Afrasiab (Samarkand) i yujnaya chast sredney zeravshanskoy dolini: dinamika zaseleniya samarkandskogo oazisa

The article analyzes the results of archaeological research carried out in the southern regions of the Samarkand region on the basis of the research of the Uzbek-Italian archaeological project "Samarkand and its territory". The survey uncovered a large area rich in archaeological sites, including multi-layered man-made hills and old irrigation canals. The study complements the historical development of the region, noting that the formation of Afrosiab (Samarkand), dating back to the Achaemenid period to the Timurid period, is associated with the growth of a sedentary population, the development of large irrigation systems. This work also demonstrates the impact of human activities on altering the archaeological landscape in the Zarafshan oasis, such as agricultural expansion and urban development.