Published December 15, 2023
9 min read
Come explore an ancient arena for the Central Asian sport of dead goat polo in the Pamir foothills of central Tajikistan. This unassuming, rectangular meadow echoes with centuries of history, situated high above the breathtaking Panj River. Inhabited for centuries, this once sprawling settlement is now lost to history. It is believed to be a keystone of national efforts to resurrect a distinctly Tajik identity from the country’s fragmented history.
Archaeologists have dubbed it Kala-i Kukhna, or Castle Karon, the fortress “located at a height”—truly a historical gem waiting to be discovered. It is the most important archaeological site in Tajikistan, likened to Machu Picchu itself in terms of historical importance.
Yusufsho Yakubov, chief archaeologist at the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, stumbled upon something extraordinary in the Darvoz district in 2012—a hidden gem within the Pamir Mountains. The site stood as a rumor for years until he arrived, unearthing archaic mausoleums, fire temples, and remnants of a substantial defensive wall. The evidence of winemaking and gold processing, alongside the unearthed ancient coins, date back to the second century A.D.
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