At the Center of Islamic Civilization, visitors can now see rare historical artifacts that tell the story of the life and culture of ancient Bactria. These objects were recently returned from the United Kingdom and offer a deeper understanding of a region that existed long before the spread of Islam.
Ancient Bactria was an important cultural center of Central Asia. Cities were built here, trade developed, and outstanding works of jewelry were created. Today, its heritage is presented in the “Pre-Islamic Period” section of the Center of Islamic Civilization.
The history of Bactria is closely connected with the Amu Darya, Panj, and Vakhsh rivers, which originate in the Pamir-Badakhshan mountains. It was along these rivers that the first settlements emerged, later developing into cities. Archaeologists refer to this region as the Bactria–Margiana Archaeological Complex (BMAC), or the Oxus Civilization, which existed in the 3rd–2nd millennia BCE.
The inhabitants of the region practiced irrigated agriculture, built multi-story houses, and developed an urban culture. In Bactria, a complex social and cultural environment took shape, including systems of governance, laws, beliefs, and traditions of power.
Bactria was also a major crossroads of trade, including routes of the Great Silk Road. The exhibits show that long before the arrival of Islam, the region had highly developed crafts, jewelry-making, and a rich spiritual life.
Of particular interest are the artifacts brought from the United Kingdom: gold bracelets with agate, turquoise, and lapis lazuli, as well as beads and necklaces. These items demonstrate the high level of skill of ancient jewelers and were used not only as ornaments but also had symbolic and ritual significance.
One of the rarest exhibits is a pair of gold scabbards dating to the 4th century BCE. Decorated with images of animals and mythical creatures, they are associated with the Achaemenid period and the campaigns of Alexander the Great, reflecting the interweaving of different artistic traditions in the region.
Earlier, archaeologists discovered a unique site of global significance in the Baysun Mountains—the Uzundara fortress, which once guarded the route from Bactria to Sogdiana (Podrobno.uz).
