Sarazm

Sarazm is an archaeological site in Sughd Region, northern Tajikistan, representing a proto-urban settlement of Central Asia dating to the late 4th to early 3rd millennium BCE. It is one of the earliest known settled communities in the region and provides evidence of early metallurgy and long-distance exchange.

Excavated remains include foundations of houses, storage structures and burial deposits together with pottery and metal objects; the site demonstrates craft production and trade connections rather than monumental architecture. The visible area comprises several archaeological mounds and open excavation zones where finds are displayed or stored.

The site was occupied by local communities during the late Neolithic to early Bronze Age and was excavated by archaeological teams in the 20th century; research has focused on chronology, material culture and long-distance links to other Bronze Age centres. Over time the settlement was abandoned and later investigated by specialists for its significance to early urbanization in Central Asia.

Sarazm sits on the northern edge of the Zeravshan valley near the modern village of Sarazm in Sughd Region of Tajikistan, within the broader Panjakent cultural area of western Sughd.

• World Heritage status: Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for its evidence of early urban settlement and long-distance trade networks.