Tashkent (TDI): A China-Uzbekistan joint archaeological team has uncovered numerous cultural relics at the famous Mengchaktepa site in Uzbekistan, including coins, silk fragments and a bronze mirror from the Han Dynasty (206BC-AD220).
These artifacts confirm the site’s essential role as a hub along the ancient Silk Road, a trade route once linking China with Central Asia and the rest of the world.
A total of 6 tombs and two buildings were unearthed at the site, a Chinese expert said, adding that the large number of discovered cultural relics are likely to help archaeologists to know more about the history of the Silk Road during the eras of Wei (220-265), Jin (265-420) and Northern and Southern Dynasties (386-589).
This also marks the first time after nearly 4 decades that silk was unearthed at the Mengchaktepa site as well as in Fergana Valley, where the important archeological site is located.
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Since 2012, the China-Uzbekistan joint archaeological team has been conducting archaeological excavations in Uzbekistan, particularly in the ruins of the ancient city of Mengchaktepa, where a large number of cultural relics from the Han Dynasty were found, indicating the frequent circulation of goods in this region.
The part of the Mengchaktepa site excavated this time is located in the basin’s northwest corner.
The last excavation operation before the current one was conducted in the 1980s. Silk was also found in the area at that time.
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The archaeological team also discovered several copper coins scattered around the tomb.
One coin was so badly rusted that it was impossible to find whether it had any writing on it.
However, researchers believe that it was an ancient Chinese circular coin with a square hole.
