Archaeological excavations are underway at the Ozod monument in Shorchi district, Surkhandarya province, the Cultural Heritage Agency has announced.
The research is being carried out jointly by the Y. Gulomov Samarkand Institute of Archaeology and the Silk Road Archaeology Research Center at China's Northwest University. Excavation work began on August 15.
The Ozod site was discovered in 2023 during field surveys in the eastern part of the Surkhandarya basin. It lies southeast of the village of Ozod, roughly 6 kilometers southeast of the Dalverzintepa site.
Covering an area of about 200 by 100 meters, the site contains close to 100 identified graves. This year, archaeologists have been excavating more than 10 graves in its southwestern section.
Preliminary findings indicate that the structure of the graves and the artifacts recovered from them share features characteristic of the Sapalli culture.
Based on radiocarbon dating and comparative typological analysis of the finds, the site is estimated to date to between 1700 and 1500 BCE.
The Ozod site is considered one of the oldest burial grounds identified in the Surkhandarya basin, holding significant scientific value for studying how ancient burial traditions formed and evolved in the region.
Archaeological fieldwork at the site is ongoing.
Earlier, excavations at the Boburtepa archaeological site in Kamashi district, Qashqadaryo province, uncovered the remains of an ancient building along with a rare mural on its western wall.
Stay up to date with all the latest news:
