A team of Chinese and Uzbek archaeologists has uncovered a well-preserved section of city walls at the ancient settlement of Kuva in eastern Uzbekistan, dating from the 3rd century BCE to the 10th century CE, according to a report published by Xinhua. The discovery was made by the joint Luoyang-Ferghana archaeological expedition.
Researchers say the find offers critical physical evidence for understanding the historical development of a Silk Road city and the enduring cultural exchange between East and West. The team also hailed the excavation as a key achievement of international cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.
Located in the Ferghana Valley, a historic hub along the ancient Silk Road, the ruins of Kuva cover an area of approximately 110,000 square meters. Xinhua noted that the valley has maintained close ties with China for over 2,000 years. Preliminary findings indicate that the city’s fortifications were rebuilt multiple times and remained in use across several historical eras from the Parthian Kingdom and the states of Dayuan and Sogdiana to the Samanid dynasty.
Liu Bin, head of the Chinese delegation to the joint expedition, said the evolving construction techniques used in the walls provide valuable insights into the architectural practices, building materials, and cultural influences of different periods. He added that such features help trace the diffusion of cultural traditions along major trade routes.
The Luoyang-Ferghana team was established in 2023 as a collaboration between the Luoyang Archaeological Institute in China’s Henan Province and Ferghana State University in Uzbekistan. Since then, archaeologists have identified palaces, city gates, fortifications, residential structures, streets, and craft workshops at the site. Liu Bin noted that systematic excavations of the palace areas are planned for next year, which will further clarify the city’s layout and functional zones.
As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, similar Chinese-Uzbek archaeological partnerships are underway in Surkhandarya, Samarkand, Ferghana, and Khorezm. These projects have led to discoveries of ancient settlements, urban infrastructure, and even an Iron Age city-state, underscoring the growing scope of bilateral archaeological cooperation in Uzbekistan.
