Archaeologists Discover Rare Kushan Empire Seal Bearing a Portrait of a King in Tajikistan
Specialists from the National Museum of Tajikistan have made a unique discovery in the south of the country. During excavations at the ancient site of Sayed in the Abdurahmon Jami district, archaeologists discovered a well-preserved clay seal dating back to the Kushan Empire.
The fired-clay artifact has survived almost completely intact. It consists of a circular stamp measuring 6 centimeters in diameter and a 5-centimeter handle with a hole for a thread. The front surface features a Bactrian inscription carved in mirror image, geometric patterns, a portrait of a monarch wearing a serrated crown, figures of mountain goats, as well as symbols of authority associated with Kushan and local rulers.
At the height of its power, from the 1st to the 3rd centuries AD, the Kushan Empire occupied vast territories stretching from Central Asia to northern India. The discovery of the richly symbolic seal will allow researchers to gain a deeper understanding of the administrative system and historical development of that period.
The artifact is currently being examined by specialists from the museum’s Department of Archaeology and Numismatics. The museum notes that the findings may alter some established scholarly views about the era. Detailed research results are expected to be published at a later date.
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