National Museum of Tajikistan

On July 27, 2011, the Decree of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan № 675 was issued on the establishment of the State institution of the «National museum of Tajikistan». The museum has a total area of 24,000 sq.m and the exhibit space occupies 22 rooms with a total area of over 15,000 sq. m.

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The first floor. The Department of Ancient and Medieval History is one of the biggest exhibition department in the National museum of Tajikistan. This hall is situated at the first and the second floor of the museum. The display of this department begins with demonstration of the map of historical sites of the Republic of Tajikistan. In addition, the exhibition of the hall displays objects from the Stone Age period of Tajikistan such as Ancient Settlement of Sarazm, Zoroastrianism culture and religion, Acheminid Empire, Greco-Bactrian Empire, The Kushanid’s Empire, Ephtalists and Ancient Panjakent that have been found in the territories of Tajikistan. The findings from Panjakent Ancient Site (V-VIII A.D.) like wall murals, curved woods in the shape of dancing girl, ceramic vessels, peace of wall painting which is the evidences of the rich culture of this civilization center of the Tajiks, which in the World is famous as «Pompeii of the East»

The exposition begins with a map of historical monuments of the Republic of Tajikistan, which introduces the visitors with more than 2000 monuments located on the territory of Tajikistan. Also displayed an artistically diorama of the Stone Age, where the work of the primitive man is reflected. The oldest historical site of the Stone Age period of Tajikistan is Kuldara, which is located in Khovaling district of Khatlon region, the age of this site is over a million years old. The continuation of the first hall tells about the Bronze Age period. The finds from the monuments of the Bronze Age period such as Zarchachalifa, Kangurtut, Gelot, Makony mor, Ittifok, Dashti Kozi and Kairokum are displayed.

The second hall tells about the pre-Islamic culture, historical finds, including ossuaries, the sacred book of Avesta, the Zoroastrian calendar, holidays of the Tajiks - Sadda, Navruz, Mehrgon.

The fourth hall with its unique exhibits tells about the Sasanids and Eftalits periods. The word of "eftal" is still used among the people as "yaftal". The importance of the period of the Ephthalits is that during this period the Tajik people fought for freedom. In this room visitors can see a portrait of King Khushnavas - king of Ephtalits.

The fifth hall tells about the ancient cities of the V-IX centuries. Including Ancient Penjikent and Bunjikat. Sogdians adopted many achievements of the great civilizations of their time, therefore in their art one can find both Byzantine, Iranian, and Indian features. With all this, Sogdians art had its own unique style, distinguished by a variety of themes. About all this, tell the findings from Penjikent and Bunjikat, such as woodcarving, mural paintings presented in showcases. A separate section in this room is dedicated to the finds from Mount Mug. In the section of Islamic culture, visitors can see the earliest manuscript of the Holy Book of "Koran", as well as other examples of calligraphy of the Koran, fiqh, tafsir, hadith, etc.

The ninth hall is the last hall of the department of ancient and medieval history of the NMT, which is devoted to numismatics. Visitors will have the opportunity to see the coins of the Greco-Bactrian (II-III centuries BC), Kushans (II century BC - IV in. AD), Sasanids (III-VII cent.), Bukharhudati (VII-VIII centuries), the Samanids (IX-XIV centuries), the Karakhanids (XI century), the Chagatai (XII-XIII centuries), the Temurids (XIV-XV centuries), the Mangitei (XIX century). Periods of paper banknotes of XIX - beginning of XX centuries, and jubilee coins of the period of Independence of the Republic of Tajikistan.