Visit to Suleimantepa
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On
September 24, 2023, participants of the 7th Salzburg International Conference
on Syriac Christianity in China and Central Asia (September 21-25, Samarkand,
Uzbekistan) visited the archaeological site “Christian monastery of
Suleimantepa”, located in Urgut, Uzbekistan.
A few days
earlier, on September 18, 2023, by decision of the UNESCO World Heritage
Committee, Suleiman Tepa was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, as a
component of the Silk Road: Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor Serial Transnational
Nomination.
During the
field seasons of 2022 and 2023, the International Institute for Central Asian
Studies (IICAS), in close cooperation with the Samarkand Institute of
Archeology named after. Ya. Gulyamov have been conducting comprehensive
archaeological studies of the monastic necropolis, which being a unique object
is the only monument of this type in Central Asia, located near the monastic
complex. The necropolis was discovered two years ago during a visual inspection
of the area by Dr. D. Voyakin and Dr. S. Gilbert. The research is sponsored by
the Society for the Exploration of EurAsia, headed by Dr. Christoph Baumer.
A guided
tour to the monastery and necropolis aroused great interest and active on-site
discussions. The participants noted the high scientific value of the site under
study and the need to continue its comprehensive scientific study.
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