Tajikistan, with Dushanbe as its capital, is a country where most of the land is mountainous. The majority of the population are Muslims, and the country is home to a diverse range of ethnic groups, including Tajiks, Uzbeks, and Russians. Sarazm, located in the northwest of Tajikistan near the border with Uzbekistan, is a historical site within the country. In 1976, a local farmer discovered a protruding copper dagger, which led to the discovery of the ruins. This finding revealed that people had settled in Central Asia as early as 4000 to 3000 BCE. In this article, we introduce the World Heritage Site of Sarazm.
What is the Sarazm archaeological site?
The discovery of the Sarazm ruins showed that people lived in this area of Central Asia from around 4000 to 3000 BCE. It also provides insight into the process of urban development. With highlands where nomads grazed livestock and lands suitable for farming, the area flourished through trade. This trade likely extended from Turkmenistan to the Iranian plateau, and further to the Indus River basin and the Indian Ocean. For these reasons, Sarazm is considered one of the oldest urban archaeological sites in Central Asia.
The history of Sarazm is ancient. It is believed to have developed as a central city for metal production and processing in Central Asia around 5000 years ago. Ornaments, jewelry, and leather goods have been excavated from the site, along with a skeleton known as the "Queen of Sarazm." This skeleton was adorned with splendid decorations and carefully buried, indicating she was likely a person of high status. As a significant discovery in Central Asian history, the Sarazm ruins were registered as Tajikistan’s first World Heritage Site in 2010.
Name: proto-urban site of Sarazm
Address: Durman, Sarazm, Tajikistan
Official/Related Website URL: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1141/
How to access the Sarazm ruins
It takes about four hours by car from Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, to Sarazm. You can get there by shared taxi and other means.
Highlights of the Sarazm site ①: Nomads
Nomads are people who move with the seasons to graze livestock in pasturelands, and they are classified into three groups: pastoral nomads, semi-nomadic artisans, and primitive nomads. While they once lived in arid regions of Africa and the Eurasian continent, the number of nomads has significantly decreased as more have settled permanently. At the Sarazm ruins, you can learn about the lifestyle of ancient nomads, making it a valuable World Heritage Site.
Highlights of the Sarazm site ②: Excavated artifacts
It is said that the ancient city of Sarazm ceased to function as a city around 2000 BCE due to the invasion of Indo-Aryan peoples. However, it is believed to have been revived later as a mining area for turquoise. This turquoise was of excellent quality, and the blue to green stones became important gems associated with Sarazm. Later, the ruins flourished again as a copper production site, marking the ancient city with a fascinating and eventful history. These excavated artifacts, including those associated with the Queen of Sarazm, are on display at the National Museum of Antiquities in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan.
◎ Summary
The World Heritage Site of Sarazm is a place where significant discoveries have been made regarding the history of Central Asia. Unfortunately, this region is currently classified as Level 2 in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' overseas safety information. While travel is not advised at the moment, it remains a precious World Heritage Site that is well worth visiting once safety conditions improve.