Bukhara-the pearl of the east

Bukhara-the pearl of the east

• Bukhara is one of the oldest cities of Central Asia. Nevertheless, most of intact historic buildings in this city belong to period of the late Middle Ages. Only numerous archaeological excavations in the 20-th century revealed thick cultural layers with traces of ancient settlements in location of the present-day Bukhara.

• In archaeological trenches at depth of 20 meters, archaeologists discovered the remnants of dwellings, public buildings, and fortifications. They evaluated age of these historical structures on basis of age of numerous archeological finds: ceramic pottery, fireplaces, coins with images and inscriptions, antique jewellery, artisans' tools, and the like. The most deep-seated layers, which belong to the period of the antiquity from the 3-d century B.C. until the 4-th century A.D., are also most thick. The upper layers belong to period from the 9-th century until the beginning of the 20-th century. This proves that Bukhara never changed its location but grew vertically over at least 2,500 years.

Over the centuries, destroyed structures at the site of the Ark have formed an artificial hill 18 meters (59 feet) high. Last rulers of Bukhara have built up the top layer with constructions, part of which we can see today. On a plan the shape of the Ark looks like irregular rectangle (perimeter of the walls – 789,60 metres (863,52 yards); area – 3,96 hectares (9,79 acres)).

The Chashma-iy-Ayub Mausoleum

• Along the road leading from Samanid Park is situated another mausoleum - Chashma-iy-Ayub (Job's well) (on Bukhara map Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum). It is a compound structure, repeatedly reconstructed during the period from the 14th till the 19th centuries. The structure finally acquired the form of an elongated prism crowned with domes of various forms covering several premises. A double conical dome, resting on a cylindrical drum, marks location of the well.

THANKS FOR ATTENTION

• G’AFUROV OYBEK