The trade route between East and West has long been associated with cities located on the plains. But using remote sensing technology, archaeologists have discovered at least two highland cities, Tugunbulak and Tashbulak, which were located at a key crossroads of trade routes. This is reported by Kazinfrom News Agency, a partner of TV BRICS.

Scientists first spotted one of the lost cities in 2011 while hiking through grassy mountains in eastern Uzbekistan. The archaeologists were walking along a riverbed and spotted burials on their way to the top of one of the mountains. A plateau with unusual burial mounds was discovered there. As scientists found out, the towns of Tugunbulak and Tashbulak were located at an altitude of more than 2000 metres above sea level. Today, less than 3 per cent of the world’s population lives at such high altitudes.

Researchers speculate that communities may have chosen to settle in Tugunbulak and Tashbulak to utilise the strong winds to fuel the fires needed to smelt the iron ore that the region was rich in. Preliminary excavations have also uncovered production furnaces.

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