A. Donish Institute of History, Archeology and Ethnography

Since its inception, the Institute is a multidisciplinary research institution that develops problems in the history of the Tajik people from ancient times to the present day. At present, the institute has six departments: ancient, medieval and modern history, modern history, archeology, ethnography, science and technology, history, culture and the arts. The Institute has also archaeological bases: Kabadian, Teguzak, Penjikent-Sarazm, the latter of which in 2010 was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Currently, research at the institute is done on seven topics of fundamental nature: the history of the Tajik people, the general patterns and specific features of the historical process (the ancient, medieval and modern times), the history of the Tajik people, the general patterns and specific features of the historical process (the latest time ) archaeological study of Tajikistan; ethnography of Tajiks and other peoples of Tajikistan, History of Science and Technology of Tajikistan from the earliest times to the present day, the history of art and culture of the Tajik people, a set of historical and cultural monuments of the Republic of Tajikistan.

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Based on the tremendous archaeological material collected from the study of Badakhshan area of RT in the past 50 years, “The archaeological map of the Western Pamirs” was published in 2008 whereas, “Archaeological Map of the Eastern Pamirs” will be published soon. The real sensation was the discovery of Buddhist monastery; Ajina Tepe in the south of Tajikistan. An important contribution to science was the study of the history of mining and irrigation of late medieval monument, in particular of Hulbuk, Khujand, and others.

Tajik ethnographers surveyed areas of the Garm region in the basin of Surkhob within Karategin and Darwaz. Survey results form the basis of a monograph: “The Tajiks of Karategin and Darwaza” in three volumes and provide understanding of issues related to the ethnogenesis of the Tajik people and its connections with other nations similar genetically. Currently, in the Institute of Ethnography, there are over six thousand items of cultural material of Tajiks. Ethnographic collections are often exhibited in various exhibitions, both in the republic and abroad.

In 1958, Art History section started systematic collection of materials on history of culture and arts of the Tajik people. To the Pamirs, in the areas of Zarafshan Valley, Nurek, Khujand, Garm and the Bukhara region of Uzbekistan, special expedition of art history were also provided. On the basis of these materials, four collections of art were published, which in addition to the field of materials includes articles on the history of fine arts, theater, music and an album of applied art and monographs.