Specialists from the National Museum of Tajikistan have discovered a rare royal seal made of baked clay during archaeological research at the historical site of Sayyod in Abdurahmon Jomi district, Khatlon region.

The discovery is considered highly significant for the study of the Kushan period and could contribute to a reassessment of existing theories and interpretations of the region’s ancient history.

The pea-colored seal is 5 centimeters high and consists of two main parts. The first is a handle with a hole for threading and ease of use. The second is the larger, circular body of the seal.

The engraved surface, contained within a circle measuring 6 centimeters in diameter, features images arranged in a circular composition typical of official seals. Among the elements depicted are a Bactrian inscription, geometric patterns, a bust of a king wearing a toothed crown, mountain goats, symbols associated with Kushan statehood, signs linked to the authority of local rulers and other symbolic motifs.

The find is particularly valuable because it brings together a range of political, cultural, written and artistic elements of the Kushan period in a single artifact. The combination of state symbols, a Bactrian inscription, the image of a crowned local ruler and other figurative elements makes the seal a rare example of the region’s ancient cultural heritage.

The seal is currently being examined, deciphered and studied by specialists from the Department of Archaeology and Numismatics of the National Museum. Following a comprehensive analysis, the findings are expected to be presented in a detailed scholarly article for researchers in history, archaeology, linguistics, epigraphy, art history, symbolism and related fields.

The discovery represents a valuable contribution to the study of ancient Tajik statehood and Kushan-era civilization and carries significant scientific, cultural and museum value.