Archaeological Research in Central Asia by the Sven Hedin Expedition

Until the evolution of paper, which is dated traditionally in A.D. 105, the majority of Chinese documents were probably written on boards or narrow strips of wood or bamboo; the use of silk was reserved for the preparation of de luxe copies of certain works, either for sacred or for profane purposes. However, it was only quite recently that actual examples of wooden documents from China were first brought to the attention of the scholastic world, as a result of two series of expedit ions to central Asia and northwestern China. First, Sir Aurel Stein's expeditions, at the be ginning of the century, brought back fragments of inscribed wood from the sites of Tun-huang; thi s was subsequently examined and the results published, by Chinese scholars such as Wang Kuo-wei, an European scholars such as Chavannes and Maspero. Secondly, the expeditions led by Sven Hedin s ome thirty years later found similar material in larger quantities, from the more easterly sites of Chü-yen (Edsen-gol). These texts were published by a number of scholars, beginning with L ao Kan,who was working in China in the extremely difficult conditions of the 1940s.1940s.Shortly afterwards, Japanese scholars were able to turn their attention to this material whose content, l ike thatof the strips from Tun-huang, was almost exclusively concerned with the civil and militar y administration of Han imperial officials, between about 100 B.C.and A.D. 100. In the early 1960 s Professor Mori Shikazo led a series of seminar meetings to study the material from Chii-yen, wh ich the present writer was fortunate and privileged to attend. The results of such meetings were published atthe time in a number of Japanese periodicals, and constituted a valuable contribution to the studyof the wooden material from China known to exist at that time.

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Theoretical Directions in European Archaeology

American Antiquity ◽

10.2307/280166 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 50 (4) ◽

pp. 780-788 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Peter Bogucki

Keyword(s):

Central Asia ◽

Archaeological Research

AbstractBogucki's review deals with theoretical directions in current archaeological research in Europe, and Kohl's covers recent fieldwork and analysis in central Asia. It should be emphasized that these reviews are written specifically for the readers of this journal. Their purpose is to provide brief overviews of the topics and to introduce the readers to some of the literature in the field. The authors emphasize issues most likely to be of direct interest to readers working in the Americas and in literature published in English. PSW

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Ancient Tajikistan Studies in History, Archaeology and Culture (1980-1991)

Ancient Civilizations from Scythia to Siberia ◽

10.1163/157005794x00165 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 1 (3) ◽

pp. 289-304

Keyword(s):

Material Culture ◽

Central Asia ◽

Archaeological Research ◽

Ww Ii ◽

The North ◽

History Of ◽

Continued Use ◽

The Temple ◽

Written Sources

AbstractSystematic archaeological research began immediately after WW II with work on Iran Age monuments at Kala-i-mir, Boldai-tepe and Baidudasht IV. Of recently studied Hellenistic and post-Hellenistic monuments, the most important is Takhti-Sangin (thought to be the source of the Oxus treasure). More than 5000 votive objects have now been recovered from the temple here (now completely excavated and dated to the first quarter of the 1st c. B.C.). Excavations at Ai-Khanoum prove that the strength and persistence of Hellenic culture seen at the Oxus temple was not unique in Bactria, while a complex now being studied at Dushanbe pushes the range of Greco-Bactrian culture far further to the north than was hitherto thought. Investigation of burial monuments at Tup-khana testifies to the acceptance of Bactrian material culture by incoming nomad groups, whereas study of a Buddhist complex of the 3rd-4th c. A.D. at Ushurmullo shows its continued use down to the 7th-8th c. Ancient written sources on the history of Central Asia have been studied by I.V. Pyankov, whilst E.V. Zeimal has produced a description, classification and analysis of the coin series of the region. Finally, T.P. Kiyatkina has written a series of works on palaeo-anthropological material from Tajikistan and Turkmenia.

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Dr. Sven Hedin on Central Asia

Nature ◽

10.1038/080372a0 ◽

1909 ◽

Vol 80 (2065) ◽

pp. 372-373

Keyword(s):

Central Asia ◽

Sven Hedin

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To the Issue of the Distribution and Influence of Islam in the Cities of the Southwestern Zhetysu Region in the Second Half of the 8th – 12th Centuries

Povolzhskaya Arkheologiya (The Volga River Region Archaeology) ◽

10.24852/pa2020.4.34.99.112 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (34) ◽

pp. 99-112

Author(s):

Arnabay A. Nurzhanov ◽

◽

Galina A. Ternovaya

Keyword(s):

Central Asia ◽

Urban Culture ◽

Early Period ◽

Archaeological Research ◽

The South ◽

Historical Events ◽

South West ◽

Initial Stage ◽

The Temple

The article examines some aspects related to the changes that have occurred in the urban culture of the South-West Zhetysu at the initial stage of the establishment of Islam. The results of archaeological research carried out at the architectural and archaeological complex Akyrtas, monuments discovered at the medieval fortified of Taraz, Kostobe, Lugovoye, Ornek are presented by the authors. The early period of Islamization includes the construction of pillar mosques (Akyrtas, Ornek), alteration of the temple into a mosque (Taraz), elements of Muslim decor in religious premises of representatives of other religions (Kostobe, Lugovoye Г) and relic manifestations in the design of the columns of the Ornek mosque. 8th–12th centuries – this was a time associated with a series of historical events: the mass resettlement of the Sogdians in connection with the seizure of Central Asia by the Arabs, the conquest of Taraz and the Talas Valley by Emir Ismail from the Samanid dynasty and the adoption of Islam by the Karakhanids.

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Sven Hedin Central Asia Atlas

Geographical Journal ◽

10.2307/1796403 ◽

1968 ◽

Vol 134 (4) ◽

pp. 571

Author(s):

M. C. Gillett

Keyword(s):

Central Asia ◽

Sven Hedin

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FIRST ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS AND STRATIGRAPHIC EXCAVATIONS IN THE TERRITORY OF THE ZARAFSHAN VALLEY IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE XX CENTURY

Journal of look to the past ◽

10.26739/2181-9599-2021-10-10 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (10) ◽

pp. 86-91

Author(s):

Gulnara K. Farmanova ◽

Keyword(s):

Twentieth Century ◽

Central Asia ◽

Research Methodology ◽

Scientific Research ◽

Archaeological Research ◽

Early Stages ◽

Practical Research ◽

Archaeological Science ◽

Archaeological Excavations

The author of the article claims that archaeological research and scientific research were carried out in Central Asia at the beginning of the twentieth century, including in the Zarafshan valley. The article presents material on the directions of development of archaeological science in Uzbekistan on the example of several prominent scientists and specialists who carried out archaeological excavations at the beginning of the twentieth century. It also reveals the origins ofthe formation of archaeological research methodology at the early stages of the formation and development of archeology. The author notes large archaeological expeditions and their achievements during the period under study. However, besides the merits and achievements in scientific theoretical and practical research, errors, lack of personnel, experience, and methods for conducting archaeological excavations and research are shown

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The Archaeology of Gandhāra

10.1093/acrefore/9780190854584.013.545 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Luca Maria Olivieri

Keyword(s):

Material Culture ◽

Central Asia ◽

Bronze Age ◽

Distinctive Feature ◽

Breeding System ◽

Agricultural System ◽

Late Bronze Age ◽

Archaeological Research ◽

Buddhist Art ◽

Frontier Region

The main themes of archaeological research in Gandhāra are currently developing along a timeline that starts in the Late Bronze Age and ends in the Shahi period. The majority of scholarship, however, is focused on the chronological phase between 150 bce and 300 ce. Because of the unbalanced level of studies, it is not easy to define what archaeology can positively say about the knowledge of the ancient world in this corner of Asia. However, the overall result of archaeological research in Gandhāra shows that the region was itself a center, not simply a frontier region of interaction between Central Asia and Iran, India, and its coastlands. Gandhāra appears to have played a central role in many of the developments that occurred throughout the period considered here. With the spread of domesticated rice during the mid-2nd millennium, a double-crop agricultural system and associated farm breeding system developed, linking Gandhāra with Kashmir and trans-Himalaya. Toward the end of the 1st millennium, the northern valleys saw the diffusion of burial and settlement features and associated material culture, which allows archaeological and genetic comparisons with earlier complexes of Central Asia and Iran up to 1000 ce. The initial urban phase in Gandhāra (500–150 bce) is defined by the evidence from Barikot, Bhir Mound (Taxila I), and Charsadda. Mature urban phases (150 bce–350 ce) are defined by the evidence of the restructuring of old cities (such as Barikot) and new urban foundations (e.g., Taxila III and Charsadda/Shahikhan-dheri) during the phases of contact with the Indo-Greek, Saka-Parthian, Kushana, and Kushano-Sasanian systems of power. During the last three centuries of the mature urban phase, the Buddhist art of Gandhāra developed a narrative biographical mode, which represents its most distinctive feature. The following period until 650 ce, distinguished by uncertain or scarce assemblages, is defined as post-urban. The post-650 to c. 1000 ce evidence, marked by cultural material associated with the Shahi dynasties and the first phase of contact with the Islamic dynasty of the Ghaznavids, defines the late ancient period.

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