Sarazm

About this place

Sarazm is an archaeological site west of Panjakent, on the left bank of the Zeravshan River near the Uzbek border, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2010. It dates back to the 4th millennium BC, with dates ranging from about 3900 to 2100 BC. It is evidence of the earliest urban life in Central Asia. The site is about 1.5 km long and 400 to 900 metres wide, and it may have covered 90 hectares at its peak. It was the first city in Central Asia to keep economic ties with a network reaching from the Turkmenistan steppes and the Aral Sea to the Iranian Plateau and the Indus. Excavation began in 1977 under Abdullah Isakov, with French researchers taking part from 1984. Under a large metal roof that protects the digs you see walls and rooms of mud brick, showing the plan of the old buildings. Do not expect a tall ruin, as the remains lie close to the ground and their value is their age. Finds from here, including a gold necklace, seals and lapis lazuli, are shown in the country's museums and reveal how far its trade reached. It is about 14 km from central Panjakent in a straight line, so a taxi is easy. Take a guide or read about the site first, as there is little explanation on the spot. There is no shade outside the roof, so bring a hat and water in summer. You can pair it with the ruins of old Panjakent in one day.