Near Kurghan-Tube lies another site of significant interest to tourists: the ancient ruins of the city of Lagman, located along the banks of the Vakhsh River. This city dates back to the 10th to 13th centuries. Excavations began on this site in the 20th century, uncovering the remnants of ancient water systems, including sections of an old aqueduct and wells lined with bricks. Portions of the fortress walls, crowned with towers, also remain intact. During its peak, Lagman was one of the largest settlements in ancient Bactria.
In the ancient fortress of Lagman, situated in the Jaloliddin Balkhi district, archaeologists discovered fragments of walls and architecture from the Samanid era, as well as several ceramic artifacts. The fortress is located in the Uzun jamoat area, on the banks of the Vakhsh River, just 12 kilometers from another ancient site, the ruins of Khaleward. Research in this area began as early as 1875.
It is believed that the Lagman fortress covered approximately 42.5 hectares and had four gates, each facing a different direction. The gates were equipped with complex mechanisms, and near each one stood a watchtower. The region was known for its developed agriculture and water supply systems.
After the Arab conquest, civilization in the Vakhsh Valley was revived, with Lagman becoming a central hub on the left bank of the Vakhsh River. Numerous legends and myths surround this ancient city. Numismatists have discovered coins minted in this city bearing the inscription «Vakhsh,» leading some researchers to believe that the city was originally named after the river itself.
During the Samanid Empire, Lagman became one of the most significant cultural centers of the Vakhsh Valley. However, following the empire’s collapse, the valley was conquered by Turks and later by the Mongol-Tatars, and the city ceased to exist as a center of civilization in the Vakhsh Valley.
Archaeological work continues at this site, and many more discoveries are anticipated in the future.