Zar - tepa

Settlement site in 14 km to the north-west of Old Termez (Tarmita). Among the ancient cities made habitable in the Surkhandarya river valley during the Kushan period, Zartepa, with its area 16.9 hectares, ranked the third after Tarmita and Dalverzintepa. The city, with its square layout, was oriented to the four parts of the world with a deviation of 26 degrees to the west, and was protected by a defence wall flanked with semi-circular towers projecting at 35 m from one another. On three sides, the city was surrounded with a moat and a rampart. In the north-eastern part of the city stood the citadel (120 X 120 m). In the south-eastern part of the city, there was another square defensive structure (60 X 60 m), possibly, a corner fort. Near each building, there are traces of two gates, providing access to the city. Another gate can be observed in the relief of the south-western defence wall.

The foundation of the city dates back to the beginning of the Yueh-Chi period (1st c. B.C. - 1st c. A.D.), and its flourishing falls on the rule of the Great Kushan dynasty (2nd - middle of the 3rd cc. A.D.?). Later the city was occupied by the Sasanids.