The ancient settlement of Ayrtam

Buddhist monuments in Uzbekistan

The settlement of Ayrtam is one of the antique monuments of ancient Bactria, located in the south of modern Uzbekistan, 10 km from the settlement of Old Termez, on the steep bank of the Amu Darya.

The ancient settlement was discovered quite by accident: a local fisherman cast his net and instead of a fish he pulled out a stone fragment on which young women who were playing music were depicted. So, this unexpected find made it possible to discover another ancient settlement called Ayrtam.

The history of the Ayrtam settlement began in the 2nd century BC, when a small fort-acropolis, surrounded by fortress walls on three sides, arose at the place of one of the crossings over the Amu Darya. Later, during the Kushan Empire, when Buddhism penetrated into Central Asia, Ayrtam became one of the religious centres. During excavations, the ruins of residential and religious buildings were found. There was also a Buddhist complex, consisting of a temple with a sanctuary and a stupa. From the stupa only the base built of raw bricks has survived to this day. During the excavations, scientists discovered the remains of a Buddha statue, sculptures and coins. The entrance to the sanctuary was decorated with so-called “Ayrtam reliefs” which are sculptural friezes depicting musicians who were playing various musical instruments. These works of art are considered to be the best examples of stone sculpture of the Kushan period. Other friezes depict gift bearers. According to historians, sculptural images are symbols related to worship.

Around the complex there were its household and industrial utilities including brick and pottery kilns.

At the end of the III century AD settlement of Ayrtam fell into decline, became empty and turned into  ruins forever. Today it is one of the oldest monuments of Buddhist culture on the territory of Uzbekistan.

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