Change and Continuity in the Samarkand Oasis: Evidence for the Islamic Conquest from the Citadel of Kafir Kala

The archaeological complex of Kafir Kala is one of the largest and most important sites in the Samarkand Oasis. After some preliminary works in the last century, the site has been the object of systematic investigation by the Italo-Uzbek Archaeological Expedition since 2001. The extraordinary discovery of 500 clay sealings is witness to the major role played by Kafir Kala in the rich trade along the “Silk Road”. Evidence of the Pre-Islamic occupation is dated to the end of the seventh – beginning of the eighth century ce, when a fire caused the upper citadel to be suddenly abandoned. Soon after this event the citadel was resettled for a few more centuries. Although the area around Samarkand is very rich in archaeological and historical sites, Kafir Kala represents a unique case study for understanding the changes connected to the Arab conquest of the early eighth century. The main goal of this article is to show how the transition related to the Arab conquest of Samarkand is evidenced by the archaeological record, through analysis of the stratigraphic sequences, reuse and transformation of architecture, and the changes and continuity in daily life and material culture.