Historic Sights of Tashkent

3.1 Afrasiab Settlement - legend and description
At the entrance to Samarkand from the north side there is the ancient settlement of Afrasiab (VII-II centuries BC), which is located on high hills. What is amazing that there were no any sign of the city and local population called this site as the city of Afrasiab, believing in the legend of existence of the huge city, founded by the mythic king Turan. Actually it is the settlement of ancient Samankard of pre-Mongol period. It was the site of urban life from VI century BC till the destruction by Mongol troops in 1220. In the course of excavations it was determined that the city of Afrasiab consisted of fortress, inner city and outskirts. In the inner city researchers found residential and handicraft quarters, the mosque, remains of the palace of Samarkand ruler (VII-VIII centuries), where they found wonderful fresco, devoted to the events of the city life.
The ancient core of Samarkand is located on the Afrasiab (Afrosiab) hill, named after the legendary Turanian king.
3.2. History of the archeological site of Afrosiab
To the south, beyond the Siab River, are the gloomy yellow-grey hillocks of Afrosiab, full of mysteries. Afrosiab is the name of the mythological king of Turan, who is a heroic character in the poem "Shakh-name" by the great poet Firdousiy. Today, Afrosiab consists of a great number of lifeless hillocks adjoining Samarkand to the north. However long time ago Afrosiab was the place where the life of the ancient Samarkand people was in full swing.
Archeological excavations of Afrosiab began at the end of the 19^th century, after Central Asia had been annexed to Russia. The first excavations were conducted by Major Borzenkov in 1874 and Lieutenant Colonel Krestovskiy in 1883.
It has now been proven that the first Afrosiab settlement, in the form of a town, existed more than 2000 years ago. The town was encircled by strong defensive walls, and had a citadel, a mosque, houses and workshops for artisans. The area was crossed by many straight streets and divided into blocks, or "guzars". A ramified system of channels and reservoirs supplied the population with water.
A barrow opened in 1965 in the center of Afrosiab turned out to be amazingly rich in archeological finds. The finds were beyond scientists' expectations. The excavated buildings made of adobe, murals in many colours and inscriptions in Sogdian.

1. 
   Imam al-Bukhari
   

Imam Al-Bukhari was the great theologian of the East. He collected and recorded about 600 thousand hadith, i.e. legend based on cases of life or some sayings of the Prophet. Imam was born in Bukhara in 810 year and ended his life in Samarkand. He was buried in a small village Hartang, 30 km from Samarkand.
The mausoleum of Imam al-Bukhari presents in all of its magnificence. In the complex that occupies a vast territory, there are mausoleums, mosques, hotel for tourists and pilgrims, souvenir shops and religious literature.
The mausoleum of Imam al-Bukhari is one of the main pilgrimage sites in Uzbekistan. The visiting of three shrines in Samarkand – the mausoleums of Al-Bukhari, Shahi Zinda and Rukhabad – within one day, is called “small Hajj”.

2.