These historical structures are located in the "Madygen" geopark, which is situated in the rural municipality of Samarkandek in the Batken district. According to K. Tairov, silver ores were once smelted in these furnaces.
“Kyrgyzstan is famous for its rich mineral resources. In Batken, particularly in the 1st-4th centuries, silver was mined in the Kan-I-Gut mine. It was during this time that stone furnaces were built for smelting ores, which were then sent to other regions. These furnaces have been well preserved,” noted Tairov.
Near the furnaces, remnants of smelted ores and ash can be found.
The "Madygen" geopark was established under the auspices of UNESCO and is considered a potential global geopark of this organization. It encompasses unique geological and cultural sites of international significance. Nature has created a variety of geological phenomena and picturesque landscapes here. In the colorful strata, unique finds of flora and fauna can be discovered.
The geopark illustrates the geological history of our planet.
Its area includes the Sary-Tuu gorge, the Kan-i-Gut cave, ancient furnaces from the 9th-10th centuries, the "Madygen" oasis, and a canyon.
In April 2023, a decree was adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers to create the state natural monument "Madygen" over an area of 8160 hectares to preserve the unique natural heritage sites in this region.
Once, the territory of Sary-Tuu was the bottom of the ancient Sarmatian Sea. Today, fossils and shells of extinct mollusks are found there.
The Ordovician period, which began about 485 million years ago, lasted for about 42 million years.
The formation of the Fergana, Alai, and Turkestan mountain ranges, which rose along the shores of a bay that once occupied the Fergana Valley, dates back to the Cretaceous period.
The Cretaceous period, the last of the Mesozoic era, began 145 million years ago and lasted for about 79 million years.
The name "Cretaceous" comes from the word "chalk," which formed from sedimentary deposits of this period rich in fossilized marine organisms.
The territory of the park represents an outstanding historical find for scientists. Research shows that there was once a sea in this place before our era, as evidenced by the findings of rocks, sand, and gravel characteristic of the seabed, as well as fossils of animals. The geopark differs from other natural parks by the presence of large archaeological finds related to the Cenozoic and Mesozoic eras. Remains of more than 20,000 species of insects and animals are of great interest to historians and archaeologists.
Local historians assert that there are many mineral resources in the natural park. “Research shows that 600 million years ago this area was underwater. This is indicated by shells, snails, and remains of marine mammals. It is also important to note the presence of mineral resources. For example, silver and coal were mined in the Kan-i-Gut mines. If further research is conducted, large deposits of minerals can be discovered in this historically rich territory,” added Kubanychbek Tairov.
Earlier, Turmush reported that 18 km from the village of Samarkandek in the Batken district, there are old mines with silver deposits.
This indicates the development of industry in the territory of modern Batken region.
Archaeological artifacts in the Kan-i-Gut cave mine describe the historical stages of metallurgy and mining development in ancient times.
According to scientific assumptions, the Kan-i-Gut mine has been developed for 1500 years. Mining operations were conducted here from the 1st to the 5th centuries. These silver mines still conceal much that is unexplored, and their length may be about 300 km, with eight exits. The caves represent complex systems of passages and halls.
Silver ore is still being found in the caves. In the past, slave labor was used to extract the raw materials.
Archive photos
As historian Kubanych Tairov reported, "Kan-i-Gut" translates as "the mine of death." This place is mentioned in the works of Persian scholar Abu Ali ibn Sina: “The wise hid all the gold and jewels of the world in different places, and it is not easy to possess them. For example, in the country of Mawarannahr, there is a city called Isfara, in the vicinity of which is a place called Gut. The wise left treasures in this place and placed a curse upon them. There are countless descriptions and tales about this…” Silver and other minerals were extracted in these territories. In my opinion, the unique composition of the soil in the "Madygen" natural park may be related to this. Many mineral resources are concentrated underground. Mining operations and industrial production were conducted in the Batken region. The Batken region is mentioned in historical sources as a territory rich in mineral resources,” added the historian.
