LONDON, November 3. /Dunyo IA/.  Archaeologists have discovered prehistoric rock paintings and the remains of a Bronze Age settlement in Uzbekistan’s Nurata Mountains, reports Dunyo IA correspondent, citing with the British online publication “Heritage Daily”.

According to an article entitled “New Archaeological Discoveries Made in Uzbekistan’s Nurata Mountains”, the findings were made during archaeological surveys conducted in October 2026 in the mountainous and foothill areas of Kushrabat district, Samarkand region.

Researchers from the Yahyo Gulyamov Samarkand Institute of Archaeology identified images made with natural ochre on the walls and ceilings of several rock shelters. Paintings were found in the Egrijarsoy, Khodjasoy (Badimin), Galajinsoy and Sumbulsoy areas. They are believed to date to the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods, although further research is needed to establish their precise age.

In addition, Bronze Age pottery fragments were found at three sites in the Pangat area. Approximately 700–800 metres east of Kumolokli village, archaeologists excavated an exploratory trench measuring two metres by one metre. The excavation revealed a Bronze Age settlement with an archaeological layer 60 centimetres thick, containing numerous pottery fragments and animal bone remains.

Researchers believe the discoveries could provide valuable insights into early human settlement in the Nurata Mountains and the development of cultural links between ancient communities across the region. They have recommended large-scale archaeological excavations to investigate the newly identified sites in greater detail, particularly the Bronze Age settlement.