[Okayama University] Two Zoroastrian Temples Discovered in Sogdiana, a Key Hub on the Silk Road! - Revealing a Cosmopolitan Culture with Murals and Later Han Mirrors -

June 1, 2026

Key facts

[Okayama University] Two Zoroastrian Temples Discovered in Sogdiana, a Key Hub on the Silk Road! - Revealing a Cosmopolitan Culture with Murals and Later Han Mirrors -
On June 1, 2026, an international joint research team including Okayama University announced the discovery of two Zoroastrian temples dating from the 5th to early 8th centuries at the Kurdour Tepa and Kurgon Tepa ruins in Uzbekistan. The excavation of a Later Han mirror and precious colored murals from the altars reveals the fusion of Eastern and Western cultures and unique cultural development along the Silk Road.
Source: PR Times
Date: June 1, 2026

Direct answer

On June 1, 2026, an international joint research team including Okayama University announced the discovery of two Zoroastrian temples dating from the 5th to early 8th centuries at the Kurdour Tepa and Kurgon Tepa ruins in Uzbekistan. The excavation of a Later Han mirror and precious colored murals from the altars reveals the fusion of Eastern and Western cultures and unique cultural development along the Silk Road.

Citation: [Okayama University] Two Zoroastrian Temples Discovered in Sogdiana, a Key Hub on the Silk Road! - Revealing a Cosmopolitan Culture with Murals and Later Han Mirrors - (June 1, 2026), PR Times
Source: PR Times
Date: June 1, 2026

On June 1, 2026, an international joint research team including Okayama University announced the discovery of two Zoroastrian temples dating from the 5th to early 8th centuries at the Kurdour Tepa and Kurgon Tepa ruins in Uzbekistan. The excavation of a Later Han mirror and precious colored murals from the altars reveals the fusion of Eastern and Western cultures and unique cultural development along the Silk Road.

cultureNQ 48/100出典：PR Times

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📰 Published: June 1, 2026 at 12:11
🔍 Collected: June 1, 2026 at 03:20
🤖 AI Analyzed: June 2, 2026 at 07:22 (28h 2m after Collected)

June 1, 2026 Okayama University https://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/ Zoroastrian (fire-worshipping) temples worshipped by Sogdians and others were discovered at two ruins in Uzbekistan. A Later Han mirror, "Four-leaf seat inner-running flower pattern mirror," suggesting a connection with East Asia, was excavated from the temple altar. Extremely rare murals also remain, indicating a fusion of Eastern and Western cultures. The excavation results are on display at a special exhibition at the National Museum of Ethnology until June 2. ◆Overview An international joint research team consisting of Assistant Professor Tomomi Murakami of the Advanced Research Area (Research Institute for the Dynamics of Civilizations), Okayama University (Headquarters: Kita-ku, Okayama City, President: Yasutomo Nasu), the Samarkand Institute of Archaeology, and the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences has discovered the remains of two Zoroastrian (fire-worshipping) temples that functioned from the 5th to the early 8th centuries at the Kurdour Tepa and Kurgon Tepa ruins in the Republic of Uzbekistan, a key hub on the Silk Road. In this survey, the team achieved a significant result by discovering two temples in succession, which are rare in the region. Furthermore, precious colored murals depicting Sassanid Persian-style figures and floral patterns, gold ornaments, silver coins, and a Later Han mirror, "Four-leaf seat inner-running flower pattern mirror," which was also widely transmitted to Japan, were discovered at the site. As a result of elemental analysis, this mirror has a different composition from general Chinese mirrors and features an unprecedented wavy pattern. Therefore, it is an extremely important discovery as it may be an "imitation" produced in the Western Regions. These discoveries are valuable findings that show that the people of Sogdiana did not simply transport Western culture to the East, but incorporated cultures from various regions and developed their own unique culture (These results were presented at the 31st, 32nd, and 33rd West Asian Excavation Report Meetings). In the future, we aim to further advance our research to clarify the reality of Western culture and what kind of influence it had on East Asian culture, including Japan. This information was released by Okayama University on May 22, 2026. ◆A Word from Assistant Professor Tomomi Murakami When you hear Uzbekistan, you may feel it is a distant foreign land, but the mirrors found and the expression of the crowns worn by the figures depicted in the murals were also transmitted to Japan. It is a discovery that makes us realize once again that cultures are connected. At the special exhibition "Tales of Silk Road Merchants - Ruins of Samarkand and Eurasian Exchange -" being held at the National Museum of Ethnology until June 2, the excavation results and excavated artifacts of the temples discovered this time are on display, and you can also see the actual Four-leaf seat inner-running flower pattern mirror. Please come and experience the energy of the people and cultures that traveled the Silk Road at the venue! ◆Paper Information Paper Title: Exploring the Cities of Sogdiana - Excavation Survey of Kurdour Tepa Ruins, Republic of Uzbekistan (FY2025) Published in: FY2025 Ancient Orient Told by Archaeology - Report Collection of West Asian Ruins Survey Report Meeting Authors: Tomomi Murakami, Alisher Begmatov, Alisher Sandiboev, Navruz Alimov, Amriddin Berdimurodov, Hirofumi Teramura, Takao Uno, Kaoru Suemori URL: http://jswaa.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/report23-murakami.pdf Paper Title: Exploring the Cities of Sogdiana - Excavation Survey of Kurgon Tepa Ruins, Republic of Uzbekistan (FY2024) - Published in: FY2024 Ancient Orient Told by Archaeology - Report Collection of West Asian Ruins Survey Report Meeting Authors: Tomomi Murakami, Alisher Begmatov, Alisher Sandiboev, Gairat Makhamadiev, Amriddin Berdimurodov, Marina Reutova, Navruz Alimov, Feruz Subkhonov, Hirofumi Teramura, Takao Uno, Kaoru Suemori, Hiroyuki Oshigane URL: http://jswaa.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2d371e7070cb85a6e7f815b1049a3f98.pdf Paper Title: Exploring the Cities of Sogdiana - Excavation Survey of Kurdour Tepa Ruins, Republic of Uzbekistan (FY2023) - Published in: FY2023 Ancient Orient Told by Archaeology - Report Collection of West Asian Ruins Survey Report Meeting Authors: Tomomi Murakami, Alisher Begmatov, Alisher Sandiboev, Gairat Makhamadiev, Navruz Alimov, Amriddin Berdimurodov, Hirofumi Teramura, Takao Uno, Kaoru Suemori, Hiroyuki Oshigane URL: http://jswaa.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/112-116-22-murakami.pdf ◆Research Funding This research was conducted with the support of JSPS KAKENHI (JP23K00928, JP23K25400), the Mishima Kaiun Memorial Foundation, and Mr. Igor Klyakhandler. ◆For More Details Two Zoroastrian Temples Discovered in Sogdiana, a Key Hub on the Silk Road! - Revealing a Cosmopolitan Culture with Murals and Later Han Mirrors - https://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/up_load_files/press_r8/press20260522-1.pdf ◆Reference ・Research Institute for the Dynamics of Civilizations, Okayama University https://ridc.okayama-u.ac.jp/ Okayama University Tsushima Campus (Kita-ku, Okayama City) where the Research Institute for the Dynamics of Civilizations is located ◆Contact Information for This Matter Assistant Professor Tomomi Murakami, Research Institute for the Dynamics of Civilizations, Okayama University 3-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama 700-8530, Okayama University Tsushima Campus TEL: 086-251-7290 FAX: 086-251-7290 https://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/tp/release/release_id1551.html Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama 700-8558 Please inquire about relevant matters from the URL below http://shin-iryo.hospital.okayama-u.ac.jp/ph_company/ Research Promotion Division, Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration Promotion Section, Okayama University Hospital 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama 700-8558 TEL: 086-235-7983 E-mail: ouh-csnw◎adm.okayama-u.ac.jp * Please replace ◎ with @ http://shin-iryo.hospital.okayama-u.ac.jp/medical/ Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration Headquarters, Organization for Research and Innovation Co-creation, Okayama University 1st Floor, Headquarters Building, Okayama University Tsushima Campus, 1-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama 700-8530 TEL: 086-251-8463 E-mail: sangaku◎okayama-u.ac.jp * Please replace ◎ with @ https://www.orsd.okayama-u.ac.jp/ Task Force for Strengthening and Promoting the System and Maintenance of Shared Use of Research Equipment at Okayama University (Abbreviation: Team Shared Use) 1st Floor, Headquarters Building, Okayama University Tsushima Campus, 1-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama 700-8530 TEL: 086-251-8705 FAX: 086-251-7114 E-mail: cfp◎okayama-u.ac.jp * Please replace ◎ with @ https://corefacility-potal.fsp.okayama-u.ac.jp/ Startup and Venture Creation Headquarters, Organization for Research and Innovation Co-creation, Okayama University 1st Floor, Headquarters Building, Okayama University Tsushima Campus, 1-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama 700-8530 E-mail: start-up1◎adm.okayama-u.ac.jp * Please replace ◎ with @ https://venture.okayama-u.ac.jp/ Okayama University Media "OTD" (App): https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000011.000072793.html Okayama University Media "OTD" (Web): https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000215.000072793.html Okayama University Original Goods Online Shop: https://okadaigoods.official.ec/ Okayama University Integrated Report 2025: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000003715.000072793.html Okayama University SDGs Homepage: https://sdgs.okayama-u.ac.jp/ Okayama University SDGs - Thinking about the Sustainability of Local Communities (YouTube): https://youtu.be/Qdqjy4mw4ik Okayama University Image Movie (YouTube): https://youtu.be/pKMHm4XJLtw Okayama University Regional Core and Distinctive Research University Strengthening and Promotion Project (J-PEAKS): https://j-peaks.orsd.okayama-u.ac.jp/ Industry-Academia Co-creation Activity "Okayama University Open Innovation Challenge" Seeking Co-creation Activity Partners for April 2026: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000003912.000072793.html Advantageous Research Equipment Rental and Lease "SX Platform" that Requires No Installation, Maintenance, Repair, or Removal Costs https://sxplatform.jp/ Okayama University supports the United Nations' "Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)". It has also received the Special Award at the government's 1st "Japan SDGs Award". Please look forward to Okayama University, which promotes co-education and co-creation as a regional core and distinctive research university. Okayama University Selected for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's "Regional Core and Distinctive Research University Strengthening and Promotion Project (J-PEAKS)" - Co-creating the future of the region and the earth, accelerating the realization of Okayama University as a research university that is the core of global innovation, and building a mountain range of research universities in our country that we can be proud of to the world - https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000001935.000072793.html

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How does this discovery relate to East Asian history?

The excavation of a Chinese Later Han mirror from the altar indicates that East Asian culture reached Central Asia through the Silk Road and integrated with local cultures.

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