The discovery of a large 120-hectare ancient city located in the Malguzar mountains of Uzbekistan has shed new light on Uzbekistan's history. The city, which has been named Tugunbulak by archaeologists, is unique in that it is situated at an altitude of 2000 meters (6,600 feet), and was formerly thought to have been built solely in lowland areas along the Silk Road. The study on Tugunbulak's past, published in the journal Nature, further demonstrates the importance of the mountainous regions of Central Asia as major contributors to industrial development during this time. The fierce mountain winds acted as natural bellows, providing the high-oxygen airflow necessary for large-scale iron and steel production. This high-altitude industrial hub redefines Silk Road geography, proving that medieval mountain communities harnessed extreme environments to dominate metallurgy and reshape the global trade landscape.
