Archaeologists have discovered a gypsum head of a statue at the Qo'rg'ontepa monument in the Urgut district of Samarkand region, dating back to the early medieval period (7th-8th centuries). The find was made during excavations at the site of an ancient temple, according to the Cultural Heritage Agency. The discovery was made by researchers from the Samarkand Institute of Archaeology.

The excavation team included prominent archaeologists Alisher Sandiboyev, Amriddin Berdimurodov, Navruz Alimov, and San'at Khojamov. According to experts, the statue head holds significant scientific value for studying the religious and artistic decoration of the Qo'rg'ontepa temple and the art of that era. The facial structure, hairstyle, and other iconographic features of the statue could serve as a valuable source for researching the distinctive characteristics of ancient Sogdian art.

The remains of rooms and other archaeological finds uncovered during the excavations are providing new insights into the temple's internal structure and function, as well as the religious rituals performed there. These discoveries once again demonstrate the richness of Uzbekistan's archaeological heritage.

Elmurod Najimov, First Deputy Director of the Cultural Heritage Agency, noted that such finds highlight the country's rich archaeological potential. According to him, starting from 2027, 25 billion soums in grants will be allocated annually for archaeological research, primarily to support projects by young archaeologists. This will create an important financial foundation for future research.

Staff from the Samarkand Institute of Archaeology have been conducting research at the Qo'rg'ontepa monument since 2022. In 2024, the site of an early medieval temple and wall paintings were discovered there. Fragments of hands and feet from a clay statue were also found. Previously, a burial site and archaeological materials dating back to 1700-1500 BC were discovered at the Ozod monument in the Shurchi district of Surkhandarya region. Such findings serve as important evidence of ancient civilizations that existed on the territory of Uzbekistan.

Source: www.gazeta.uz