Ancient Iron Age settlement reveals secrets in Uzbekistan's Bandikhan II

Archaeologists have uncovered new details about Bandikhan II, an ancient site in Uzbekistan dating back to the early Iron Age. Excavations in 2023 revealed parts of the settlement's layout, construction techniques, and daily life from the 10th to 8th centuries BC. The findings include well-preserved walls, storage areas, and a diverse collection of artefacts.

The site was first identified in 1969, but joint excavations only began last year. Researchers focused on the eastern section, where they exposed the lowest layer, confirming its early Iron Age origins. Among the discoveries was a massive eastern wall, standing 2.1 metres high and 6.15 metres wide at its base, built without a foundation trench.

Inside the settlement, five interconnected rooms were found, arranged along a northwest-southeast axis. One room contained a lamp niche with a flat base and arched top, crafted from hardened red clay. Another space, measuring 3.69 by 1.33 metres, appeared to function as storage. The artefacts recovered include a large variety of pottery and stone tools. The pottery closely matches styles found at nearby sites like Kuchuktepa and Yaztepa, linking Bandikhan II to the Yaz cultural tradition of the early Iron Age.

The excavations provide the first clear picture of Bandikhan II's structure and purpose during the early Iron Age. The site's architecture, artefacts, and pottery styles offer concrete evidence of its role in the region's history. Further analysis of the findings will help piece together daily life and construction practices from over 2,800 years ago.