Archaeological excavation and documentation of kafir kala fortress

Abstract

The site of Kafir Kala is located in the south-east of modern Samarkand city, Uzbekistan, and well-known for its unique sealings and other artifacts. Since 2013, the Japanese-Uzbek joint archaeological expedition has been carrying out excavations and digital surveys on this site, mainly focusing on the fortress area. This paper is a preliminary presentation of newly excavated pre-Islamic structures and 3D models, contributing to a better understanding of the urban settlement history of pre-Islamic Samarkand, as well as other regions of Central Asia.