A joint China-Uzbekistan archaeological team has uncovered a 3,000-year-old city in Surkhandarya Region, revealing the structure of a settlement dating from the 10th to the 8th century BCE at the Bandikhan II site.

The discovery provides rare insights into early Iron Age urban planning, construction techniques, and settlement functions, The Caspian Post reports via Uzbek media.

Researchers confirmed that the lower cultural layers belong to this period, making Bandikhan II the largest and best-preserved settlement of its kind in the Bandikhan oasis.

Surkhandarya has long been known as one of Uzbekistan’s richest archaeological regions. Experts say the find sheds light on the historical development of the region, as well as ancient trade routes and cultural links across Central Asia.

The early Iron Age, roughly 1200-800 BCE, followed the Bronze Age and remains a key focus for archaeologists. Found structures and artifacts reveal details about daily life, social connections, and technological skills of the ancient population.

Further excavations are expected to bring new discoveries, deepening understanding of Central Asia’s early Iron Age civilizations.