93262 - Archaeology of the Indo-Iranian Frontier

Learning outcomes

The course aims to introduce the student to the complex field of archaeology of the Indo-Iranian borderland, a place of important phenomena of intersection between the Iranian and Indian worlds, in the pre-Islamic historical period, through the deepening of a monographic theme, different from year to year, addressed on the basis of the direct examination of historical, literary and archaeological sources, considered in the critical perspective of scientific research. At the end of the course, the student: - has acquired the specific knowledge of the monographic theme dealt with; - has developed the capacity for autonomous judgement in order to deal critically with the vast bibliography existing on the archaeology of the region; - has the necessary learning skills to deal with sources for archaeological research with rigorous methodology.

Course contents

The course concerns a single theme of the archaeology of the Indo-Iranic borderland, studied in a more detailed monographic perspective, with a particular attention towards critics and methodology.

The theme of the course 2020-21 is: "Eastern satrapies from the Achaemenid period to the end of the Arsacid period: archaeological evidence of continuity and discontinuity".

The course aims to present synthetically, through the analysis of some emblematic cases, the problems connected to the study of material culture and secular and religious architecture in the eastern satrapies of the Achaemenid Empire and their diachronic development from the collapse of the Empire until the end of the Arsacid period.

The monographic part of the course will be preceded, if necessary, by some introductory lessons on geography and history of the regions examined during the course.

For a better adherence to the methodological perspective of the course of study, some hours will be dedicated to the state of the art, in order to present the main actors of archaeological research. Some hours will also be dedicated to the knowledge of the main institutions in charge of the protection of cultural heritage in the area and of the main local and international archaeological collections, in order to illustrate emblematic examples concerning the problems of protection and enhancement of the cultural heritage of the area.

Readings/Bibliography

TEXTS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE ORAL EXAM:

AA. VV., “L'archeologia dell'Iran. La frontiera Indo-Iranica”, "DAHAN-I GHULAMAN", "KUH-I KHWAJA", "L'archeologia del Subcontinente indiano. La frontiera indo-iranica", "BEGRAM", "HADDA", "KABUL", "KANDAHAR", in Enciclopedia Archeologica, III. Asia, Roma, Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana Treccani,2005. pp. 362-364, 368-369, 378-379, 410-413, 414-423, 580-582, 584-585, 585-586, 587-589. Also available on the website: www.treccani.it.

Soroor Ghanimati, “KUH-E ḴᵛĀJA,” Encyclopædia Iranica, online edition, 2015, available at http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/kuh-e-khvaja (accessed on 28 September 2015).

B. Genito, "Alla ricerca di un’archeologia perduta. Spunti e riflessioni su uno scavo di quaranta anni fa: Umberto Scerrato e il suo Sistan (In Search for a Lost Archaeology. Ideas and Thoughts on a forty years ago excavation: Umberto Scerrato and his Sistan)", in Museo Orientale, Umberto Scerrato, 291-302. Napoli, 2012. http://www.museorientale.unior.it/catalogo/files/assets/basic-html/index.html#toc

G. Gnoli, "DAHAN-E ḠOLĀMĀN", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. VI, Fasc. 6, pp. 582-585; an updated version is available online at: https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/dahan-e-golaman-or-according-to-walther-hinz-p

B. Jacobs, “ACHAEMENID SATRAPIES”, Encyclopædia Iranica, online edition, 2011, available at http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/achaemenid-satrapies

F. Maniscalco, Arachosia. Terra d'incontro tra oriente e occidente, Roma, 2014. Only the following are mandatory: Capitolo II, "GLI EDITTI DI ASOKA DA KANDAHAR: PROBLEMI E CONSIDERAZIONI", Capitolo III, "IL DOMINIO DELL’ARACHOSIA DALLA DISFATTA DELL’IMPERO ACHEMENIDE ALL’ASCESA DI SELEUCO NICATORE" and CONCLUSIONI.

G. Maresca, "Between ‘Early’ and ‘Late’ Iron Age in south-eastern Iran: notes on the possibility to evaluate the ‘Achaemenid impact’ on the area", in Vicino Oriente XXII (2018), pp. 197-211. Also available on the website: http://www.journal-vo.it/Publicazioni/VO%20XXII/VO_XXII_PDF_Autori/VO_XXII_197-211_Maresca.pdf

 

For non-attending students, the following bibliography is added:

G. Fussman, "KANDAHAR" in Enciclopedia dell' Arte Antica (1995), vol. IV, p. 310. Reperibile anche sul sito internet della Treccani (www.treccani.it)

M.W. Stolper, Michael T. Fisher. “Achaemenid Elamite Administrative Tablets, 3: Fragments from Old Kandahar, Afghanistan”, Arta 2015.001. Available on the website: http://www.achemenet.com/pdf/arta/ARTA_2015.001-Fisher-Stolper.pdf

However, it is strongly recommended that non-attending students contact the teacher to arrange a specific programme and bibliography.

 

For those who have not already attended courses dedicated to the archaeology of Iran, we recommend reading the following:

J. Wiesehöfer, La Persia Antica, Bologna, 2003.

 

AMONG THE TEXTS USED BY THE TEACHER FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE FRONTAL LESSONS, BUT NOT REQUIRED FOR THE ORAL EXAM, IT IS WORTH MENTIONING:

R. Boucharlat, "Iran. Sistan-Baluchistan" , in P. Briant & R. Boucharlat, eds., L'archéologie de l'empire achéménide: nouvelles recherches (Persika, 6), Paris 2005, pp. 268-270.

W. Henkelman. The Other Gods Who Are: Studies in Elamite-Iranian Acculturation based on the Persepolis Fortifi cation Texts (Achaemenid History 14). Leiden, 2008.

Farid Khan et al., Akra: The Ancient Capital of Bannu, North West Frontier Province, Pakistan. Reprint of the Journal of Asian Civilizations XXIII (2000): 1-202. Available on the website: https://www.academia.edu/2506390/Akra_The_Ancient_Capital_of_Bannu_North_West_Frontier_Province_Pakistan

Teaching methods

Lessons with direct and critical examination of the iconographical documents through projections of images, plans and maps.

Aim of the course is introducing the student to the main problems of the research subject proposed. A special stress is put on the methodological approach to research, with the aim of stimulating the critical reflection of the student.

Assessment methods

The examination consists of an oral interview to assess the acquisition of basic knowledge in the field of the archaeology of the Indo-Iranian borderland and the critical and methodological skills matured by the student.

The evaluation of the test will take into account the student's ability to orientate within the sources and the bibliographic material in order to obtain useful information that will enable him to explain themes and problems and to know how to connect them.

In addition to the contents, students will evaluated on the ability to synthesize and analyze archaeological themes and the ability to express themselves adequately and with appropriate language.

Full acquisition of these skills and an exhaustive knwledge of the matter will be assessed with excellence marks (27-30).

A predominantly mnemonic acquisition of course's contents and discontinuous language and logical skills will be assessed with discrete marks (24-26).

A minimum level of knowledge of the course contents, combined with training gaps or inadequate language and logical skills will be evaluated with marks slightly above the sufficiency (18-24).

The absence of a minimal acquisition of the course contents combined with inadequate verbal expression and logical skills will be considered insufficient.

Teaching tools

Slides projection and plan, maps and pdf learning materials distribution.

Office hours

See the website of Luca Colliva