Greco-Bactrian sites

Parmgelin Mission archéologique

Excavation and Research program

The Archaeological Mission of Southern Tajikistan conducted fieldwork at Takht-i Sangin, located in the southern part of the country on the right bank of the Amu Darya in 2015 and 2017. In 2016 and 2019, the mission carried out surveys in several valleys (Kafirnigan, Vakhsh, Tayr-su, Yakh-su) and the surrounding area of Dushanbe.

Since 2019, research has focused on seven Greco-Bactrian archaeological sites (3rd–2nd centuries BCE), forming an exceptional ensemble. These sites provide critical insights into the civilisation that created them, including its territorial settlement patterns, defensive and cultural practices, and technical expertise. As all sites experienced later occupations, the mission also seeks to understand their eventual decline — whether due to conflict with nomadic invaders in the 2nd century BCE — and, for some, their transition into the Kushan period (1st century BCE–3rd century CE).

Zol-i Zard, topographic plan surveyed by Sh. Sultanmamadov and S. Abdulloev 2020. © Southern Tajikistan Mission.

These sites are located in the Danghara region, less than twenty kilometers from the Vakhsh River, which flows to the north and west of the valley, over 150 km upstream from Takht-i Sangin. The pottery, stone objects (column bases, capitals, votive items), and coins discovered at these sites link them to a shared cultural tradition. All the sites are situated along watercourses and their immediate proximity — just a few kilometres apart — allowed for direct visual contact. Five of them were established on the foothills of the Zimistan mountain range north of the Tayr Su valley, while two, Zol-i Zard and Mazar Todjeddin, are in the plain. The exact nature of these sites (fortresses, sanctuaries, or simple settlements) remains unclear.

In 2022 and 2023, geophysical surveys were carried out on three sites. A geomatics program in 2021, 2022, and 2024, integrated all geographical and topographical data.

To date, Zol-i Zard is the only site not reoccupied by a village or cemetery, nor destroyed. Previously tested by Tajik archaeologists (E. Denisov and T. Filimonova), it yielded Greco-Bactrian, medieval, and modern artefacts.

In 2019 and 2020, our mission has conducted a topographic survey of Zol-i Zard, followed by excavations since 2021. The site is roughly rectangular in shape, enclosed by rammed-earth walls (pakhsa) preserved up to 10 m above the lowest point, and features 14 towers. Several prominent mounds within the site represent accumulations of archaeological remains (tepes)

Gulizindon Mountain seen from the eastern rampart of Zol-i Zard. Photo M. Gelin © Southern Tajikistan Mission.

One of these (tepe C) covers a water resurgence, evidence of an ancient elaborate water supply system still in operation today. Although largely transformed into a marsh, our work has revealed built structures at its base that remain to be characterised. The excavation of the northeast trench exposed the thickness of the pakhsa rampart and confirmed that it rests on likely Kushan-period levels. The southwestern gate dates to the 14th century and may correspond to a later refurbishment of the ramparts — a hypothesis that future excavations will clarify.
Tepe A, the largest, located in the northern part of the site, includes a large well-constructed building made of mud bricks and lime plaster, dated to the 14th century based on coin finds. On the eastern side of this tepe, our excavations uncovered several burials (one possibly Samanid, 9th–10th centuries) and structures yet to be characterised. The deepest levels reached thus far approach the period of Antiquity.
Finally, Tell B, centrally positioned within the site, appears to contain predominantly ancient levels, despite some medieval reoccupation.

Regarding the other sites, we conducted work at Pushing on the mountain foothills, where a large modern trench exposes the ancient layers. We also carried out surveys across all the settlements.

Site preservation

In 2022, the mission became aware of risks of destruction at the Zol-i Zard site, and together with the Dushanbe Institute, the Dushanbe Architecture Bureau, and the Danghara Municipality, was able in 2023 to stop the threat of urbanization to part of the ancient and medieval site.
Also in 2023, the mission proposed specific protection zones for the Zol-i Zard and Mazar Todjeddin sites.

UNESCO Listing

In July 2025, UNESCO listed ten archaeological sites of the ancient Khuttal kingdom (7th-8th centuries) in Tajikistan as World Heritage Sites (https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1627/), thus recognizing their high historical and archaeological value. Among them are the two sites of Zol-i Zard and Makbarai Mavlono Todjeddin (Mazar Todjeddin), for which the mission contributed to the preparation of the nomination file and to their preservation.

The research is conducted within the framework of the Franco-Tajik Archaeological Mission of Southern Tajikistan, led by Mathilde Gelin (CNRS) and Tatiana Guermanovna Filimonova (IHAET). It is supported by OrAM, by the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, by the Geops laboratory of Paris Saclay University, by ARSCAN, by the Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, by the A. Donish Institute of History, Archaeology and Ethnography in Dushanbe, by the Tajik Ministry of Culture, by the French Embassy in Tajikistan, and by the ArchéoWorlds Association.

Participating members OrAM:
– Gelin Mathilde, archéologist, CNRS, french director (2019-2024) ;
– Blanc Pierre-Marie, archéologist, CNRS (2019) ;
– Bombeau Valère, archéologist, Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University (2023-2024);
– Ghasemi Parsa, archéologist, Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University (2022).
Participating members ARSCAN :
– Bordeaux Olivier, archéologist-numismatist, CNRS, « Archéologie de l’Asie centrale » team (2021-2023).
Autres participants :
– Filimonova Guermanovna Tatiana, archéologist, IHAET, co-director tadjike (2019-2024);
– Yakubov Yusufsho, archéologist, IHAET, « Académie des Sciences du Tadjikistan » (2019-2022);
– Davtian Gourguen, géomatician, CNRS, Laboratory « CEPAM-UMR 7264, « Dynamique des peuplements et des paysages » team (2021-2022, 2024);
– Karaev Asleddin, archéologist, IHAET/ministère de la Culture (2021-2024);
– Saintenoy Albane, géophysician, Laboratory GEOPS-UMR 8148, Paris-Saclay University (2022-2023);
– Lambert Rémi, géophysician, Laboratory GEOPS-UMR 8148, Paris-Saclay University (2022-2023);
– Zeyen Hermann, géophysician, Laboratoire GEOPS-UMR 8148, Paris-Saclay Univesity (2023);
– Ashurmadov Islom, archéologist, IHAET (2021-2024);
– Sultanmamadov Shambe, topograph, « Institut national unitaire de projets d’entreprise » of Douchanbé (2019-2020);
– Abdulloev Sarvar, topograph, « Institut national unitaire de projets d’entreprise » of Douchanbé (2019-2020).
Bibliography
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