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Stanislav Kozlovskiy CC BY-SA 4.0 Wikimedia Commons

Teshik-Tash 1

Archaeological Site

Teshik‑Tash 1 is a Paleolithic site in southern Uzbekistan known for Mousterian deposits and a child's burial; it attracts archaeologists and students of human prehistory.

Teshik-Tash 1 SamarkandBukharaKhivaTashkentNukusTeshik-Tash 1
In this guide

Teshik-Tash 1 essentials

Country: Uzbekistan
Driest months: Jul-Sep
Pay in: Som (лв)
Language: Uzbek

Teshik-Tash 1 at a Glance

About Teshik-Tash 1

Teshik-Tash 1 is an archaeological cave site in Surxondaryo Region, Uzbekistan, notable for a late Pleistocene human burial discovered in 1938. It is an important example of Central Asian Paleolithic remains.

The site contains Mousterian stone tools and the burial of a juvenile individual accompanied by arranged animal horn elements, which are often highlighted in discussions of symbolic behavior. The assemblage is small and confined to the cave deposits rather than a large exposed area.

Excavations were carried out by Soviet archaeologists in 1938, which recovered the skeletal remains and associated stone artifacts. Interpretations identify the burial as Neanderthal and place the material in the late Pleistocene archaeological sequence.

The cave lies in southeastern Uzbekistan’s Surxondaryo Region. The site is an archaeological locality rather than a developed tourist facility; access and condition vary and it is primarily of interest to researchers and specialists.

  • Neanderthal child burial: The skeletal remains are interpreted as a Neanderthal child burial associated with Mousterian stone tools and deliberately arranged animal horn material.
  • Excavation and dating: Excavated by Soviet archaeologists in 1938, the site dates to the late Pleistocene and is important for studies of Neanderthal behavior in Central Asia.
When to Go

Best Time to Visit Teshik-Tash 1

Best in spring or autumn when temperatures are milder for exploring this exposed archaeological location in southern Uzbekistan.

Spring & Autumn
March-May & September-November · 10-25°C (50-77°F)
Milder temperatures and comfortable conditions for visiting the open archaeological site; less extreme heat than summer.
Summer
June-August · 25-40°C (77-104°F)
Hot and dry-daytime heat can be intense at exposed sites, so go early, bring water and sun protection.
Winter
December-February · Below 0 to 10°C (32-50°F)
Cool to cold conditions with the possibility of frost; fieldwork or longer visits are less comfortable in winter.

Weather & Climate near Teshik-Tash 1

Climate

Teshik-Tash 1's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Mediterranean - Hot-Summer Mediterranean climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -2°C to 37°C. Semi-arid with limited rainfall with a pronounced dry season.

Air Quality: AQI 83 Moderate
Best Time to Visit
JuneJulyAugust
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
43°
Warmest Month
-16°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Acceptable -2° - 8° 1° 47 mm partly cloudy 67% 2.3 m/s 0.3 low 9.8h
February Good -1° - 10° 2° 47 mm partly cloudy 66% 2.5 m/s 0.5 moderate 10.7h
March Good 3° - 15° 8° 75 mm partly cloudy 61% 2.9 m/s 1.0 moderate 11.8h
April Very Good 10° - 22° 16° 53 mm some cloud 52% 2.7 m/s 1.5 very high 13.0h
May Ideal 14° - 28° 21° 28 mm mostly sunny 39% 2.5 m/s 2.1 extreme 14.0h
June Ideal 19° - 35° 27° 5 mm clear 23% 2.7 m/s 2.4 extreme 14.5h
July Ideal 21° - 37° 29° 2 mm clear 19% 2.6 m/s 2.4 extreme 14.3h
August Ideal 19° - 35° 27° 1 mm clear 19% 2.5 m/s 2.1 extreme 13.4h
September Ideal 13° - 29° 21° 1 mm clear 20% 2.2 m/s 1.5 very high 12.3h
October Excellent 8° - 22° 15° 9 mm clear 32% 2.1 m/s 0.9 moderate 11.1h
November Very Good 3° - 16° 8° 21 mm some cloud 54% 2.0 m/s 0.4 low 10.0h
December Good 0° - 10° 3° 38 mm partly cloudy 63% 2.2 m/s 0.3 low 9.5h