KunyaUrgench

Kunya-Urgench, also known as Old Urgench, is an archaeological site in western Uzbekistan near the historic city of Khiva. It preserves the ruins of the medieval city of Urgench, which at various times served as the capital of the Khwarezmian state and was an important hub on the Silk Road.

The remains date from roughly the 10th to the 16th centuries and include mosques, caravanserais, city walls, and a necropolis. The best-known structure is the Kutlug-Timur Minaret, a brick tower dating from the 12th century that remains a prominent landmark of Khwarezmian architecture. The site also contains several royal tombs and other religious buildings, reflecting a blend of Iranian, Turkic, and Islamic influences that characterized the region.

Urban life and infrastructure at Kunya-Urgench illustrate the city's role in trade, governance, and religion within medieval Khwarezm. The city declined after invasions in the 13th century and subsequent regional changes, but continued to be a focus of archaeological interest.

Today Kunya-Urgench is an active archaeological site and a place of cultural heritage, studied by Uzbek institutions and open to scholars and visitors. Ongoing excavations and conservation work aim to preserve its brickwork and monuments while advancing understanding of Central Asia’s medieval urbanism, religion, and Silk Road networks.