Two medieval cities built by nomadic herders along the Silk Road trade routes in Central Asia have been uncovered, revealing a surprising high-altitude urban culture according to Science News. Located over 2,000 meters above sea level, these cities challenge the perception that mountains were barriers to trade and communication.
Archaeologist Michael Frachetti and his team identified the cities of Tashbulak and Tugunbulak in southeastern Uzbekistan. These sites, discovered in 2011 and 2015 respectively, had been hidden beneath grasslands due to erosion and sediment buildup. Using advanced lidar technology, researchers mapped the structures, roads, and fortifications, uncovering evidence of a thriving urban life.
Tugunbulak, the larger of the two cities, spanned over a square kilometer with more than 300 structures, including watchtowers, defensive walls, and a central fortress. Its layout mirrored the design of medieval lowland cities, featuring clusters of connected buildings, narrow corridors, and a citadel. Tashbulak, though smaller, displayed similar urban features, with nearly 100 structures identified so far.
These cities were hubs for trade and cultural exchange. Highland pastures supported livestock such as cattle, sheep, and horses, which were likely traded for cultivated foods like grains, legumes, and fruits. Archaeological digs at Tashbulak have also uncovered cotton seeds, nut shells, and chicken eggshell fragments, indicating a reliance on food shipments from lowland settlements.
Iron production played a significant role in these high-altitude communities. Recent excavations suggest large-scale ironworking operations, making iron a valuable trade item. Additionally, these mountain cities may have served as rest stops for Silk Road caravans traveling between China and Europe, although further evidence is needed to confirm this theory.
The discovery of Tashbulak and Tugunbulak highlights the ingenuity of herding communities that developed urban centers in harsh environments. These cities were not just isolated outposts but vital nodes in a broader network of cultural and economic exchange.
“Mountain ranges can actually be conduits for cultural and economic transmission, not barriers,” says archaeologist Michael Fisher of the Max Planck Institute. This finding reshapes our understanding of high-altitude regions as dynamic spaces where urban life thrived against all odds.
Photo: wirestock
