INTRODUCTION

The earliest tracks of the inhabiting of man in the territory of Tajikistan count about million years and relate to the ancient-rock century (Paleolithic). They were widespread in the republic - up to the peaks of the eastern Pamirs - the monuments of Gissar Neolithic culture. With the earliest centers of civilization in the Near East, they were apparently connected with the inhabitants of the settling of the Bronze Age in the third and 2nd millennium B. C., opened in the valley Zeravshan - near the settlement of Sarazm. It is well studied as the last stage of the epoch of bronze in both northern and southern regions of Tajikistan.

Ancient period in the history of Tajikistan (the middle of 1st millennium BC - the middle of 1st millennium AD) - this time of addition and existence in Central Asia of early class society is the time of the formation here of the first state associations, the time of the ethnic and lingual consolidation of the numerous tribes of predominantly eastern- Iranian lingual group. By these processes in the epoch of antiquity were touched up both basic groups of the ancient inhabitants of Tajikistan - nomads and settled farmers. Direct contacts - not only commercial, but also military-political - with other peoples, which were being located on the higher step of civilization, undoubtedly, accelerated these processes.

Archaeological given is basic source for the reconstruction of the history of this period, which contributes essential additions and correctives into scant and interrupted information of written sources. Archaeological studies make it possible to speak about a sharp increase in the areas, mastered by settled farmers, and about the creation of the irrigation systems of large extent, about the appearance (including in the territory of Tajikistan) of the first it is municipal - with the powerful defensive installations, with the buildings of monumental nature, with the wide development of the specialized handicraft production, about the appearance of imitative releases and finally coins of own coinage. It is more difficult according to archaeological data to trace the radical changes in the ideology, which also fall to this epoch. Excavations already gave the earliest monuments of written language and the first monuments of monumental skill to us. Written sources almost nothing report about the social device of Central Asia in the middle of 1st millennium B. C. - to the middle of 1st millennium A. D. Thus far we vaguely present the structure of society, the place in it of city and rural neighborhood to that similar aspects of life, which do not find direct reflection in the monuments of material culture.

In the middle of 1st millennium B. C., peoples of ancient Central Asia for the first time appear at the world historical arena, and science is located about them not only archaeological data, but also information of written sources. Complex and complete dramatic nature were the historical fates of the ancient inhabitants of contemporary Tajikistan. In 6 - 4 B. C., Central Asia was included in the composition of Achamenes empire, but occurred this by no means peaceful way: about 530 B. C. found its loss, attempting to subjugate the peoples of Central Asia, the founder of this powerful state is Kurush (Kir), they repeatedly occurred here uprising against the strange supremacy.

In the 30's of 4C BC, there was Achaemenes’s reign burnt. Alexander Macedonis, who passed demolished it by victorious march in Asia Minor, Egypt and countries of the Near East. But in Central Asia this triumphal procession of the "conqueror of peace" paused itself almost for three years: Greco- Macedonian army earlier met nowhere as like this serious resistance as in Sogd. In the fight with the foreigners, everything, boundless deserts, and gorges of mountain with the fortress of unapproachable cliffs (one of them was located somewhere in the spurs of Gissar ridge and is not thus far found), was used. Indeed, throwing the person Alexander into bitter truth, one of his associates during the feast in Samarkand - for several instants before the angered czar pierced by his spear, he spoke about Sogdian: "Many times she resisted and never subjugated, and also cannot be subjugated!". Civilized Hellene brought the blood and destruction to Central-Asian "barbarians" - in northern Tajikistan was only effaced municipal from seven countries.

Only after the century - in the 2nd half of 3C and 2C. BC, in the period of essential Greco-Bactoria's reigns (its capital was located near contemporary Balkha in North Afganistan), the peoples of Central Asia were introduced to the authentic Hellenistic culture in entire with its variety and splendor.

　Temple of Oxa on the fortification to Takhti Sangin in southern Tajikistan (near the boundary of Vakhsh and Panj) - the only thus far monumental construction of Greco-Bactoria’s time, discovered to the north of Amu-Darya, so vividly imprinted a combination of Hellenistic culture with the ancient local traditions. The fate of this building reflects in the miniature the historical fates of the ancient inhabitants of Tajikistan in that alarming epoch. At the end of 2C - 1C. BC, this splendid and very rich temple came into the desolation: the invasion of nomadic tribes from the depths of Asia (antique authors called them Tokhara, in Chinese chronicles they were named Yuehshih) put an end to bloom of Greco-Bactorian culture.

　Tokhara-Yuehshih period in the territory of Tajikistan is the thus far mainly tumulus and ground tombs 1C. BC - 1C. - 2C. AD elevation of one of the tribes of Yuehshih - tribe it is consumed - led to the creation of the powerful Kushana’s reign, whose northern boundary passed, probably, on the Gissar ridge, and southern - in the valley of the Indus. The Hellenistic heritage of Greco-Bactorian epochs, ancient Central-Asian traditions and rich cultural property of Indian civilization proved to be alloyed - within the framework of Kushana’s power - into one whole. To this period is fallen the revival of temple the Oxa and late period of its existence, which gave base layers. Bright idea (although perhaps thus far and not entirely complete) about the Kushana’s period was given by the numerous archaeological monuments, investigated in the territory of Tajikistan. In central Tajikistan (valley of Zeravshan) the layers of its time are thus far studied weakly, but northern Tajikistan, after being set right from the consequences of Greco-Macedonian invasion, it continued in the last century BC. - the first century AD., to preserve its independence: assumption about the fact that the Kushana's reign stretched to the north to Syrdariya, it did not find confirmation by facts.

Both for the northern and southern regions of Tajikistan, for all period of their unique history coexisted and interaction of settled- agricultural and nomadic population is characteristic, although the relationship between these two groups changed and it was not always balanced. As a rule, with the nomads connect the tombs of tumulus, but wide acceptance in northern Tajikistan in second fourth of the first millennium AD and is later than the Podboyno (a kind of burial) -catacomb burials (including - "Karabulak-Vorukh" culture), Kurum (burial structure on earth) and so on makes it possible to speak about the process of the gradual settling of nomadic population. Newly open ground tomb of Langari Khojiyen - logical completion of this process. True, thus far it is still very difficult to define concretely the planned using the archaeological materials complex and is far from always reliably provide ford with the information of written sources the etnogenetical picture of ancient epoch (the middle first millennium BC. - the middle first millennium AD.).

In 5C - 8C the history of Central Asia - these are the time of complication and formation of new social and economic system, the time of formulation and stabilization of classes and classes of feudal society, its hierarchic structure, etc. These drastic change is unavoidably found in reflection (is true, not always straight line and direct) on the monuments of material and artistic culture, investigated by archaeologists.

Passage from the antiquity to the early middle ages was accompanied by military actions and political fight - short-term Sasan's occupation of the very southern regions of Tajikistan, invasion of Ephtalites, by internal civil wars and the like by catastrophes. But the conducted investigations (at least, in the territory of Tajikistan) did not reveal trace the social and economic crisis, by which it were accompanied, as assumed, the change of public formations.

In the epoch of early-Middle Ages, contemporary Tajikistan was not composed united historic- geographical region, but it was divided into several different and historically (in the cultural sense) and politically isolated parts. Southern Tajikistan entered into the composition of northern Tokharistan. The eastern part of the valley of Zeravshan was composed in Sogd, united entire with the remaining territory. And northern Tajikistan partially entered into the composition of Ustrushany, which was already designed at this time into independent territorial- political unit, although which preserved very close connections with Sogd, and partially - into the composition of Fergana and Ilaka.

The wide spectrum of social and economic and historical cultural changes was achieved into 5C - 8C. In each of these regions as the sum of the internal development of society, completely independently and with specific special features. But the external manifestations of these complex processes and eventual results, to which they led, as a whole, are approximately identical, which can serve as one additional confirmation of the formational nature of all these conversions.

　Thus, one of the manifestations of feudalization (and the very characteristic property of this process) - the mass appearance is good of the fastened residences of noble - castle. In the territory of Tajikistan they appear in West Fergana, in the environments of Shakhristan, and in the valley of Zeravshan, and in the southern regions. Around such castles the settlements appeared and very rapidly converted into new Shakhristan, city of early-Middle Ages. More complete, anything this process of their formation is investigated now, perhaps, on the fortification of Penjikent; somewhat different version of development demonstrate the fortifications of Kalai of Kakhkakha in 1C and 2C in Shakhristan. But they continued in 5C - 8C, existed and developed the cities, which arose into epoch of antiquity - for example, Khujand. Complexity and variety of the urban life of the early middle ages in Central Asia appeared and were defined concretely only into latter ten - fifteen it was placed because of the archaeological studies widely unrolled in Tajikistan.

In Sogd, Tokharistan and, apparently, in Ustrushan there was a similar hierarchic structure of the early feudal society: the obtained during the excavation documents of 8C directly report about this. Few feudal, by each of which rules their "sovereign" ("owner'"), they were united into the "reign", the head of which became one of such specific "sovereigns" (or "owners"). Tsar was, thus, as if elder among such "owners" - first among the equal. Apparently, in Sogd the authority of tsar was formally not hereditary, but elective.

In the documents of Sogd from the castle on Mug Mountain, the supreme ruler of Sogd is always named "Tsar of Sogd, sovereign of Samarkand". But on the documents from the same archive, it is known that this title- the "sovereign" of Penjikent of Devashtich , was born at least two years . Apparently, analogous structure existed also at other social level - inside each of the feudal: "sovereign", who stands in the head of feudal, also was first only among the equal with respect to the nobility in his "domain". This social structure in Sogd and other political associations of early-Middle Ages in the territory of Tajikistan, apparently, gone back to the device of society at the final stage of primitive communal system and it serves as the important typological sign of feudalism.

The monuments of early-Middle Ages epoch in Tajikistan prepared its culture and art with numerous glad surprises for the researchers. The comprised integral part of the architectural decoration of buildings, thread on the wood, statue and multi-meter sculptural friezes from the clay, painting by a theme of hundreds square meters, all of these are opened now in Ustrushan, in Sogd, and in northern Tokharistan, in the palaces and the temples, in the houses of nobles and rich merchants, in the Buddhist monastery and the temples. Each new work of depictive skill brings us closer to understanding of the spiritual culture of the ancestors of Tajik’s people, their ideology and literature.

In the culture of the different regions of Central Asia, the early-Middle Ages epoch distinctly outlined the indisputable signs of the process of its unification. And although this phenomenon obtained especially wide spread and final completion only in 9C - 10C already on entirely different political and ideological basis - its first forerunners, tendency itself toward this unification for the first time completely definitely was recognized in 6C - 8C.

Separately should be noted the leading role of Sogd and its culture in this process. In the different fields, simultaneous appearance of the close forms of ceramic vessels and methods of their ornamentation, identical collections of belt, jewelry articles and so on still would be possible to explain simply by "mode" or adoptions in the adjacent regions. But in practice if united technical methods and standards in the building are simultaneously extended on entire Central Asia with this, if the letter and language of Sogd were used for the inscriptions on such official documents in the epoch of Early Middle Age in Sogd, in northern Tokharistan, in Ustrushan and even in Chach, as release of monetary, we are right to establish that this are all - the manifestation of tendency toward the creation of the united culture of all these regions.

　Increasingly more clearly it became and the mechanism of this process, the reasons, which ensured dominant position to culture of Sogd and for skill of Sogd. From ancient time, Sogd and people of Sogd played special role in the land trade of Asia. Numerous colonies of Sogd existed on the caravan ways in Kirghiz, in East Turkestan, up to the boundaries of Tanskoy power and in its limits. But people of Sogd were not only the most important organizers of international trade - main "Conductor of camel" of Asia. Simultaneously they come out and as the main carriers of cultural values from one people of Asia to another. At this time, language of Sogd was the basic language of the international contact of Asia. And it is no wonder that in the very Central Asia the precisely culture of Sogd becomes backbone, basis in this process of unification.

Rapid bloom in the early-Middle Ages epoch of urban life was accompanied not less distinct bloom of monumental depictive skill. Represented on the exhibition works of early-Middle Ages painters and sculptors - only small part of the monuments of early-Middle Ages skill opened in the territory of Tajikistan. This comparison of the works, created by the masters of three basic historical regions of early-Middle Ages Tajikistan - Sogd, Tokharistan and Ustrushan, the best way to the understanding of general laws governing the skill of the ancestors of the Tajik people of this epoch.

Medieval epoch in the east sometimes represent as the gloomy centuries of stagnation and even decline, especially in the development of culture as the epoch of the "stopped time". The absolute domination in the social and economic life of developed feudal relations, and in the ideology and the culture - Islam and its establishments really they showed the decisive action on the fates of the peoples of Central Asia.

But, Because of the entire validity of these generalized truths, they too "raised" above the concrete history with its decreases and lifts, with its variety and bright tones of real life, they are too abstract in order to give complete idea about the process of development.

Medieval epoch in the history of Tajikistan - this entire millennium, ten centuries, each of which so is not similar on another. And perhaps, the brightest, most unexpected historical phenomenon is fallen to the very beginning of this epoch, to the division between 8C and 9C. The invasion of aggressors, destruction it is municipal and castles, the severe destruction of rebellious and finally forced by Islam, which in effect indicated not only the adoption of strange religion, but also complete refusal of the centuries-old traditions of its own culture, this tragic completion of early-Middle Ages epoch, it would seem, it meant that Sogd, Tokharistan, somewhat later Ustrushan were rejected back in their development...

But somewhere in last decades of 8C - beginning 9C, miracle occurred, or qualitative jump happened, and united and completely new culture swiftly extended in entire Maverannakhra, which is at first glance in nothing not similar to the Domusulyman cultures of Central Asia. All its component parts undergo renovation and elements - complete change not only it was gustatory, but also technical arsenal it occurred in the greatest mass handicraft production - ceramic, in the manufacture of the metal-ware (including artistic); for the first time durable place both in the architecture and in the construction practice it occupied (together with the raw brick and adobe) fired brick and the like new religion (Islam) brings with itself not only the new sacred books and new rites, but also new written language, new calendar, new schools. Although their scale was changed and their value for the culture was enormous, but it was not so unexpected and surprising. But simultaneously - in the very short time - practical language changed, by which the inhabitants of Maverannakhra talked. As the replacement for languages of Sogd, Bactoria (with their dialects) and others, united language of the peoples of Central Asia came - for the enormous territory from Bukhara to the Pamirs and from Khojhent to Kabulistan - the language: language of Tajik, or gift of language. After this, of course, change of population did not continue in Maverannakhra (i.e. without the withdrawal of some population groups and the arrival of others). - The scales of changes are too great for this, yes even anthropological the composition of the population of Central Asia remains before: the discussion deals with appearance and formulation of new national character - of Tajik.

By the political basis of this process, as the important condition of consolidation and cultural bloom of Tajik national character in 9C - 10C served the powerful state of Samanid. The start in 8C of Maverannakhra in the composition of Arab caliphate did not simply open to yesterday's Sogd and Tokharistan. It accessed to the treasure house of the intellectual values of that time, but also caused the bright flash of creation, which allowed them to make its remarkable contribution to the world culture. After entering in it the names of Firodusi, Abu Ali Ibn Sin (Avitsenny) and other distinguished scientists, poets, thinkers. Continued this process and later, when after a drop in the dynasty of Samanid of Maverannakhra it proved to be under the rule of Karakhanid.

The progressive development of the peoples of Central Asia was interrupted by intrusion of the hordes of Gengis Kahn in the 20's of 13C. The cities fell and the inhabitants enslaved, irrigation systems and ceased to be cultivated field were destroyed ... Only in 14C - 15C occurred new economic lift, and after it and the bloom of culture.

The co-existence of settled-agricultural and nomadic population remained as the characteristic feature of Central-Asian reality, also, in the Middle Ages. Frequently appear in this epoch the political associations (sometimes very significant and even enormous sizes), for the head of which they cost the dynasty of nomadic origin. Apparently, not only the stability of communal agricultural structure and the conservatism of Moslem clergy, but also the periodic transition of power of the state (at the different levels of feudal hierarchy) to the representatives of nomad peace (with the characteristic for them and, apparently, determined by the economic specific character of steppe cattle breeding survivals of the primitive communal, ancestral organization of society) determined at this time not only rates and trend in development of social device, but also the nature of the Central-Asian culture of the developed middle ages.

　Apparently, not only Islam reigned in the ideology of medieval Central Asia, but also steady traditions of the art of nomads appeared in the artistic culture of medieval epoch. This brought, first of all, the perfection of art in the ornament - geometric, plants, epigraphic, sometimes - with the elements of zoological. Ornamental decorativeness was completely superior to the architectural decoration, in the jewelry articles, and in the ceramics, and in the artistic articles made of the metal. As for the art of pre-Mongol period in Maverannakhra, it is possible to speak more often about the technical isolation of center by the production of various artistic articles, than about the differences between the artistic schools with depictive means and the stylistic special features of its arsenal. But, Judging of general regularities so far early - monuments of medieval art in the territory of Tajikistan are so far investigated less thoroughly than the monuments of early-Middle Ages and even ancient epoch. Bright pages of the history of the artistic culture of medieval Tajikistan - decoration of stucco and picture of the monumental buildings of Khuttalya, reveals close connections with the art of Gaznevid. The excellent wood carving of Zerafshan continues the traditions of masters of Sogd. The remarkable findings of artistic articles made of the metal from northern Tajikistan, which demonstrates close connections with the works of Near Eastern masters, etc. Yet they were not formed in the united "story", and they for the moment do not give consistency and intelligibility in all detail ideas about its art in the development. But it is possibly not to doubt that the joint efforts of archaeologists, historians of culture and art critics will make it possible to recreate the millennial history of the medieval art of Tajikistan in full weight and variety.

Discovery of the ancient and medieval monuments of culture and art is one of the brightest and considerable achievements of the development of science in Tajikistan, in the first place, archaeology. The history of the archaeological research of Tajikistan is the history of the years of long-standing scientific search, in which ten persons yearly participated and participate. Systematic scientific research of the antiquities of Tajikistan began in 1946, when the institute of the history of the material culture of the AS USSR was established. It was the Tajik branch of the AS USSR by National Ermitaj Sogd-Tajik expedition headed by the corresponding member of the AS USSR A. Y. Yakubovskiy.

Until then the territory of Tajikistan was in effect continuous white spot on the archaeological map of Central Asia, and about the random findings of the objects of old times they were known only when they fell into the museums and other collections, frequently - far beyond the limits of Tajikistan. Above has already been mentioned about the fate of the famous treasure of Amu Darya, found in southern Tajikistan - on the fortification of Takhti Kobad - and proven to be in London, in the British museum. It is possible to give other examples. For instance, in the 90's of 19C in Samarkand museum the copper axe of 3 millennia BC was brought, which was found near the settlement of Eri on right coast of Zerafshan (Now - Penjikent region, state of Leninabad). In 1927 the column of woodcarving of 10 C was exported from the settlement of Obburdon (region of Aynin). It was the first time that they were described and photographed by M. S. Andreev in 1915.

Then in Tajikistan there were neither museums nor the scientific establishments, which could take the concern with the historical past of region on themselves. Numerous geological, botanical, ethnographical and other various expeditions, which worked here in the pre-revolutionary years and in 20 - 30's, manifested, of course, the interest also in the archaeological monuments, but most frequently this was interest of accompanying and sufficiently surface. The archaeological expedition of the museum of eastern cultures (Moscow) under the management of B. P. Denike visited the very southern regions of Tajikistan in 1928 (including famous now fortification castle, Takhti Sangin). It was the first special expedition in the territory of republic, but excavations here did not carry out and the history of the archaeological research of Tajikistan passed for completely without a trace.

In 1932 - 1933 remarkable findings were made on the hill of Kalai Mug (at Berkhhem Zerafshan), very rapidly became sensation world values. The case as it was opened slightly the archaeological treasure house of the depths of the Tadjik soil, and it made slightly possible to glance into it for some time... Unfortunately, the story of Idilicheskaya version about this discovery (it might be encounter of the literature and the present time) was hushed up. The amateurish excavations of A. Puloti rushed forward headlong without supervision. And it is the fact that A. A. Freiman and A. I. Vasilev conducted their works only thirteen days - moreover under the snow and the rain - from 10 to 23 November, 1933. Actually these excavations were realized as the very low level of scientific methods (Litvinskiy, 1954, s. 14 - 16; Yakubov, 1979, s. 97 - 99 and further), were clearly as long ago as 1934 (Aptekar, 1934). Other researches carried out in the same years (1933 - 1934) under the management of B. A. Latiniy (with the participation of National Ermitaj) in the territory of Tajikistan - in the region of Isfarin. Aalthough they worked busily reconnoitering nature, they deserve the very appreciation both according to perfection of procedure and according to the problems - tasks, which the expedition presented to itself. This "attempt at compiling the picture of historical development of one of the regions of republic" as a whole is complex - with the research of irrigation systems and tombs, castles and fortifications, etc. Unfortunately the first step in the systematic archaeological research of Tajikistan did not become. Works were interrupted and obtained the continuation only of twenty years later (Davidovic - Litvinskiy 1955).

In the 30 - 40's of 20C, operation of the committee on the protection of the monuments of the history of Tajikistan was noticeably activated in Tajikistan, of which V. R. Cheilitko of the archaeologist and student of local history was chief executor by the person of all undertakings, as a rule. In the inspection of the territory of Tajikistan, the presentation and the primary calculation of archaeological monuments introduced in these years large enough practical contribution to the amateur students of local history of A. E. Madji, A. P. Kolpakov, R. Makhmudov, V. D. Salocinskiy et al. But, unfortunately, their preparedness to this activity was considerably inferior (as both in V. R. Cheilitko) to their enthusiasm and interest. V. R. Cheilitko conducted even small excavations on some monuments (and, in particular, on the fortification of Penjikent), but the sums of these works was reflected, at best, only in the newspaper notes, and dating and historical conclusions of V. R. Cheilitko and other amateur student of local history are most frequently erroneous.

Establishment in 1946, Expedition of Sogd-Tajik did not simply derive archaeological researches in Tajikistan for the new scientific methods level - principally changed the scale of the works, which received unknown previously expanse and enveloped almost entire territory of republic. A. Y. Yakubovskiy succeeded himself in creating the large association of archaeologists and orientalists (mainly, Leningrad), well familiar with Tajikistan, training of the first national personnel began. Since 1952, the name of expedition was changed: it begins to be named the "Archaeological expedition of Tajik", which reflects, in the first place, the expansion of the problems of the work of the expedition, chronological and geographical framework of its researches.

Substantial aid in the organization of the archaeological expedition of Tajik was showed by B. G. Gafurov, who manifested also subsequently a constant attention and interest in the study of antiquities in the republic. With B. G. Gafurov's name is directly connected the second outstanding event, which radically changed nature and direction of archaeological studies in Tajikistan. It was establishment in the member of AN Tajikistan of the institute of history, archaeology and ethnography (now - the institute of the history named A. Donish), which was led by one of the outstanding Soviet orientalists of elder generation A. A. Semenov. And inside the institute - the sector of archaeology and numismatics with B. A. Litvinskiy and E. A. Davidovic as heads.

The continuous archaeological inspection of the territory of Tajikistan became for many years the basic direction of the activity of archaeologists in the republic, together with the continuation of the works of large excavation on the fortification of Penjikent and the thorough studies of many other monuments. It occupied important place in these years and the study of archaeological objects in the zone of large new lands - inspection of the future bottom of Kayrakkum reservoir, and then Nurek sea, reconnaissance and excavations in the developed anew Valley of Yvan, etc. When the history of the archaeological study of Tajikistan is written, in which histories and the culture of Tajik people and its ancestors, made in the 50th - the 60's of the discovery of remarkable monuments, will occupy honorable position. These monuments are located in the tombs of Kurgan of the Isfarin region and in the Valley Beshkent, in the capital of early-Middle Ages of Ustrushan in Bunjikat and in the ruins of the Buddhist monastery of Ajinatepa in the Valley Vakhsh, on Saksanokhur fortification in the Parkhar region and in the palace of the ruler of medieval Khuttal - on fortification of Kurbanshaid in the Khatlon region.

But the "capital" of archaeology of Tajikistan all these years was indeed remained the fortification of Penjikent of 5C - 8C, excavations of which A. M. Belehitskiy led since 1952. For a long time, masterpieces of art of Sogd acquired worldly renown and were yearly able to be found here, all determined, concretely sketched it and given contribution, which the people of Sogd introduced to the culture of central Asia as a whole.

In 1973 the archaeological expedition of Tajik was divided into three independent expeditions: North-Tajikistan headed by N. N. Negmatov, South Tajik, work of which B. A. Litvinskiy led, and Penjikent (headed by A. M. Belenitskiy together with B. I. Marshak and V. I. Raspopov). This organizational step reflected first of all the sharply increasing volume of researches of archaeological monuments in the territory of Tajikistan, the expansion of the researched problems and, as a result, an increase in the quantity of parties, yearly left to the field. But the general direction of works, the principles of scientific methods of archaeological researches in the republic, remained in this case as before. Long-standing work on the continuous archaeological inspection of Tajikistan approached the completion and the composition of the archaeological map of republic. It achieved by the archaeological sector of institute of history named A. Donish AN of Tajikistan (since 1971, V. A. Ranov led the sector). The sector of the history of the culture of the institute named A. Donish (N. N. Negmatov managed it) conducted great research work with close relation to the archaeological problem.

As the reliable assistant of archaeologists and indispensable participants in many expeditions, the colleagues created in the institute of the history named A. Donish of restoration laboratory, headed by L. N. Novikov.

Great work on research and retention of the antiquities of Tajikistan conduct establishments in the system of the Ministry of culture of Tajikistan. All random findings of the objects of old time were collected with great cares, some museums (republic museum named A. Rudaki in Penjikent, Sogdian provincial museum of local history, etc.), having available their qualified personnel of archaeologists, conducted works of excavation together with the expeditions of AN Tajikistan. Close attention to archaeological studies in the republic is constantly given and inspection on the protection of the monuments of the Ministry of culture of Republic Tajikistan, the Society of the protection of the monuments of history and culture of Tajikistan yearly gives significant means to the excavations. In 1979 by archaeological preserves were declared the fortification of Penjikent and the Gissar fortress.

The academician A. Mukhtarov of AN Ttajikistan conducted great and fruitful work on the collection of epigraphical monuments. The numismatic meeting of the institute of the history named A. Donish, which arose literally at the empty place, now possesses the collections of large scientific value, studied and published more fully than in other Central-Asian republics.