Bukhara Oasis in Antiquity and the Middle Ages: International Conference in Bukhara

From 22 to 24 August 2011, an International Conference "Bukhara Oasis in Antiquity and the Middle Ages" was held in Bukhara to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the expedition to Paikend carried out by the State Hermitage Museum and the Institute of Archaeology of the Academy of Sciences, Uzbekistan.

Paikend, which was the expedition’s research subject, is one of the most interesting and well studied archaeological sites in Central Asia, and, in many respects, can be considered to be an exemplary monument to the period of the developed Middle Ages. This town, which was a major trade point on the Silk Road as well as a centre of Islamic learning and is mentioned in many medieval sources including in Shahnama, attracted scholarly attention long ago. Archaeological digs began in Paikend in the 1930s but were interrupted by World War II. A joint expedition was organised by the State Hermitage Museum and the Institute of Archaeology, Uzbekistan in 1981. The dig was for many years led by Grigory Semyonov from the Hermitage, who was a renowned expert on the archaeology of Central Asia and was in charge of the Hermitage’s Oriental Department. He left an indelible mark on both the history of science and of the museum and was a man of enormous creativity and great charm. The Ñonference was dedicated to his memory.

During its existence, the Bukhara expedition included large-scale archaeological research in Paikend, and discovered and studied various examples of religious and civil architecture. The research results attracted the attention of experts from all over the world, and the many finds enriched the collection of the Bukhara State Museum of Architecture and Arts. A major achievement was the opening of a branch of the museum in Paikend in 2002, with many exhibits to be envied by any museum in the world. The museum’s new exhibition was opened during the Ñonference after repair and reconstruction.

Conference members heard about 30 reports related to the history, archaeology, ethnography, and writing of Central Asia.

Amridin Berdimuradov, Director of the Institute of Archaeology, Uzbekistan, and Svetlana Adaksina, Chief Curator of the State Hermitage Museum

Paikend city wall dating 7th to 11th century

Paikend dig

Chor-Minor Madrassah