Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- In 2021, archaeologists in Sherabad district of Surkhandarya region on the territory of the Surkhon State Reserve, Khatak department, Bokhlar-Dara massif discovered a Neanderthal human dwelling dating back to 100,000-40,000 years BC. From June 2022, large-scale excavations began at the site.

During the excavations, it was found that in a cave formed at a height of 15-20 m above the surface of a vertical rock and very difficult to access, along with stone weapons, crushed bones of wild animals, a complete and imperishable picture of the life of a Neanderthal dating back to 100,000-40,000 years BC has been preserved. (remains of ashes, a round hearth). Currently, excavations are being carried out by the chief researcher of the National Center for Archeology of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, archaeologist Rustam Sulimanov and paleontologist of the Center for Human Evolution Research at Griffith University in Australia, Julien Louis.

For information, the Khatak cave was discovered in 2021 by a doctoral student of the National Center for Archeology of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan Kholier Oinazarov during the search for petroglyphs. The study and the first excavations at the monument were carried out in June 2022.

To preserve this unique archaeological monument on the territory of the Surkhon State Reserve, it is necessary to create an archaeological museum of the Khatak cave. In turn, the entrance to the cave can be protected with glass windows or iron bars, in order to study the cultural layer of the cave with modern methods and paleontology, paleogeography, possibly preserved genetic heritage of the ancient people who lived here. There is need to build a high wooden or metal platform in front of the cave, surrounded by barriers and equipped with stairs, for tourists and visitors to the Khatak Archaeological Museum, who came to get acquainted with the primitive life of man.