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Nevaket is the second most important UNESCO site after Suyab and one of the key cities of the Silk Road. Its history begins in the 8th century and continues until the 12th century.
Nevaket, similar to Suyab, was founded by Sogdian traders who established regular settlements along the Silk Road. The name of the city, translated from Sogdian as "new city", probably refers to its foundation after Suyab ceased to exist in the middle of the 8th century.
Neveraket, like Suyab, served as a trading hub for Sogdians. The city was multi-ethnic and multilingual: in addition to Sogdians, it was inhabited by Karluks, Turks, Turgesh, and other peoples. Nevaket was also a polyreligious center, where Nestorian churches, Buddhist temples, and Muslim mosques were adjacent. Although it is not known whether the Chinese lived in Nevaket after the Tang dynasty withdrew from Central Asia after the Battle of Talas in 751, Buddhism played a significant role, as evidenced by the Buddha statues found in the settlement
By the middle of the 8th century, Islam came to Central Asia, and mosques began to be built in Nevaket. Different religions, cultures and languages coexisted harmoniously in the city, emphasizing its inhabitants' tolerance and openness to new trends.
The city consisted of a rabad, a shahristan, a citadel and a cemetery. Archaeological excavations have uncovered vineyards, houses, caravanserais, wine vessels, utensils, and other household items, as well as many Nestorian crosses, Zoroastrian ossuaries, and walls painted with Buddhist paintings. In the 1960s, a large statue of Buddha in the pose of nirvana was found, but it was partially destroyed - only the torso survived, and the neck and head were lost. The statue was moved to the Hermitage in Moscow for restoration. The second statue of Buddha in lotus pose was found after the collapse of the USSR and is now kept in the Historical Museum of Kyrgyzstan
By the 12th century, Nevaket ceased to exist. The reasons for the town's decline remain unknown. A large fire could have been a possible cause, as many of the buildings found were burned. Also, the city could have been subjected to an invasion, possibly by Genghis Khan's troops. The Sogdians, having stopped trading on the Silk Road and fleeing from Arab persecution, left the plains for the Pamir mountains.
Thus ended the history of one of the important points of the Silk Road that connected Asia with Europe and spread new cultures, religions, and civilizations.
