Excavations near the ancient city of Panjikent have revealed an extensive industrial district dedicated to the production of high-quality glass and decorative metalwork. The 8th-century complex includes over 20 specialized kilns and a vast array of casting molds, identifying it as a primary production hub for the luxury goods that moved along the Central Asian Silk Road.
Archaeologists found fragments of cobalt-blue glass and silver-inlaid ewers that match artifacts previously found as far away as the Tang Dynasty capital and the Viking settlements of Northern Europe. This discovery confirms that the Sogdians were not merely middlemen in trade but were also master manufacturers who standardized luxury production for a global market.