ANCIENT OASIS

The ancient Samarkand oasis flourished along the fertile banks of the Zerafshan River, a lifeline that shaped the region’s agricultural and cultural development for millennia. This strategic location enabled the creation of a sophisticated network of canals and irrigation systems that supported intensive farming across the floodplain—a hallmark of early urban societies in Central Asia.

At the same time, the oasis lay in close proximity to the Karatyube foothills, where seasonal pastures fostered semi-mobile pastoralism. This dual ecological setting gave rise to a dynamic interaction between settled agricultural communities and nomadic or semi-nomadic herding groups.

Archaeological evidence suggests that these landscapes were not only economic spaces, but also spiritual and symbolic ones: the foothills hosted burial grounds dating back to the first millennium BCE, revealing complex ritual practices tied to the natural terrain.

The region’s ecological diversity thus played a crucial role in shaping the political, economic, and ritual organization of early Samarkand.

Qadimgi voha - UZB

Qadimgi Samarqand vohasi Zarafshon daryosi bo‘ylarida gullab-yashnagan. Suvga yaqinlik bu hududda kanallar tarmog‘i va sug‘oriladigan dehqonchilik tizimining shakllanishi uchun muhim bo‘lgan, bu esa daryo yoyilmasida doimiy yashash imkonini bergan. Shu bilan birga, tog‘lar yaqinligi Qoratepa etaklarida yarim-ko‘chmanchi chorvachilikning va adirlarda dafn marosimlari uchun mo‘ljallangan hududlarning shakllanishiga ham imkon yaratgan. 

Древний оазис - RUS

Древний Самаркандский оазис процветал вдоль берегов реки Заравшан. Близость к воде сыграла ключевую роль в развитии сложной сети каналов и орошаемого земледелия, что позволило освоить пойму для постоянного проживания. Одновременная близость к горам способствовала развитию полукочевого скотоводства на предгорьях Каратюбе, а также созданию погребальных участков в этих холмистых зонах.