Shahr-e Sukhteh is located along the
Helmand River, between the city of Zabul and the Sistan region in Sistan and Baluchistan
province, covering an area of approximately 200 hectares. This period coincides
with the Indus Valley Civilization and marks the era when agricultural
societies transitioned to urban life. The city is notable for its organized
architecture, mud-brick houses with regular plans, and planned streets.
Evidence of dental surgery and rudimentary medicine has also been found here.
Shahr-e Sukhteh is one of the best examples of early urban civilization in Iran
and Central Asia. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004.
Some researchers describe Shahr-e Sukhteh as “one of the lost civilizations of
ancient Iran,” as its lifestyle, art, and technology laid the foundations for
later Iranian civilizations.
Other significant archaeological
sites in Iran include Persepolis (Takht-e Jamshid) and Susa, the latter being
the center of the Elamite civilization and one of the world’s oldest cities.
In Turkmenistan, the most important
archaeological site is Merv, one of the oldest centers of ancient civilization and a key point on
the Silk Road. Evidence of human settlement in Merv dates back about 5,000
years. The city reached its peak from the 3rd century BCE to the 13th century
CE, featuring urban civilization with fortresses, markets, mosques, and
religious schools. Merv was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in
1999. During the Middle Ages, it was one of the largest cities in the Islamic world,
with a population exceeding 200,000, a remarkable number for its time.
Harappa and Mohenjo-daro (Pakistan): Centers of the Indus Valley
Civilization, characterized by advanced social organization and technology.
Mohenjo-daro is an example of a highly developed urban civilization without
absolute religious or military rule. The Indus script, which has not yet been
fully deciphered, was used in this region. The site was inscribed by UNESCO in
1980. Unlike many ancient civilizations, no significant evidence of military
domination or royal palaces has been found in Mohenjo-daro, demonstrating that
its inhabitants achieved a sophisticated urban society without centralized
absolute power. Harappa, another major city of the Indus Valley
Civilization, also flourished simultaneously, representing a 5,000-year-old
advanced urban civilization with major cultural and historical significance.
Samarkand and Bukhara (Uzbekistan): These are important archaeological sites
and historic cities along the Silk Road, serving as prime examples of
historical Silk Road cities in Central Asia. They played a key role in
cultural, scientific, and economic exchanges between East and West. In addition
to their commercial importance, they were centers of Islamic art, science, and
culture. Their peak occurred in the 14th century under the Timurid dynasty,
reflecting a coexistence of Iranian, Turkic, Arab, and Islamic civilizations.
Their architectural heritage is part of UNESCO World Heritage today. Samarkand
is known as the “Jewel of the Timurids,” and Bukhara as the “Holy City of
Islamic Knowledge in Central Asia.”
Nisa (Azerbaijan): The center of the Parthian Empire
and residence of Parthian princes. Nisa represents the political, cultural, and
economic heart of one of the most significant ancient Iranian empires in
Central Asia. Archaeological excavations reveal an organized urban structure,
royal cemeteries, and valuable artifacts. Nisa was inscribed on the UNESCO
World Heritage List in 2007. It was the first capital of the Parthians and is
sometimes called the “Golden City of the Parthians,” serving as both a political
center and a treasury of royal wealth.
The ancient city of Balkh
(Afghanistan),
located near the northern rivers, is one of the oldest cities in the world and
a center of Iranian civilization with over 4,000 years of history. It was a
center of ancient Iranian civilization and the Medes. During the Islamic era,
it was a hub of science, culture, and commerce, known as the “Mother of Cities.”
In Kazakhstan, the Tamgaly Hills, northwest of Almaty, are important
culturally and archaeologically, with settlements dating from the Bronze Age to
the medieval period. The area contains over 5,000 rock carvings (petroglyphs)
depicting hunting scenes and religious ceremonies. Tamgaly Hills were inscribed
on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004.
In Kyrgyzstan, the most important
archaeological sites are Talas and Jyrkiz, featuring Bronze and Iron Age cemeteries and
settlements in the northwest region of the country.
In Tajikistan, the main
archaeological site of cultural and historical significance is Panjakent, symbolizing pre-Islamic
civilization and the Sogdian period in Central Asia. The city played a crucial
role in regional culture and art. Located in northwestern Tajikistan, in the
Zarafshan Valley near the Uzbek border, Panjakent was founded in the 5th
century CE (Sogdian period) and flourished in the 6th–8th centuries CE before
the Arab invasion. The city was destroyed in the 8th century, but its cultural
artifacts remain.
In Türkiye, the most important cultural
archaeological site is undoubtedly Çatalhöyük. This site is significant not only in Turkish history but also in world
history. Located in south-central Anatolia, southeast of Ankara, it was
established around 7500–5700 BCE. It is one of the oldest cities in the world,
exemplifying early organized communal life. The city’s architecture featured
connected houses without streets, with roof entrances, central courtyards, and
simple but orderly walls. Artifacts include wall paintings, small figurines of
female deities (symbols of fertility and life), and decorative tools reflecting
the society’s culture and religious beliefs. Çatalhöyük represents a prime
example of early urban civilization, showcasing communal life, culture, art,
and religion during the Neolithic era. The site was inscribed on the UNESCO
World Heritage List in 2012. A notable feature is the absence of streets, with
people moving across rooftops, an innovative early urban planning solution.