The Archaeology of Afghanistan
From Earliest Times to the Timurid Period: New Edition
Raymond Allchin editor Norman Hammond editor Warwick Ball editor
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Edinburgh University Press
Published:3rd May '19
Should be back in stock very soon
Afghanistan is at the cultural crossroads of Asia, where the great civilisations of Mesopotamia and Iran, South Asia and Central Asia overlapped and sometimes conflicted. Its landscape embraces environments from the high mountains of the Hindu Kush to the Oxus basin and the great deserts of Sistan; trade routes from China to the Mediterranean, and from Central Asia to the Arabian Sea cross the country. It has seen the development of early agriculture, the spread of Bronze Age civilisation of Central Asia, the conquests of the Persians and of Alexander of Macedon, the spread of Buddhism and then Islam, and the empires of the Kushans, Ghaznavids, Ghurids and Timurids centred there, with ramifications across southern Asia. All of which has resulted in some of the most important, diverse and spectacular historical remains in Asia. First published in 1978, this was the first book in English to provide a complete survey of the immensely rich archaeological remains of Afghanistan. The contributors, all acknowledged scholars in their field, have worked in the country, on projects ranging from prehistoric surveys to the study of Islamic architecture. It has now been thoroughly revised and brought up to date to incorporate the latest discoveries and research.
[T]he Archaeology of Afghanistan provides [an] invaluable survey of the state of current knowledge of the various periods, both in Afghanistan and the surrounding regions. [It] ranges freely across adjacent regions to provide an overview of changing alliances with the three adjacent major civilizations. It was not only dynasties that changed with alarming frequency, but also the religions promoted by them. Both Buddhism and Islam, had a major impact on the art, culture and architecture of this mountainous country. [The book] shed[s] a brilliant light on the archaeology of Afghanistan.... will be treasured as an impressive and remarkable record of the present state of knowledge... a major achievement. -- Dr Georgina Herrmann, University College London * Antiquaries Journal *
In summary, I found this book to be extremely useful with important new chronologies and data on ancient and historical Afghanistan. It helps confirm the importance of this region to the history of Asia and the world as a whole. Overall the volume is extremely well written and edited, and has the most up to date information available at the time of publication. [... A]n essential reference volume for many years to come. -- Jonathan Mark Kenoyer * Pakistan Heritage 11 (2019) *
This comprehensive reworking of the original 1978 book, revised with sovereign assurance by Warwick Ball, one of the greatest living specialists on Afghan archaeology, with the assistance of Norman Hammond, summarises post-1978 research from Palaeolithic to Mughal times. With ten specialist contributions plus dozens of new drawings and colour plates, this is the book of books on Afghanistan’s material culture. * Professor Robert Hillenbrand, The University of Edinburgh *
ISBN: 9780748699179
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
752 pages