Darvozakyr site, the Zamonbaba cemetery, the discovery of Stone
Age monuments in the Zarafshan and Kashka river basins, the discovery of a pagan stone altar
(dolmen) in the north-west of Jizzakh, the discovery of the Obi Rahmat in the Tashkent oasis, the
Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, Bronze and famous Kuva Buddha temple in the Fergana
Valley, all became associated with the name of scholar Y.G. Gulomov. Especially in the 50s-70s
of the last century,
Y.G. Gulomov was in the center of attention of the scientific
community with his great scientific research and pedagogical activities and received praise
(Shirinov, Pardaev, Mirzaakhmedov, 1998. p. 5).
Being among the first in any field of science is both an honor and a responsibility. Y.G.
Gulomov also had the honor and responsibility of becoming the first Uzbek archaeological
scientist and academician, and made a worthy contribution to raising Uzbek archaeology to the
level of a world science. One of Y.G. Gulomov’s great services was to attract local youth to the
field of archaeology of Uzbekistan and to lead the work of forming them as highly qualified
specialists.
Successfully implemented urgent measures for personnel in the archeology of Uzbekistan began
to show their positive results. Starting from the 1940s-1950s, the study of archaeological
monuments in Central Asia, and in particular in Uzbekistan, was introduced into regions,
historical and cultural oases, and in this regard, the Termez Archaeological Complex Expedition,
the Khorezm Archaeological Ethnographic Expedition, the Mohandarya Archaeological
Expedition, the Kashkadarya Archaeological and Topographic Expedition, the Pamir-Aloy and
Pamir-Fergana expeditions conducted large-scale and successful research. In the 1950s, the
teams of the Uzbek archaeological expedition began to study the burial mounds of nomadic
pastoral peoples in the Tashkent oasis
(T. Azam Khojaev), the Zamonbabo steppe bronze
cemetery (Y. Gulomov), the architectural structures of the early medieval monument of
Balaliktepa and its rare mural paintings (L.I. Albaum), and other monuments[Shirinov T.,
Berdimurodov A., Pardayev M.,2010. p.4-14].
In the 1960s, a special team of the Mohandarya expedition led by
Y.G. Gulomov
explored the lower reaches of the Zarafshan River, dating back to the 15th century BC. He
conducted extensive excavations and research at more than 60 Neolithic and Bronze Age
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settlements dating back to the 4th-2nd millennium BC, the Uchtut flint deposits, the Muminabad
cemetery (A. Askarov, M. Kasimov, O. Islomov, T. Mirsoatov), the Samarkand site (D.N.
Lev, M. Jurakulov), the Kanpirak wall of the Bukhara, Samarkand, and Jizzakh oases, the
Sarmishsoy and Takatosh rock paintings (Kh. Mukhamedov, Zh. Kabirov, A.
Mukhammadjonov), the ruins of the Chust Bronze Age village (V. Sprishevsky), Dalvarzintepa
(Y.A. Zadneprovsky), and Kholchayon (G.A. Pugachenkova) archaeological sites. During this
period, the study of cities, palaces and temples belonging to high-ranking rulers such as
Tuprokkala, Varakhsha, Afrosiyab, Balaliktepa, and Kuva, the discovery of ancient Sogdian and
Khorezmian inscriptions from Samarkand and Mugh Qala, and the discovery of examples of fine
art from the ancient and early medieval periods, showed that Uzbek culture, especially since
ancient times, had risen to a high level [Muhammadjonov A., 2000, pp. 434-435].
In 1970, by a special resolution of the government of Uzbekistan, the Institute of Archeology of
the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan was established in Samarkand, which, as a result,
created the opportunity to further expand the scope of excavation and exploration research. Since
its establishment, the Institute of Archeology has been granted the status of a center for scientific
and methodological guidance of archaeological research in the republic and the right to issue
permits (“Open List”) for research conducted at all material cultural monuments and to supervise
them. As a result of the fact that the Institute of Archeology conducted its research in
coordination with the Karakalpakstan Department of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of
Uzbekistan, the Institute of Art History, the Institute of History, the National University of
Uzbekistan, Samarqand State University and other scientific institutions, in the 1970s and 1980s,
extensive archaeological observation and excavation studies were organized in almost all regions
of Uzbekistan[website
.]. As a result, many rare monuments and rare samples
of material culture dating back to the Paleolithic period of Uzbekistan’s history were discovered.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
In particular, the study of ancient Stone Age cave sites such as Teshiktash, Amir Temur,
Amonkotan, Kutirbulak, Kulbulak, Obi-Rahmat, Khojakent, Kapchigoy, Selungur, Obishir,
Karatog, Khojamazgil, in the Surkhandarya, Bukhara, Samarkand, Tashkent, Fergana regions, as
well as new Stone and Bronze Age sites in the Khorezm steppes (A. Vinogradov, M. Itina) was
recognized by the scientific community as a major scientific achievement for the Stone Age
archaeology of Uzbekistan[Shirinov T., Berdimurodov A., Pardayev M.,2010.
p.4-14].
The material cultural finds from these monuments made it possible to reconstruct the lifestyle
and economy of the most ancient population and served as an important material source for the
history of Uzbekistan. In particular, the discovery and study of the ruins of the first settled
farming villages and urban settlements dating back to the era of the first metalworking in the
southern regions of Uzbekistan, in particular, such monuments as Sopollitepa, Zharkotan, Boston,
Mirshodi, Bandikhon, and Kyzyltepa, made it possible to observe the main processes of the
formation of the ancient Bactrian civilization, its periods of development, and the emergence of
the first urban culture in this oasis.
Special studies on the history of urban culture in Central Asia, particularly in Uzbekistan, were
conducted at ancient urban monuments in Samarkand, Bukhara, Tashkent, Surkhandarya,
Kashkadarya, Jizzakh, Khorezm regions, the Fergana Valley, and Karakalpakstan. Research in
this area, especially archaeological excavations conducted at sites such as Afrosiyob, Yerkurgan,
Kanka, Eski Termez, Dalvarzintepa, Bukhara, Poykend, Akhsikent, Pop, Khiva, Mizdakhkan,
Kaliyatepa, Kurgantepa, has been very fruitful, and the stages of development and new facets of
urban planning have been studied.
The Institute of Archeology has been publishing annual collections of the “History of the
Material Culture of Uzbekistan” (История материалной култур Узбекистана) since 1959 and
“Archaeological Researches in Uzbekistan” (Археологические исследование в Узбекистане)
since 2002, which provide general scientific conclusions of archaeological research conducted in
the territory of our republic. Since 2010, the scientific journal “Archaeology of Uzbekistan”
(Археология Узбекистана) has been published. Due to the extremely active scale of research
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and their scientific results during the years of independence, the archaeology of Uzbekistan has
risen to the level of world science.
This result, in turn, has created the basis for the archaeology of Uzbekistan to establish scientific
cooperation with leading archaeological centers in the world and conclude international
agreements on an equal basis. Currently, archaeological research is being conducted on the
territory of Uzbekistan on an international scale in collaboration with archaeologists from such
countries as Australia, the USA, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, Russia, France, and Japan
[Shirinov T., Berdimurodov A., Pardayev M.,2010. p.13-14].
CONCLUSION
Archeology is one of the social and humanitarian sciences that has a great historical destiny on a
global scale and has gone a long way in its formation and development. It is known from sources
that humanity began to be interested in the study of ancient history, examples of material culture
and art in ancient times. After the Turkestan region was conquered by the troops of Tsarist
Russia and the three khanates existing in it were turned into vassal states, there is clear
information that Russian specialists, who began to actively study the past history and culture of
the peoples of the region from the 70s of the 19th century, established cooperative relations with
the leading intellectuals and progressive thinkers of the local population for the successful
implementation of these studies. Archaeological research conducted in the Turkestan region at
the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century was of great importance for the
historiography of Uzbekistan. The first steps have been taken to study the ancient material
cultural monuments of the people of Central Asia, including the Uzbek people.
Due to the extremely active scale of research and their scientific results during the years of
independence, the archaeology of Uzbekistan has been raised to the level of world science. The
meeting of the President of Uzbekistan
I.A. Karimov with a group of leading historians
and archaeologists of our republic in 1998 and the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the
Republic “On improving the activities of the Institute of History of the Academy of Sciences of
the Republic of Uzbekistan” as a result of this meeting served as a practical program for research
conducted by historians and archaeologists in the future. Based on the tasks set out in the
paragraphs of this resolution on ancient history, in particular archaeology, the “Concept for the
Development of the Science of Archaeology in Uzbekistan” was developed at the Institute of
Archaeology. This result, in turn, created the basis for Uzbek archaeology to establish scientific
cooperation with leading archaeological centers in the world and conclude international
agreements on an equal basis.
REFERENCES:
1. Mukhammadjonov A. Archeology // National Encyclopedia of Uzbekistan. Tashkent. 2000.
3. Proceedings of the Department of History of Culture and Art of the East. Moscow. 1940.
2. Shirinov T.Sh., Pardaev M.H., Mirzaakhmedov Zh.K. Life and scientific heritage of
Academician Ya.G. Gulomov // Journal of the History of Material Culture of Uzbekistan. №-29.
Samarkand. 1998.
4. Shirinov T.Sh. Concept of the development of the science of archaeology in Uzbekistan //
Journal of the History of Material Culture of Uzbekistan. №-32. Tashkent. 2001.
5. Shirinov T., Berdimurodov A., Pardayev M. From the history of the formation and
development of the science of archaeology in Uzbekistan. Journal of Archeology of Uzbekistan,
Volume №-1. Samarkand. 2010.
6. website
