Archaeologists working in the remote northern province of Balkh have announced the discovery of a sprawling Sogdian trade hub dating back to the 6th century CE. The site, which served as a critical junction on the ancient Silk Road, was identified using thermal satellite imagery before field excavations revealed a complex of mud-brick warehouses, residential quarters, and a grand administrative center.
The most significant find within the ruins is an archive of Sogdian-language ledgers written on birch bark and leather. These documents provide unprecedented detail regarding the trans-continental trade of gemstones, horses, and medicinal herbs between the Tang Dynasty and the Sassanid Empire. Preliminary analysis suggests the hub maintained specialized quarters for merchants of various ethnicities, underscoring the cosmopolitan nature of the region.