### The Neglected Cities of the Tien Shan: Revealing Concealed Urban Centers Along the Silk Road
The Silk Road, an extensive web of ancient and medieval trade routes, bridged the East and West, connecting cities like Beijing with Constantinople, and Hangzhou with Cairo. Although much of the historical interest has been concentrated on the network’s endpoints—China and Europe—numerous other cultures and urban areas played essential roles in the exchange of goods, ideas, and technologies. One such disregarded region is the Tien Shan mountains, which, contrary to being a mere hurdle for traders to navigate, were home to vibrant cities that greatly enhanced the Silk Road economy.
Recent archaeological finds, supported by advanced technology such as drone-based lidar, have uncovered that the Tien Shan mountains were not simply a hindrance but a thriving center of trade and culture. Cities at these high altitudes, like Tashbulak and Tugunbulak, were more extensive and intricate than many contemporary European cities, reshaping our understanding of medieval commerce and urban development.
### The Tien Shan: A Mountainous Crossroads
The Tien Shan, the largest east-west mountain range on Earth, extends across present-day Central Asia, encompassing areas of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. For centuries, these mountains were viewed as a daunting barrier that Silk Road traders needed to navigate, circumventing the perilous Taklamakan Desert. However, recent investigations led by anthropologist Michael Frachetti from Washington University in St. Louis have overturned this belief.
“People believed these mountains were merely obstacles the caravans traversed and not significant contributors to commerce themselves,” asserts Frachetti. His team’s findings have shown that the Tien Shan hosted large, advanced cities, some of which were situated over 2,000 meters above sea level, akin to renowned high-altitude cities like Machu Picchu or Lhasa.
Among the most astonishing discoveries is Tugunbulak, a city that surpasses Siena, one of the most significant city-states in medieval Italy. Tugunbulak, along with cities such as Tashbulak, was vital in aiding Silk Road merchants as they navigated the dangerous mountain pathways.
### Into the Mountains: A Revised View on the Silk Road
The Silk Road was not a singular, well-established route, but rather a convoluted network of trails that enabled the exchange of goods between East Asia and Europe. While the roots of this trading system can be traced back to the Bronze Age, it reached its zenith during the medieval period, between the 6th and 11th centuries.
For merchants of the medieval era, the journey along the Silk Road was challenging and could span up to a year. One of the most difficult segments of this journey was navigating the Tien Shan mountains. Nonetheless, these mountains were not merely a blockade; they housed prosperous cities that offered crucial resources and services to merchants.
Frachetti’s team has dedicated years to examining the Tien Shan, viewing the mountains not solely as an obstruction but as a source of social and economic interaction. This research led to the identification of Tashbulak, a medium-sized settlement situated at the western edge of the Tien Shan range in modern-day Uzbekistan. Tashbulak, sitting at an altitude of 6,500 feet, featured a citadel, dense urban structures, and city walls surrounding 98 buildings.
### Tugunbulak: An Uncovered Metropolis
Although Tashbulak was an important find, it was merely the beginning. In 2015, while analyzing pottery shards at the Tashbulak site, Frachetti encountered a local forest inspector who mentioned discovering similar pottery near his residence. This led to the revelation of another medieval city, Tugunbulak, hidden beneath the rugged landscape.
Utilizing lidar-equipped drones, Frachetti’s crew mapped the region, unveiling a vast city with walls that encompassed 120 hectares—nearly five times the size of Tashbulak. For perspective, the medieval walls of Siena enclosed an area of 105 hectares at the peak of its influence, while Genoa’s walls safeguarded only 20 hectares during the same time frame.
Tugunbulak emerged as a sprawling urban center with hundreds of buildings, streets, palaces, plazas, and even industrial complexes that may have been involved in iron or steel production. The city’s magnitude and sophistication indicate that it was a significant political and economic hub in the area, playing a pivotal role in the larger Silk Road economy.
### A City of Iron?
One of Tugunbulak’s most fascinating elements is its possible involvement in iron manufacturing. The nearby mountains are plentiful in iron ore, and Frachetti’s team suspects that the city served as a center for blacksmithing and metalwork. However, many questions persist regarding the lives of the city’s residents and their lifestyle.
“Did they live
