Working out archaeological GIS structure "Cultural heritage of Zarafshan valley"

The Samarqand region is located in the Zarafshan River basin (central Uzbekistan) contiguous with Tajikistan. The territory includes extensive plains and low mountain ridges and is rich in historical and architectural sites of different epochs. By joint efforts of Soviet and international expeditions in the Pastdargom area significant material on the history of urbanization in ancient Sogdiana has been obtained. Investigations of historical landscapes in the Pastdargom area have revealed the necessity of accumulating data and working out geoinformational database. The article presents the potentials of GIS- technologies for reconstruction of a detailed picture of human settling in the investigated area of Samarkand region, and tracing the routes once included in the system of the Silk Road. A specialized archaeological GIS "The Cultural heritage of the Zarafshan valley" was created. It is highly promising for investigations of the historical landscape and archaeological heritage of the Pastdargom area.