U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan Manuel P. Micaller, Jr. on April 26 joined local partners and community to celebrate the restoration of the Ancient City of Panjakent, a historic Silk Road site dating to the fifth century. Ambassador Micaller noted in his remarks: “Heritage sites such as Panjakent can increase tourism, boost local economies, and improve the prosperity of the Tajik people.”
Through the U.S. Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) program, the U.S. Embassy awarded the Public Organization Javononi Peshsaf a grant of $186,766 for the preservation and restoration of four key archaeological structures of ancient Panjakent: the Zoroastrian temple (dating from the fifth to eighth centuries), the defensive wall dating from the early fifth century, the ceremonial hall “Rustamiada” (seventh to eighth centuries) and the corner tower-defensive wall (fifth to eighth centuries).
PO Javononi Peshsaf, in close cooperation with local authorities and the Archeological Base of Panjakent and Sarazm, implemented the Ancient Panjakent archeological site project, contributing to increased international tourism, academic interest, and economic development in the region. The site illustrates the history of Sogdians of the fifth through eighth centuries and is a rare record of the life of Central Asia of that time. The preserved site, which had previously deteriorated from the weather, will now be preserved for future generations. The inclusion of the site on the UNESCO World Heritage List has raised its profile for international tourism, contributing to the long-term objectives of enhancing Tajikistan’s cultural sustainability. The implementer developed and applied strategies for using traditional materials and techniques in the restoration process using mud bricks, mud mortar, and clay plastering.
The AFCP program is devoted to preserving the unique cultural heritage of host countries. Since 2001, AFCP in Tajikistan has funded 17 projects, providing almost $800,000 to preserve the country’s unique cultural heritage.
Photo: U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan
