An archaeological season concluded in the Farob Hills near the village of Olimobod (Panjikent District) with a sensational discovery - an ancient Zoroastrian necropolis featuring unusual burial rituals. The excavations were led by Abdurahmon Pulotov, Director of the National Museum of Antiquities, in collaboration with leading scientific institutions of Tajikistan, Asiaplus.tj reports.
Inside naoses - vaulted chambers carved into loess cliffs - archaeologists found arched niches, the remains of nine individuals, ossuaries, and a Sogdian coin. For the first time, mixed burial practices were recorded, contradicting traditional Zoroastrian norms.
The necropolis, dated to the 4th–8th centuries, is located at the source of the ancient Kash River (modern Kashkadarya) - a strategically important region of ancient Sogdiana. The first discovery was made accidentally after a landslide in 2023, and in 2025 the expedition confirmed it was part of a large burial site.
Scientists plan to conduct DNA analysis of the remains to determine familial ties and anthropological traits of the ancient population. This discovery strengthens national historical identity and opens new horizons in the study of the region's religious and cultural history.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
July 4, 2025