The Formation of the System for the Protection and Restoration of Bukhara’s Historical and Cultural Heritage in the Early 1920s
Keywords:
Bukhara, cultural heritage, historical monuments, monument protection, restoration, Turkkomstaris, Suardel, archaeological expeditions, manuscripts, archival documents, institutional development, early 1920s.Abstract
This article examines the formation of the system for the protection and restoration of Bukhara’s historical and cultural heritage in the early 1920s. Particular attention is given to the socio-political conditions that necessitated the establishment of specialized institutions responsible for preserving monuments, manuscripts, and archival materials. The study analyzes the activities of early scientific expeditions, their role in documenting architectural monuments, collecting written sources, and identifying sites requiring urgent restoration. Special emphasis is placed on the contribution of organizations such as Suardel, Turkkomstaris, and other administrative bodies, as well as on the participation of local intellectuals and scholarly societies in safeguarding Bukhara’s cultural legacy. The article demonstrates that during this period monument preservation in Bukhara evolved from isolated initiatives into a legally and organizationally structured institutional system. It is concluded that the early 1920s represented a crucial stage in the emergence of coordinated state administration, scholarly expertise, local participation, and practical restoration measures in the field of heritage protection.
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