View source for Paykend

{{Short description|Archaeological site in Uzbekistan}}
[[File:Decorated fork, 7-8th century, Paykend.jpg|thumb|upright|Decorated fork, 7-8th century CE, Paykend.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Rante |first1=Rocco |title=Splendeurs des oasis d'Ouzbékistan |date=2022 |publisher=Louvre Editions |location=Paris |isbn=978-8412527858 |page=123}}</ref>]]
'''Paykend''' or '''Poykent''' ({{Langx|uz|Poykend}}), an ancient city in [[Uzbekistan]], is located in the lower stream of [[Zarafshan River]] and was one of the largest cities of the [[Bukhara oasis]]. The city consisted of a citadel, two settlements, and a ''rabod'' (suburb). Paykend is currently under consideration for inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
==Site description==
[[File:Glass bottle, Paykend, 10-12th century.jpg|thumb|left|Glass bottle, Paykend, 10-12th century]]
According to the archaeological research, Poykent was founded as a small village in the 4th century B.C., and was later transformed into a fortress. During that period, it was a trade center, as the city connected Southern countries (Bactria, India, Iran) with Northern countries (Front of Ural, Coast of Volga, Northern Caucus). Poykent was one of the important military and trade centers of the Western borders of the [[Sogd]]. Due to the development of the [[Silk Road|Great Silk Road]] and joining with Poykent fortress have been founded first and second sites of ancient settlement. Hence the city Poykent was founded.
According to Chinese chronicles, this city was under the "An" ([[wikt:安|安]], [[Bukhara]]) kingdom and was the centre of the "Bi" ([[wikt:毕|毕]]) [[khanate]]. It has also been noted that in Poykent there was no khokim (governor), the city was ruled by traders' council, and in the full sense of the word the city was a republic in the 6th-7th century. The scientists of Institute of Archaeology of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan have carried out scientific research in the ruins of the city for a long time. As a result, [[Zoroastrian]] temples, a palace, and a mosque, built in the 9th century, and remnants of a tower were found in citadel. In the inner part of city were discovered defensive walls, a gate, roads, and the remains of [living] quarters (makhallas), while on the outside rabads (suburbs) of the city - there are pottery centers and caravanserais. According to the researcher, due to the inaccessibility of the lower flaw of Zarafshon River, the city ceased to exist in the middle of the 9th century.<ref>[https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5301/ Poykent - UNESCO World Heritage Centre]</ref>
==History==
[[File:Lampe à double bec (Paykend).jpg|thumb|Lamp with double beak, 11-12th century. Paykend.<ref name="AC234">{{cite book |last1=Collinet |first1=Anabelle |title=Splendeurs des oasis d'Ouzbékistan |date=2022 |publisher=Louvre Editions |location=Paris |isbn=978-8412527858 |page=234}}</ref>]]
{{Empty section|date=July 2010}}
==World Heritage Status==
This site was added to the [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage]] Tentative List on 18 January 2008, in the Cultural category.
==Notes==
<references/>[https://journals.openedition.org/asiecentrale/pdf/1841 2. https://journals.openedition.org/asiecentrale/pdf/1841]
==References==
https://journals.openedition.org/asiecentrale/pdf/1841
{{Coord missing|Uzbekistan}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Uzbekistan]]
[[Category:Populated places in Uzbekistan]]
[[Category:World Heritage Tentative List]]
{{Central Asian history}}
{{Tourist attractions in Uzbekistan}}
{{Authority control}}