Shahrukhiya

Shahrukhiyais a site of ancient settlement located 88 km to the southwest ofTashkent,Uzbekistan,on the right coast ofSyrdaryaRiver (40°45′59″N68°54′05″E). It is the first large city of the Tashkent oases, situated on the GreatSilk RoadthroughYaksart(Syrdarya). In the oriental sources, it was famous under the nameBenaket,and the portion of the Great Silk Road direction called by its name.

Background

Shahrukhiya consisted of a citadel, two cities' territories, and a wide trade craft suburb (a "rabad"), in a total area of 400 hectares. Fortress walls with towers are surrounded by the citadel,Shahristan,andrabad.The walls were erected byAmir Timur Beg Gurkani,he named the city after his youngest sonShahrukh MirzaasShahrukhiyain 1392. Archeological research has discovered fortification constructions, handicraft workshops of potters and glass blowers, bazaar areas, systems of municipal improvements on the city, and the remains of the front residential constructions of the Epoch ofTimuridsandKhanate of Bukhara.The memorial complex, "Shomir-kara ovlia", functioned in the northwestern part of Rabad in the 16th century. The traces of the memorial mosque ofAbdullah Khan Iwere preserved here, that was built for Shah Emir Asadullah, the ishan of Shahrukhiya, and a marble grave. A site of ancient settlement of Shahrukhiya existed from the 3rd-4th century until the 18th century. Originally, it was a small city at the passage, but it became a huge city during the 10th-11th century. It was destroyed by theMongols,and later reconstructed by Amir Timur, and named Shahrukhiya. Since that time, it became an important economic and cultural center in the state of theTimuridsandShaybanids.The city had its own mint, and outstanding scientists, poets, penmen, and artists have lived here.

World Heritage Status

This site was added to theUNESCOWorld HeritageTentative List on 18 January 2008, in the Cultural category.