The Samarkand Archaeological Institute named after Ya. Gulyamov, together with the Silk Road Archaeology Research Center of China's Northwestern University, is conducting excavations at the Ozod site, one of the oldest burial grounds in the Surkhandarya basin. The press service of the Cultural Heritage Agency reported this.

Research began on August 15. The site was discovered in 2023 during field reconnaissance in the eastern part of the Surkhandarya basin. It is located southeast of the village of Ozod, approximately 6 km southeast of the Dalverzintepa monument.

About 100 burials have been identified across the site's roughly 200×100-meter area. Archaeological work is currently focused on more than 10 graves in the southwestern part of the site.

According to preliminary results, the structure of the burials and the artifacts found show characteristic features of the Sapalli culture — a Bronze Age archaeological culture that existed in southern present-day Uzbekistan around the 2nd millennium BCE.

"Radiocarbon analysis results, as well as comparative typological study of the finds, allow us to date the site to 1700–1500 BCE," the statement said.

For reference: the Ozod site is located in the Shurchi district of Surkhandarya region. It is of great scientific importance for studying the formation and development stages of ancient burial traditions in the region. Field archaeological research and excavations are ongoing at the site.

Source: uznews.uz