On September 23rd, the Joint Archaeological Survey and Academic Exchange Activity for 2023 in the Fergana Basin, jointly implemented by multiple organizations including the Collaborative Research Center For Archaeology of the Silk Roads, the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) Xi’an International Center (IICC-X), the Samarkand Institute of Archaeology of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the National Archaeological Center of Uzbekistan, and Fergana University, officially commenced in the Fergana Region of Uzbekistan. Over 30 experts and scholars from various institutions participated in the launch ceremony, representing organizations such as the National Archaeological Center of Uzbekistan, Samarkand Institute of Archaeology, Fergana University, Namangan State University, Tajikistan National University, Osh State University in Kyrgyzstan, the Kyrgyz Academy of Sciences, the National University of Kyrgyzstan, the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, the Shaanxi Academy of Archaeology, Northwest University, and the Collaborative Research Center For Archaeology of the Silk Roads.
During the launch ceremony, speeches were delivered by prominent figures in the field of archaeology, including Academician Akhmadali Askarov, a renowned archaeologist and member of the National Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan; Shukhrat Sharafov, Vice Rector of Fergana University; Sardor Muminov, Director of the Samarkand Institute of Archaeology; Liu Tao, a researcher from the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Dr. Lier Wu, a member of the Scientific Committee for Cultural Routes of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS CIIC); and Professor Wang Jianxin, Chief Scientist of the Collaborative Research Center For Archaeology of the Silk Roads. All the experts emphasized the importance and necessity of the joint archaeological activities of these four countries and expressed their hopes for the successful outcome of this joint survey and academic exchange.
Following the ceremony, experts from the four countries will proceed to conduct a joint survey and academic exchange activity for nearly a week in the Fergana Basin, located in three regions of Uzbekistan. During this activity, they will explore the most significant archaeological sites found in the region and examine archaeological artifacts from local museums.
