Archaeologists have uncovered a large collection of pottery at a medieval site in Uzbekistan, revealing a previously unknown chapter in the region’s history. The discovery adds nearly three centuries to the known timeline of Kafir Kala, a fortified settlement in the Samarkand oasis.
The site sits on the left bank of the Dargom Canal, about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from ancient Samarkand, now known as the archaeological site of Afrasiab. It covers roughly 25 hectares and features a massive mudbrick citadel measuring 70 meters (229.7 feet) on each side and rising 25 meters (82 feet) high.
A moat surrounds the citadel, and a residential quarter wraps around it. Kafir Kala was recently added to the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the “Silk Roads: Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor” nomination.
Excavations push site’s timeline into the 15th century
Researchers with the Italian-Uzbek Archaeological Project, known as UIAP, had previously believed the site’s occupation ended in the 12th century. Kafir Kala served as an administrative center before the Arab conquest of 712, then became a residential area until it fell into disuse.
New excavations in the southern residential quarter and the site’s necropolis, combined with a fresh look at older material from the northern towers, now show people kept living there through the 15th century, spanning the Ilkhanid and early Timurid periods.
Agnese Fusaro, the study’s lead author from the University for Foreigners of Siena, said the pottery gathered between 2022 and 2024 totals nearly 11,800 pieces. Most of it came from a single excavation area, with smaller amounts recovered from the necropolis and other digging sites nearby.
Ancient pottery findings highlight modest life in Uzbekistan
The vast majority of the pottery, about 95%, was unglazed. The glazed pieces were mostly modest, everyday earthenware, though researchers also found a dozen higher-quality items made from stonepaste, a finer ceramic material.
Fusaro said the plainness of the wares, along with signs that broken pieces were repaired or reused, points to a modest, likely rural way of life at the settlement during this period.
Even so, the study found evidence that local potters kept working. Two kilns uncovered at the site date to the 13th and 14th centuries, showing production continued even as the settlement’s fortunes changed.
Researchers also noted a mix of old and new styles in the pottery, with some ancient decorative patterns resurfacing alongside newer forms.
The mysterious origin of the ‘Kafir Kala’ name
The name Kafir Kala, Arabic for “Fortress of the Infidels,” does not appear in any historical texts. Some scholars have linked it to Revdad, a rural residence of Samarkand’s pre-Islamic rulers mentioned by a 10th-century geographer.
Early 20th-century archaeologist M.E. Masson also explored the ruins, suspecting a tie to gardens once commissioned by Tamerlane.
The findings, detailed in the journal Archaeological Research in Asia, add fresh insight into the pottery traditions and daily life of medieval Uzbekistan.
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