Around 100 people – students from Bukhara schools, experts, journalists and foreign guests – participated in the archeological presentation.

The archeological excavations, under way for two months and commissioned by the Institute of Archeology of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, involves Bukhara scientists. Initially, the goal was to partially restore a caravan-serai (inn), where Silk Road travelers could rest and recover from the day’s journey, which used to be located on the excavation site. However, the archeologists made a stunning discovery when they unexpectedly unearthed an ancient men’s bath. There are sources dating from the 16th century that mention the bath. However, it was believed the bath had been totally destroyed in the late 15th century.

“We had planned for archeological finds to be shown during “Asrlar sadosi” Festival by our archeological expedition whose goal was to restore the caravan-serai once located at the digs site,” says Tuygun Babayev, architect and head of the Inspection to Protect Cultural Legacy Monuments of Bukhara Region. “But we did not know that the ancient bath was located here. This bath and its reconstruction is mentioned in archived materials dating from the 12th-15th centuries. In the 15th century there was no mention whatsoever of the bath. In terms of its architecture, this is a truly traditional Bukharian bath with a specific location of rooms and economical water supply system. We’re planning to finish the excavations within six months and to add this ancient bath to the list of major tourist attractions in Bukhara.”

Several sections of the bath have been restored, including a bed linen room, a changing room, an ablution room, massage and mud bath sections. Once restorative work is complete, this site will be turned into a new tourist site. Thus, the Festival of Traditional Culture organized by the Fund Forum led to new historical finds and emergence of a unique tourist attraction.

Bukhara is a city with a particular water consumption culture. It had 18 baths, both men’s and women’s. The baths were not used solely for body cleaning purposes, but also for negotiations and philosophical conversations. The first place travelers visiting a caravan-serai headed for was the bath. Also, visiting a bath was a must for girls before their marriage. There, they had to go through pre-marriage rituals. For married women this was a perfect get-together spot where they could chat about fashion, beauty and health. The baths also offered medical treatment procedures such as herbal baths, herbal tea, mud baths and massage. Moreover, the baths had various-temperature rooms.

“This area is one of Bukhara city’s oldest parts,” says Jaloliddin Mirzaakhmedov, senior research fellow with the Institute of Archeology of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan “But we couldn’t figure out why Chinese sources say that Bukhara was separated by five walls. It emerged that an ancient Shakhrukh river flew here, dividing the city into Ark Citadel and five sections of the shakhristan, the main part of the city. In spring the river would overflow and wash away homes, which led to the construction of walls around uplands. Protected by these walls, the city prospered and developed for around 2,500 years. Bukhara has always been a major center of spirituality and trade. It was home to 30 caravan-serais for the Chinese, Indians and Kashgarians subject to the Russian Empire. Originally, we were planning to partially restore one of the caravan-serais near Magoki-Attori Mosque and demonstrate it during “Asrlar sadosi” Festival. Our architects and restorers were preparing this object to be presented at the festival, but we chanced upon this amazing bath complex, which was not listed in any archeological map. It has a cruciform shape, a fire chamber in the south and bathrooms in its northern part.”

The technical characteristics of ancient Bukharian baths are worthy of admiration and are not yet studied well enough by scientists. From the engineering viewpoint, creating a unique heating system using ordinary wood, with various temperatures under the floor and spherical ceilings preventing suffocation and combining many rooms is no mean feat.