The city occupies around 20 hectares, and was built probably by a Hellenistic period foundation at the time of the Kushan Empire in the first centuries after the birth of Christ.

According to the Soviet archaeologist Sarianidi in 1985: Its tall, mighty walls pierced by several narrow gateways were fortified by defence towers and formed an impregnable ring ... .

Inside, in the northern section, stood the citadel, at whose foot were the remains of what had apparently been the palatial residence of the local ruler.

Some 50 acres (20 ha) in area, this ancient city, indubitably a vast one for its time, comprised, along with the small villages of its sprawling suburbs, the administrative seat of the entire neighbouring region, once part of the legendary empire of Bactria.

[2] The round shape of the settlement is rather typical of the structure of Bactrian fortifications of the 1st millennium BCE, such as the fortresses of Balkh or Merv.