Proto-urban site of Sarazm
Proto-urban site of Sarazm
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
17 reviews
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Nancy D
Los Angeles, CA1,632 contributions
Oct 2022 • Friends
Like many ancient sites I saw in Central Asia, I think it is important to have a guide who can explain the history and what you are seeing. What was really exciting for me was when I was there a wedding couple was dressed up in traditional clothing and they were having special wedding videos taken with the man and wife strolling. There is a small museum on site and several covered areas outside where there have been archeological digs.
Written November 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dirk W
Alexandra Headland, Australia10,143 contributions
Oct 2022
About 15km from Penjikent, the Sarazm site is archeologically very important and recognized by UNESCO as such. The excavations show a sophisticated civilization at least 5,500 years ago ; an agricultural society in this region with broader economic relations in Central Asia. Apart from fertile soil, the region is also rich in minerals, which is why metallurgy flourished as well - probably explaining why Sarazm grew into a city. The outside excavations are now covered with metal awnings, but still suffer badly from the elements and you need a guide and good imagination to picture what they were.
There is a new museum on site, explaining the history of Sarazm. The showpiece is the "Lady of Sarazm’, the skeleton of a woman who was buried in the 4th century BC. They found her covered with colorful lapis beads and seashell bracelets. She was buried together with a young girl (servant ?) and adolescent man (bodyguard ?), who were probably sacrificed to serve here in the "hereafter".
Opposite the museum there is a recreation of some Sarazm dwellings. During my visit there was a photo-shoot going on with a young couple in traditional clothing.
There is a new museum on site, explaining the history of Sarazm. The showpiece is the "Lady of Sarazm’, the skeleton of a woman who was buried in the 4th century BC. They found her covered with colorful lapis beads and seashell bracelets. She was buried together with a young girl (servant ?) and adolescent man (bodyguard ?), who were probably sacrificed to serve here in the "hereafter".
Opposite the museum there is a recreation of some Sarazm dwellings. During my visit there was a photo-shoot going on with a young couple in traditional clothing.
Written November 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reslysten54
Vienna, VA2,700 contributions
Apr 2024 • Friends
For the untrained eye, the archelogical digs reveal little, but with the excellent guide who took us around, we became fascinated by this ancient culture, dating back to the fourth millenium BC.
With the stature of a Unesco World Heritage site, the digs are now covered by permanent roofs to protect the modest remains. The museum on site offers more of a visual display, with reconstructions, and a colleciton of the most important findings. Signage is in Tajik, Russian and English.
The grave findings and statue of "The Princess" is seen as the crown jewel of this site. It is believed that she had a prominent role for some time in this ancient culture.
With the stature of a Unesco World Heritage site, the digs are now covered by permanent roofs to protect the modest remains. The museum on site offers more of a visual display, with reconstructions, and a colleciton of the most important findings. Signage is in Tajik, Russian and English.
The grave findings and statue of "The Princess" is seen as the crown jewel of this site. It is believed that she had a prominent role for some time in this ancient culture.
Written May 21, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brun066
Florence, Italy13,885 contributions
Jun 2022
The protocity of Sarazm seems to have been totally unknown until the accidental discovery of a copper dagger in 1976. Since then, excavation campaigns conducted by Soviets, then Tajik archaeologists, in collaboration with others (especially from France and the USA) have allowed us to establish that this very ancient site (5500 years ago, the oldest in Central Asia) was a center of Neolithic culture (therefore characterized by agriculture and livestock) unexpected in the context of studies prior to the 1970s, but actually leading in the context of settlement, production and of exchange in central Asia in the 3rd and 2nd millennium BC. In addition to the primary activities, it is documented that the inhabitants dedicated themselves - in various periods of the long history of the city - to the metallurgy of copper and tin, to the working of bronze, to the mining of turquoise,
As for trade: in the short and medium distances, Sarazm integrated the economies of mountain shepherds and farmers of the river plains. Over long distances, trade links radiated to the steppes of north-central Asia to the north, the Indus Valley and the coasts of the Indian Ocean to the south, the Iranian plateau and Mesopotamia to the west
The excavations already carried out affect less than half of the estimated total extension of the site (over 100 hectares). Once stabilized, the five excavation areas were covered by large canopies, and give evidence of buildings with various uses, or tombs, rationally distributed around a regular grid of alleys.
Obviously, the vision of the site, to fully convey the feeling of the importance of the discoveries, must be completed with that of the museums where the finds of Sarazm are kept, and which have made it possible to reconstruct the biography of the city: the small museum annexed to the excavations, the Rudaki museum in Panjakent, the National Museums in Dushambe.
As for trade: in the short and medium distances, Sarazm integrated the economies of mountain shepherds and farmers of the river plains. Over long distances, trade links radiated to the steppes of north-central Asia to the north, the Indus Valley and the coasts of the Indian Ocean to the south, the Iranian plateau and Mesopotamia to the west
The excavations already carried out affect less than half of the estimated total extension of the site (over 100 hectares). Once stabilized, the five excavation areas were covered by large canopies, and give evidence of buildings with various uses, or tombs, rationally distributed around a regular grid of alleys.
Obviously, the vision of the site, to fully convey the feeling of the importance of the discoveries, must be completed with that of the museums where the finds of Sarazm are kept, and which have made it possible to reconstruct the biography of the city: the small museum annexed to the excavations, the Rudaki museum in Panjakent, the National Museums in Dushambe.
Written December 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KatielouAustralia
Hobart, Australia2,038 contributions
Jun 2023 • Friends
This important archaeological site lies about 15km west of Panjakent. Discovered in 1976 by the Soviet archaeologist Abdullojon Isakov, it is remarkable for both its size and its antiquity. The name ‘Sarazm’ means ‘where the land begins’. There is a small museum attached to the site and a highlight is seeing the skeleton of the “princess of Sarazm” who was buried in the 4th century BC.
Written July 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MegaSte
Giussano, Italy107 contributions
Jul 2012 • Friends
This is the only USESCO site of Tajikistan....well they definitely could do better. There is only one sign but for really understanding the place you need a guide, otherwise you don't know what you're looking at.
Written October 12, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OneAddictedTraveler
Lake Elmo, MN4,113 contributions
Sep 2018 • Couples
This site dates to 3000 BC when it was an agriculture and metallurgical center. Sheds cover the excavations at several separate sites. Besides some eroding mud walls there isn't that much to see. Informational signs have appeared since an earlier review. A small museum has a few artifacts from the site but most are elsewhere - Dushambe.
Written September 26, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bad_Seed4
Canberra, Australia820 contributions
Sep 2024 • Couples
You may only find this if you are on a tour, it’s close to the Uzbek border but this is a must see historical site with a neat little museum, some mind blowingly old bones and some dig sites to look around, well worth the look to further your knowledge of the ancient world
Written September 30, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
InTheDesert2014
Townsville, Australia181 contributions
May 2021
please read-up on this site before you visit! it is an amazing remnant of civilisation back 5,500 years !!! When i visited the only excavations underway were those provided by the ground squirrels ! Keep a look out for them and their burrows!
The small museum is well worth the visit, and there is an open air interactive - reconstructed village by the main entrance of the museum.
The small museum is well worth the visit, and there is an open air interactive - reconstructed village by the main entrance of the museum.
Written May 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mary T
Buenos Aires, Argentina2,929 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
There are 5 excavations that uncovered the lower walls of buildings from the 3rd Century BC, each protected by a metal roof. There are some signs in English that explain what you are seeing, but we still found it difficult to visualize what this settlement might have been like. This was the first UNESCO Heritage site to be named in Tajikistan, so undoubtedly it is a significant place. But it is not very visually appealing.
Written May 15, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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