Renmin University of China's School of History, together with the university's Institute for Cultural Heritage Innovation, conducted a cultural heritage survey in the Khorezm region of Uzbekistan from August 11 to 15.

On the morning of August 12, the research delegation visited the Nukus Museum of Art.  Gulbahar Izentaeva, the museum's director, and Oktyabr Dospanov, head of its Archaeology Department, welcomed the faculty and students and held an academic exchange session. Izentaeva spoke about the history of the museum's establishment and expressed appreciation for the School of History's archaeological work in Karakalpakstan over the past two years.

An art piece displayed at the Nukus Museum of Art

Dospanov gave a comprehensive overview of his archaeological excavations in Karakalpakstan since the late 20th century and guided the delegation through important artifacts on display. He emphasized that the region's material culture is essential for understanding the cultural foundations of ancient societies in Karakalpakstan, as well as their connections with the Silk Road and neighboring regions in West Asia (such as Iran) and East Asia (including China). He also expressed strong interest in further collaboration with RUC in archaeological research.

In the afternoon, the delegation visited another museum at Karakalpakstan, where they received a comprehensive overview of the region's natural environment, historical development and cultural traditions from the biological, archaeological and anthropological perspectives.

The delegation also participated in the field research at the Chilpik Kala site. The Chilpik Kala is a Zoroastrian funerary site, situated about 43 kilometers south of Nukus on the right bank of the Amu Darya River, has a history spanning more than 2,200 years.

Throughout the research tour, the delegation's footsteps traced the cultural fabric of Khorezm — each quiet moment of reflection and each thoughtful exchange was focused on the ancient civilizations that once flourished on this land.

The research group take a group photo at Chilpik Kala.