The United States and Uzbekistan on June 3 marked the restoration of the Sherdor façade at Samarkand’s Registan Square. The project, which is being implemented between 2025 and 2028, is supported by a grant of $500,000 from the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) — the largest AFCP award ever granted in Uzbekistan, according to the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan.
The Sherdor site forms part of the Registan Square ensemble in Samarkand, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most iconic landmarks of the historic Silk Road. The complex is celebrated for its monumental façade and intricate tilework and remains among the most photographed monuments in Central Asia.
The ceremony was led by Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers, Head of the Department of Creative Economy and Tourism of the Administration of the President of Uzbekistan Gayane Umerova, and U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan Jonathan Henick.
The AFCP grant supports the restoration and conservation of Sherdor’s iconic façade and its intricate decorative elements, including the elaborate tilework, mosaics, carved inscriptions and ornamental details that have characterized the monument for centuries. The works encompass the conservation of the main portal and tympanum, the restoration of damaged mosaic and majolica cladding, the repair of decorative marble elements, and the restoration of sections of the dome and minaret.
A central component of the project is the recreation and replacement of the Kufic calligraphy on the main entrance façade, which had suffered significant deterioration and contained inaccuracies resulting from Soviet-era restoration works. Recreated using traditional techniques and carefully aligned with the monument’s historic design, the inscription represents one of the most distinctive and technically demanding aspects of the restoration. The project relies on highly specialized conservation methods to preserve exceptional examples of traditional Central Asian craftsmanship and artistic expression while ensuring the monument’s long-term structural stability.
In addition to the physical conservation works, the project supports research and documentation, the application of enhanced conservation methodologies, and the training of local specialists in international heritage preservation standards.
The restoration of the Sherdor Complex is the largest of 14 projects supported by the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation in Uzbekistan, representing approximately US$1.5 million in total support.
The Sherdor project is being implemented through a partnership between the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent, which provides funding and oversight; the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF), which facilitates coordination among participating institutions; the Cultural Heritage Agency of Uzbekistan, which leads the restoration works and engages local specialists; and the International Institute for Central Asian Studies (IICAS), which contributes technical expertise and fosters collaboration with the international research community.
“The Sherdor site has stood for four centuries as a testament to the ingenuity and artistry of the people of Central Asia, particularly Uzbekistan. Our role here is not to define that legacy — it is to help protect it. The craftsmen working on this restoration are not simply repairing tiles and mosaics; they are acquiring skills and techniques that will enable them to preserve Uzbekistan’s landmark monuments for generations to come, long after this project has been completed. That is the kind of partnership the United States believes in: one that builds capacity, respects local expertise, and delivers lasting results. It reflects the depth of the U.S.–Uzbekistan relationship and our shared commitment to ensuring that Uzbekistan’s extraordinary cultural heritage remains in Uzbekistan’s hands — celebrated here, preserved here, and passed on to future generations of Uzbek artists, scholars, and craftsmen,” said U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan Jonathan Henick.
Previous AFCP-supported initiatives in Uzbekistan include the conservation of the Tash-Hauli Palace in Khiva and the restoration of the 15th-century Langar Ota Complex in the Kashkadarya region. A new AFCP project launching in 2026 will bridge cultural heritage and innovation in the digital realm through the Eternal Registan project. This initiative incorporates the use of U.S.-developed artificial intelligence and virtual reality tools to create 3D digital images of the Registan that can be used for virtual tourist experiences.
Photo: U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan
