Abstract:

Uzbekistan is bordered by Kazakhstan in the west and north, Afghanistan in the south, Turkmenistan in the southwest, Kyrgyzstan in the east and Tajikistan in the southeast. Tashkent and Semerkant are among the most important historical and cultural centers of the city. As a result of archaeological studies carried out in Fergana Valley, Tashkent Oasis, Semerkant Oasis, etc., it was determined that the settlement history of Uzbekistan dates back to Ancient Ages. Tashkent dates back to IInd millienium BC. And also the study Grek sources of Ist century BC., strengthened the knowledge about the formation of cities with their archaeological data. As we focus on this regions’ cultural history, we notice the presence of “Kelteminar Culture” which dates back to III rd millienium BC in Uzbekistan-Taskent. And also some settlements that dates to the end of IIIrd millienium BC – beginning of IInd millienium BC, were discovered here. In VI – Vth BC, we can see the improvement of trade and handworks in this region. This city, which has been the capitol of Çaç region, has been developed especially in the VI -VIIth centuries starting from the first centuries AD. During this period, the dominance of Gokturks of this region, Metal weapons, household goods, leather, cotton and wool textile products, ceramic and porcelain pots produced in Tashkent have gained importance in domestic and foreign trade. The excavations that were held in Tashkent and its environment, show the extention of this city’s important trade from Byzantine in the west to the China in the east by the findings of various coins. Especially the coins with the inscriptions and depictions of the Turkish rulers give us important details both in historical and art historical manner. In addition, the coins of the states that existed in a wide geography starting from Byzantium in the west to China in the east during the excavations in Tashkent and its surroundings reveal that the city was a remarkable trade center. Semerkant has the ruins that were called as Afrasiyab nowadays. It was first established on the southern bank of the Zerefshan river, on a high place that was overlooking the valley. This city has many evidences of Gokturk Period art even though it was the center of Sogdiana. Semerkant was ruled by Grek-Bactrian Kingdom in 189 BC., however it was taken by K’ang-chu Turcs in 1st century BC. After that this city was under dominance of Gokturks in 562. All these historical datas and archeological findings show that Semerkant, as well as Tashkent, has many art works of Gokturk Period. In this context, we are going to focus on the frescos, terrocota figurines and ossuaries from Semerkant. After Genghis Khan's destruction of Samarkand, a new city was established further south on the site of today's modern Semerkant. This city was the administrative center of the whole Transoxiana in the first periods and later of the Sogd (Sogdiana) region. Under the light of all these informations we can focus on that besides the dominance of various cultures and statements, Tashkent and Semerkant have been ruled mostly by Gokturks and have very important artistic materials for Turkish culture not only for Islamic period but proto-Turk and Gokturk periods. So, it this research the importance of Tashkent and Semerkant for the Gokturk Period is art is going to be evaluated by taking into account of the archaeological findings which are mostly under the preservation of “State Museum of the History of Uzbekistan”,“National Center of Archaeology in Tashkent”, “Afrasiyab Museum” and “Hermitage Museum”.

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