Archaeologists found the head of an ancient sculpture among the ruins of a temple near Samarkand

Archaeologists have discovered the head of an ancient sculpture among the ruins of a temple near Samarkand

In the Urgut district of the Samarkand region, archaeologists have found the head of a plaster sculpture dating back to the early Middle Ages. The artifact was discovered among the remains of an ancient temple at the Kurgantepa site.

The excavations are being conducted by staff from the Samarkand Archaeological Institute. According to the Cultural Heritage Agency, the facial features, hairstyle, and other details of the sculpture will help scientists better understand ancient Sogdian art and temple decoration.

During the course of the work, archaeologists also uncovered the remains of rooms and other finds. These could provide new information about the layout and purpose of the temple, as well as the religious rituals that were performed there.

Kurgantepa has been the site of significant discoveries before. In 2024, a wall painting depicting a four-armed deity, along with fragments of the arms and legs of a clay sculpture, was discovered among the remains of the same temple.

Elmurod Najimov, First Deputy Director of the Cultural Heritage Agency, also announced that starting from 2027, there are plans to allocate 25 billion soums annually in the form of grants to support archaeological research. These funds will primarily be directed toward projects by young archaeologists.