The ancient settlement of Ershi in Andijan
One of the fascinating attractions of the Fergana Valley can be called the ancient settlement of Ershi in Andijan. Its ruins can tell a lot, allow you to plunge into the deep past. Chinese primary sources of the III century BC report that the Davan state was located on the territory of the area. Its capital was the Ershi city, through which the Great Silk Road passed, and trade was booming. This fact has greatly influenced the life of the local people. It was developed in its time and rich. Many branches of agriculture, including viticulture, were in demand here. The wines are distinguished by their long shelf life. But horse breeding became notably famous. Rare breeds of horses — tall argamaks, were nicknamed "Heavenly Horses" and distinguished by unprecedented endurance, unearthly chiseled beauty. Aristocrats preferred to buy them. According to legends, it was because of these heavenly horses in 104 BC that the Chinese attacked Davan — they dedicated odes to these animals. In their opinion, only on such horses was it possible to get to the land of immortality.
After some time, under the rule of the Turks, the Davan state was renamed Mingtepa. Gradually, everything fell into disrepair. The reason for everything — the decline of the Silk Road trade, bloody conquests. Residents founded a new settlement (on the site of Andijan), moved there. But this ancient object attracts attention to this day. There is a lot of left unexplored here. Archaeologists find various artifacts at the ruins site. After all, the ruins of Mingtepa can tell so many meaningful things about the era when everything flourished. There is an opportunity to see a recreated element of a street, a residential building. This object is an architectural monument in the open air, which has not yet been fully explored.
Ershi city has located 30 km from Andijan, Fergana region. Numerous excursions do not ignore this historical monument. On the territory of the settlement, many unique objects can tell a lot. Some shrines (Imam-Ata, Tuzlik Masar, Ok Gur, Shirmanbulak spring) are revered by the local people and carefully guarded.