EXPLORING THE SARATEPA FORTIFICATION CASTLE AROUND OF SAMARKAND

This article highlights the history of the unique Saratepa fortress castle in the Samarkand region, destroyed during the creation of collective farm fields before construction began in the 1980s.The work is based on the results of the author's study of the development of the historical part of Samarkand on the example of the modern residential area of Sattepo. The significant contribution of Samarkand archaeologists Lebedeva T.I. and Buryakova E.Yu. to the study of the early medieval Saratepa castle is indicated. Such studies are important in order to find a balance between preserving the true cultural values and updating the historical and architectural appearance of the city of Samarkand for its further development. It is noted that defensive castles near water resources, connected by a chain of long protective walls of the area, were of great importance in studying the history of the development of urban fortification in the early Middle Ages.