Stone Age sites and rock art found in the Zaamin mountains

The foothills of the Turkestan range have more stories to tell. In September 2026 specialists from Uzbekistan’s Cultural Heritage Agency and the Samarkand Institute of Archaeology recorded new Stone Age sites in Zaamin district and a group of rock carvings nearby.

What was found

East of the village of Achchi they found a Palaeolithic site, near Peshagor a Neolithic one, and more Neolithic finds in western Achchi and near Arja. On the left bank of the Ravotsoy river, by the village of Ravot in Sharof Rashidov district, about 30 petroglyphs cover seven slate surfaces: a hunter drawing a bow, a mountain goat, cattle, a dog and a sun-like sign. They are preliminarily dated from the Bronze Age to the early Middle Ages. Archaeologists say people came back to the Zaamin oasis again and again over thousands of years; dating and documentation continue.

For your trip

The new sites are research areas, not visitor attractions yet. But Zaamin is already one of our favourite mountain escapes, with forest and meadow trails above 2,000 metres. Ideas for walks are in our hiking guide.