Kampyr-Tepe

Kampyr-Tepe stands as one of the most ancient archaeological sites within Uzbekistan. This historic settlement, located on the banks of the Amu Darya River (formerly known as the Oxus), was established at the close of the 4th century BCE and thrived until the early 1st century BCE. Positioned approximately 30 kilometers northwest of Termez on the river’s right bank, Kampyr-Tepe functioned as a vital port city and played a crucial role in the operations of the Burdaguy ferry. It served as a hub for travelers and traders along the Silk Road, providing facilities for rest, customs processing, and religious practices.

In 2019, Central Asian historian Edward Rteveladze proposed that Kampyr-Tepe corresponds to the ancient Alexandria of Oxia, a port city founded by Alexander the Great along the Amu Darya. Despite numerous references to the city in ancient texts, its exact location had eluded scholars for centuries.

The Kampyr-Tepe site encompasses several key components: a central citadel, encircled by a moat, a «downtown» area protected by a rampart with towers, and an unfortified suburban area. Excavations have revealed well-preserved layers from the early Hellenistic, Greco-Bactrian, and Kushan periods. These findings, along with the site’s architectural features, indicate a rich tapestry of religious and cultural coexistence. Zoroastrians, Buddhists, worshipers of ancient Greek deities, and adherents of local cults cohabited harmoniously at Kampyr-Tepe.