Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a Hellenistic military camp in southeastern Uzbekistan, offering new insight into the lasting impact of Alexander the Great’s conquests in Central Asia more than 2,200 years ago.
The findings, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, come from the site of Iskandar Tepa in Surkhandarya Province. Researchers believe the hilltop location served as a temporary military camp during the Greco-Bactrian period rather than a permanent settlement or fortress.
Although Iskandar Tepa was identified in 2017, detailed investigation has only recently begun. Using ground-penetrating radar, archaeologists mapped a broad defensive ditch surrounding the summit before opening excavation trenches.
The survey revealed a ditch approximately 400 metres long enclosing an area of around 1.2 hectares. Excavations showed it measured up to seven metres wide and one metre deep. A series of postholes discovered along its edge are thought to have supported a timber palisade, strengthening the interpretation that the site was used for military purposes.
The layout suggests the camp was intended for temporary occupation, likely by troops moving through the region, rather than as a long-term defensive base.
Excavations also uncovered several large ceramic storage jars buried across the site. Researchers believe they may have been used to store water brought from the valley below, possibly through a nearby canal, although further work will be needed to confirm how the site’s water supply operated.
Dating evidence comes primarily from a small collection of coins bearing the images of the Greco-Bactrian rulers Diodotus II, Euthydemus I and Demetrius I. These finds indicate the camp was occupied no earlier than the second century BC, during the period that followed Alexander’s campaigns in Central Asia.
The site did not remain solely a military installation. Archaeologists found evidence that the hill was later reused as a burial ground during the first century AD, highlighting how its role changed over time.
Further excavation is planned to determine how the camp functioned, how long it remained in use and how it fits into the wider network of Hellenistic sites across the region.
Alexander the Great’s empire extended from Greece to north-western India, and it left behind a lasting cultural and political impact in Central Asia. Following his campaigns, the areas of Bactria and Sogdiana— covering parts of modern Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan— became important centres of Greek settlement and administration.
The discoveries at Iskandar Tepa add to that legacy, and provide another glimpse into the military infrastructure that helped shape the Hellenistic world in Central Asia.
Header Image Credit : Stančo, Kysela, Tencer, Milo, & Shaydullaev, 2026
Sources : Journal of Archaeological Science
