Archaeologists excavating a residential sector of ancient Begram (Kapisa) have uncovered an intact merchant’s residence dating to the early Kushan Empire. The site yielded a treasure trove of enamelled glassware and bronze figurines, many of which appear to be of Roman and Egyptian origin, highlighting the cosmopolitan nature of the Silk Road trade.
The house also contained several rolls of carbonized silk and evidence of a private courtyard with a sophisticated drainage system. Researchers believe the owner was a high-status intermediary who traded Central Asian horses for Western luxury goods, offering a rare look at the daily life of the ancient world's most successful merchants.