Layers of Achaemenes time (6C - 4C, BC) with the characteristic cylinder and circular cone forms of ceramic vessels in the borders of contemporary Tajikistan were revealed for the first time in 1950 - 1951 by M. M. Dyakonov and N. N. Zabelina (Dyakonov M., 1953; Zabelina, 1953; Dyakonov M., 1954) on fortification Kalai Mir (central region of Kabadian). Then in southern Tajikistan were discovered moreover several settled-agricultural settlements of 5C - 4C, BC, from which it is necessary to note Bollaytepe (Zeimal T. 1971) in the Valley Vakhsh, where it was possible to dismember early layers stratigraphically.

To the north from the Gissar ridge the fortifications and settlements of this age remained unknowns until the discovery of the Nurtepa fortification in 1980 (Negmatov - Belyaeva - Mirbabaev, 1982) in the locality of Khavatak (the region of Ura-Thbin). It located in the middle part of the low bank of yellow ochre and gravel, which encroached on the Golodni steppe from the south-east, Nurtepa fortification, semi-oval in the plan (area 18 ha), was fastened by walls and it is skillfully fitted to the natural undulating. Numerous springs supplied water to the small river of Nijhonisay (it flows along the eastern foot of bank), and falling into a stream, which passes in the middle part of the fortification. Thus, the horseshoe-shaped citadel of Nurtepa was protected from the enemy not only by walls, but also by the water: along the eastern front of River Nijhonisay, along south - by its branch, along west - by ditch.

Excavations showed that Nurtepa fortification - monument, which had the complex history with the earliest tracks of becoming accustomed to its territory, relate to the epoch of late Bronze. Layers of 6C - 4C, BC are recorded over the entire area of Nurtepa. The basic type of dwelling at this time was a semi basement, in which rectangular adobes were sometimes used for strengthening of loess wall-edges. Ceramics was manufactured by hand (sometimes with the application of a cloth template), also, with the aid of a potter’s wheel; Iron was found together with the bronze articles. In 3C -1C, BC on the fortification ground-based buildings was built. A quantity of machine tool of dish increases and its quality improved. In the first centuries of our era, apparently, springs dried up, and life ceased at this place. In the epoch of early-Middle Ages the southeastern part of the fortification was used as cemetery (jars of burials with the bones and the dishes).

Excavations 1980 - 1983 on Nurtepa fortification - these are, of course, only first steps in its study. The stratigraphic level of monument and the chronological scale of ceramics expect detailed study. It is necessary to continue the study of the nature of the building of fortification and degree of its wealth in the different periods. Findings of "imported" articles could introduce important amendments into the preliminary dating of layers. Rough dating of ancient layer by middle of 1st millennium BC is established sufficiently solidly, but in the future among the materials of this period, undoubtedly, it will be possible to distinguish between somewhat earlier and later. A problem about the connections of the inhabitants of this settlement with the neighbors expects its answer, although already on the preliminary result it is necessary to establish very close contacts with the cattle-breeding inhabitants, which dwelled in immediate proximity - in the foothills area of the Valley Syrdari.

One of such monuments - tumulus of Dashti Asht, located on the foot of Karamazar mountains (Ashtskiy region), was investigated by E. D. Caltovskiy in 1966 - 1976 and gave materials of 8C - 3C BC. In all this tumulus counts more than 500 rounded stone with the sand mounds (height from 0.4 to 1.5 m, diameter from 4 to 12 m), of them are excavated more than 250 grave (including of 48 cenotaph). Various burials are distinguished by the structure of graves. Earliest group (8C - 7C, BC) comprise single burials in the "rock boxes". Collective burials in the shallow ground graves relate to 6C - 3C, BC. And finally the third group - collective and single burials in the rock above-ground structures (kurumakh) - can be dated very widely: from the boundary of 3C BC - 7C AD, although for some burials of this group are succeeded in establishing narrower dates.

Among the nomadic peoples of Central Asia in 1st millennium BC the Saka tribes occupied important place, with study of which in the territory of Tajikistan (and of adjacent Central-Asian republics) dealt from 1946 through 1956 (with the interruptions) expedition of A. N. Bernshtam. From the new materials it is necessary to note random findings from the Valley Isfary, undoubtedly, connected with the Saka traditions, and also materials from the tumuli of 6C - 3C BC, investigated in 1958 - 1961 on the eastern Pamirs by expedition of B. A. Litvinskiy. The majority of Saka tumuli on the eastern Pamirs (in all dug out about 320 tumuli, covered with stones and cult places) have low mounds or rock covers, frequently with one-two rock rings, unusually - with rectangular fence and provided high stones along the angles. Majorities of burials were in the shallow (0.5 - 1 m) ground pits, in the bent position. As a rule, burials are single; paired, plural or stairs are rare. The funeral equipment is not numerous and frugal in the common tumuli: cult objects, adornments, weapons are found only in the separate tumuli. The objects of "beast style", ritual pots and imported things present the greatest interest (Litvinskiy, 1972). But the Saka tribes not only lived in the almost inaccessible mountain regions: apparently, they populated the valleys, which were remained not mastered by agricultural. The Saka tribes, which relate to the east Iranian lingual group, together with people of Bactoria and Sogd, composed one of the basic strata of the population of Tajikistan in the antiquity - ancestors of Tajik people.