George B.
Google
In the city destroyed by Mongols in the 13th century, the Afrasiyab Museum rises beside ancient ruins. Built in 1970 by Armenian architect Bagdasar Arzumanyan, it opened for Samarkand’s 2,500th anniversary. Inside, over 22,000 artifacts—coins, weapons, ceramics, tools—sit in precise order. Murals from the 7th–8th century Ikhshid dynasty palace survive intact, bold and rare. The old Afrasiyab settlement once spanned 200 hectares, a Silk Road hub now buried. Archaeological layers preserve 2,100 years of history without break.