C9560 - ARCHEOLOGIA DELLE OASI DELL'ASIA CENTRALE

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide a foundational understanding of the methodologies, historical-cultural contexts, and key issues of Central Asian archaeology, with particular reference to the period from the Achaemenids to the Middle Ages. The course examines the concept of the oasis according to geographical and anthropological theories and presents various methodological approaches used in Central Asian archaeology to study the environment, settlement patterns, and long-term land management from a multi-scalar and multidisciplinary perspective. By the end of the course, students will be able to examine archaeological evidence, historical sources, and material culture of the studied contexts to formulate a critical assessment of socio-environmental interactions and the formation of oases in Central Asia.

Course contents

The course introduces the archaeology of the oases of Central Asia, examining their formation, long-term development, and territorial organization from the Achaemenid period to the Middle Ages. It is grounded in the concept of the oasis as a cultural landscape, understood as the result of the continuous interaction between natural processes, water-resource management, and human activities, and adopts the perspective of socio-ecological systems as an interpretative framework for understanding the long-term dynamics of interaction between human communities, the environment, and territory.

The first part of the course examines the principal definitions of the oasis developed within geography, ecology, and anthropology, critically discussing the oasis both as an ecosystem and as a cultural landscape. Particular attention will be devoted to the anthropogenic processes that contributed to the formation and evolution of oasis systems, including water-resource management practices, traditional knowledge and technologies, territorial organization, and strategies for adaptation to (semi-)arid environments.

The second part focuses on the methodological approaches of landscape archaeology applied to the study of oasis systems. The principal methods of territorial investigation will be presented, including excavation, archaeological survey, remote sensing, historical cartography, photogrammetry, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and spatial analysis, illustrating how the integration of archaeology with other disciplines contributes to the reconstruction of settlement dynamics, the evolution of historical landscapes, and socio-environmental relationships.

The third part examines the principal oasis regions of Central Asia, with particular emphasis on the Zeravshan Valley. Through the integrated analysis of archaeological evidence, historical sources, and material culture, the course explores the processes of oasis formation, the development of irrigation networks, changes in settlement patterns, and the relationships between environment, economy, and political organization from the Achaemenid period to the Middle Ages.

Special attention will be devoted to the results of the Italian-Uzbek Archaeological Project "Samarkand and its Territory" (PAIU) (LINK), which will serve as the main case study of the course. Drawing upon the project's research, students will explore some of the key themes in the archaeology of Central Asian oases, including the origins and development of urbanism, irrigated agriculture, semi-mobile pastoralism, local and regional exchange networks, and the conservation and enhancement of archaeological heritage and cultural landscapes. The project's results will also be discussed from a comparative perspective alongside other oasis systems across Central Asia.

 

For all communications, students are requested to use exclusively the course coordinator's official university e-mail address (EMAIL).

Readings/Bibliography

The following list includes the principal bibliographic references discussed during the course and required for the final examination.

Additional bibliographic references, scientific articles, and supplementary reading materials may be provided throughout the course.

For publications that are not available online, students may consult the University Library System (LINK) or contact the Course Coordinator.

 

A) Bibliography for Attending and Non-attending students. 

For all the volumes listed below, only selected chapters and sections are required. The specific readings will be indicated during the course.

• First part

1. Laureano, P., 1995. La Piramide Rovesciata: Il Modello Dell’oasi per Il Pianeta Terra. Torino: Bollati Boringhieri. LINK
2. Laureano, P., 2001. Atlante d’acqua: Conoscenze Tradizionali per La Lotta Alla Desertificazione. Torino: Bollati Boringhieri. LINK

• Second part

1. Cambi, F. (ed), 2011. Manuale Di Archeologia Dei Paesaggi. Metodologie, Fonti, Contesti. Roma: Carocci editore. LINK

• Third part

1. Lo Muzio, C., 2017. Archeologia Dell’Asia Centrale Preislamica. Dall’età Del Bronzo al IX Secolo d.C. Milano: Mondadori Università. LINK
2. Mantellini, S., Berdimuradov, A. E., 2026. The Archaeological Map of the Middle Zeravshan Valley. The Southern Sector. Volume I: Samarkand City. Bologna: Bologna University Press. LINK
3. Vileikis, O., Mantellini, S. (eds), in press. Journey Through Time and Cultures. Silk Roads. Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor. Samarkand: IICAS.
   

 

B) Additional Bibliography for Non-Attending Students Only

For all the volumes listed below, only selected chapters and sections are required. The specific readings will be agreed upon during an individual meeting with the Course Coordinator.

1. de la Vaissière, É., 2005. Sogdian Traders. Leiden - Boston: Brill. LINK 
2. Frachetti, M. D., Smith, C. E., Traub, C. M., Williams, T., 2017. Nomadic ecology shaped the highland geography of Asia ’ s Silk Roads, Nature 543, 193–98. LINK
3. Frye, R. N., 1998. The Heritage of Central Asia. From Antiquity to the Turkish Expansion. Princeton: Markus Wiener Publishers. LINK
4. Hiebert, F. T., 1994. Origins of the Bronze Age Civilization in Central Asia. Cambridge, MA: Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology Harvard University. LINK 
5. Kohl, P. L., 2007. The Making of Bronze Age Eurasia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. LINK 
6. Masson, V. M., Sarianidi, V. I. 1972. Central Asia. Turkmenia before the Achaemenids. London: Thames and Hudson.

Teaching methods

The course combines lectures, guided discussions, and critical analysis of case studies from Central Asia, with the aim of integrating the theoretical foundations of oasis archaeology with their application to the study of cultural landscapes and socio-ecological systems.

Teaching is supported by a wide range of cartographic, visual, and multimedia materials, as well as by the analysis of archaeological data, historical sources, satellite imagery, historical maps, and the results of recent international research projects.

The Uzbek-Italian Archaeological Project "Samarkand and its Territory" will serve as the principal reference for the discussion of the case studies presented throughout the course, providing students with the opportunity to critically examine research methodologies, scientific results, and the challenges related to the study, conservation, and enhancement of Central Asian cultural landscapes.

Particular emphasis will be placed on the collective discussion of key theoretical issues, the critical evaluation of the scientific literature, and the interdisciplinary interpretation of oasis systems, settlement dynamics, and the long-term relationships between human communities and the environment. Students are strongly encouraged to participate actively in classroom discussions by contributing observations, questions, and critical reflections on the topics addressed.

The course may also include seminars delivered by Italian and international specialists on selected case studies and research methodologies.

The course is taught entirely in Italian.

Assessment methods

The assessment consists of an oral examination designed to evaluate whether students have achieved the knowledge and competences expected from the course, with particular reference to their ability to critically interpret the oasis systems of Central Asia by discussing their formation, evolution, and territorial organization through the integration of archaeological evidence, historical sources, and interdisciplinary approaches.

Regular attendance will facilitate successful completion of the examination. Students who attend at least 75% of the scheduled classes will be considered attending students.

 

• Attending students

Attending students may choose between two assessment options.

1. Oral examination

The examination will focus on the topics discussed during the lectures, the teaching materials available on the VIRTUALE platform, and the bibliography assigned to attending students.

2. Written essay

Alternatively, students may prepare a written essay on a course-related topic agreed in advance with the course coordinator and prepared in accordance with the template and guidelines available on the VIRTUALE platform. The oral examination will begin with a discussion of the essay and may include further questions on other topics covered during the course.

• Non-attending students

Non-attending students are required to prepare the bibliography assigned to non-attending students. Alternative programmes may be agreed with the course coordinator only in justified circumstances.

Assessment criteria

Final grades (out of 30) will be based on:

• knowledge and understanding of the topics covered;
• ability to establish critical connections between theoretical models, methodological approaches, and case studies;
• ability to synthesize information and communicate clearly and effectively;
• correct use of scientific terminology;
• ability to develop rigorous and well-structured arguments;
• ability to interpret oasis systems and the cultural landscapes of Central Asia through an interdisciplinary approach, integrating archaeological evidence, historical sources, and territorial data;
• active participation in classroom discussions (for attending students).

The highest grades will be awarded to students demonstrating excellent mastery of the course content, critical thinking, and the ability to discuss and interpret complex issues independently.

For the Academic Year 2026–2027, examination sessions are normally held every two months.

With regard to assessment, the limited, declared, and non-substantive use of artificial intelligence (AI) is permitted for support activities, such as summarising and rephrasing. The substantive use of AI to complete any part of the assessment is not permitted.

Teaching tools

Lectures and any seminars delivered by Italian and international specialists will be supported by multimedia presentations, images, maps, archaeological documentation, historical sources, territorial and spatial data, and other teaching materials made available through the VIRTUALE platform, in compliance with copyright regulations.

A substantial part of the material used throughout the course will be drawn from ongoing international research projects, with particular reference to the Uzbek-Italian Archaeological Project "Samarkand and its Territory", providing students with direct access to research data, case studies, and methodologies currently employed in contemporary archaeological research.

Additional readings and supplementary materials will be made available during the course or may be accessed through the University Library System (LINK).

Students with specific learning disabilities (SLD) or temporary or permanent disabilities are strongly encouraged to contact the University's designated support office as early as possible (LINK). The office will advise students on any appropriate accommodations, which must be submitted to the Course Coordinator for approval at least 15 days before the examination. The Course Coordinator will assess the proposed accommodations in relation to the learning objectives of the course.

Office hours

See the website of Simone Mantellini