Temple of Fire and unique deity figurines. What did the Uzbek-Chinese archaeological expedition uncover in Surkhandarya? Check out the photos!

The presentation took place as part of an international scientific roundtable dedicated to the 145th anniversary of the first archaeological expedition in the Termez region.

Chinese paleozoologist Ding Yuxin, a member of the joint archaeological expedition, showcased unique exhibits – bones of wild animals that were domesticated in these areas thousands of years ago. Another participant from the Chinese side, Zhu Jiangsun, a leading specialist from a well-known virtual museum studio in China, presented a project for creating 3D images of the findings.

It is noteworthy that the work of the joint Uzbek-Chinese expedition began in the spring of this year. This was preceded by the signing of a cooperation agreement in the field of archaeological research at the sites of Uzbekistan located along the Great Silk Road. The initiative came from the Institute of Cultural Heritage at Northwest University in China. An agreement was reached with the Termez Archaeological Museum and Termez State University. The expedition included prominent Uzbek archaeologists and historians, their Chinese colleagues, as well as several scholars from other countries.

They commenced their research at the "Bandikhan II" site, which dates back to the early Iron Age and is located in the Bandikhan district of Surkhandarya. The spring season of 2024 was marked by the discovery of the first unique artifacts.

"First of all, it is important to note that the specialists uncovered and documented a significant portion of the overall defensive wall of the archaeological site. In the eastern part, on its inner side, a magnificent ritual fire temple was discovered," said Professor Tursunali Kuziev, the first deputy director of the Agency for Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan.

The scientists also conducted preliminary surveys around the archaeological site of "Yalangtoshtepa," which is located nearby. A wealth of archaeological items was found here – about 20 ceramic vessels from different periods, as well as terracotta figurines of deities and exquisite ceramics from the 2nd century BC.

"Among the aforementioned items, a terracotta figurine resembling a half-human, half-elephant is particularly significant. It was found near 'Yalangtoshtepa' and was created by the Yuezhi – ancient nomads from China," emphasized Kuziev.

The autumn season of the international archaeological expedition also yielded unique finds, including stone tools, bronze arrowheads, and rich ceramics. Yesterday proved to be particularly fruitful.

"Alongside many discoveries, it is worth highlighting the two large ceramic jars found. Such vessels are extremely rare in Uzbekistan, and this is the first time they have been found in such good condition. Preliminary assessments by Chinese specialists suggest they date back to the 6th century BC," noted Tursunali Kuziev, who led the work that day.

The specialists conducted a preliminary inventory of the already discovered items and transferred them to the Termez Archaeological Museum's collection. After detailed examination by experts and processing, many of these exhibits will find their place in the museum's exhibition, and possibly, they will also be displayed at traveling exhibitions in famous museums around the world.

Meanwhile, the work of the expedition is not yet complete; the autumn season will continue until the end of November.

"It is important to note that Chinese specialists are not only helping to explore the historical sites of Uzbekistan. They are also undertaking conservation of artifacts using a methodology that is new to our country," concluded Tursunali Kuziev.