Samarkand Usbekistan Is One Of The Oldest & Most Important Cities Amongst The Many In This Historic Region Of Central Asia Known As Transoxiana

Located in the Zerafshan River valley, the city enjoys the benefits of abundant natural resources and occupies as well a key place on the trade routes of Central Asia.
There is no direct evidence of when it was founded.
Researchers at the Institute of Archaeology of Samarqand date the city's founding to the 8th-7th centuries BCE. Archaeological excavations conducted within the city limits as well as suburban areas unearthed 40,000-year-old evidence of human activity.