The ancient settlement of Sarazm in western Tajikistan offers a remarkable window into early human civilization in Central Asia. Dating back to the 4th millennium BC, Sarazm flourished as a major regional center for trade, agriculture and metal production during the Bronze Age. Excavations have uncovered remains of workshops, pottery kilns, and monumental architecture, as well as artifacts that suggest cultural influences from as far away as India and Iran. In 2010, UNESCO recognized Sarazm’s immense historical significance by naming it a World Heritage Site.

Today, Sarazm’s foundations can be seen under protective roofs, with signs signifying the areas. Althoigh it takes some imagination, with some background one can picture the ancient farmers and traders who once inhabited this long-forgotten settlement. Standing amid this primordial Central Asian society lost to the sands of time, it’s humbling to reflect on the ingenuity and enterprise that enabled cultures like Sarazm to take root and thrive even 6,000 years ago along the proto-Silk Roads of Eurasia.