Sunday, July 31, 2005
Southeastern Iran and the Indus Valley
Why the Overland trade routes were replaced by the Maritime trade routes during the end of the third millennium BC?
# posted by MEHDI MORTAZAVI @ 12:21 AM 
Saturday, July 30, 2005
Comments by Javier Alvarez-Mon, M.A., Cand. Phil, Department of Near Eastern Studies,University of California
Comments about question: "What's your idea about development of the Iranian archaeology?"
"In my opinion an answer to this question needs to be put in the context of 25 years of extraordinary happenings. The good news is that despite the dramatic effects of the 1979 Iranian Revolution, the ensuing Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988), and a number of regional political upheavals including two more recent Gulf Wars (1990-1991; 2003-2005), there is a renewed public interest in the study and preservation of ancient Iranian (and Near Eastern) heritage. This said, the field has greatly suffered and it is only in the past few years that a number of scholars are effectively working to counteract more than twenty-five years of decreasing academic interest and expertise in this important region of the world. For these reasons, articulating an appropriate topic acceptable to a wide popular audience could be challenging. I would conceptualize such an enterprise by (1) giving a sense of the importance to Iran as one of the most promising areas for archeological and anthropological research in the world today; and giving some sense of the struggles the country of Iran and the field of Iranian archaeology (including the adaptations of many of the scholars) have undergone in the past 25 years. (2) I would present an overview of recent outstanding discoveries (such as Jiroft, Arjan, and new archaeological excavations), comment on important local and international projects and exhibits by Iranian nationals (such as the Tchogha Zanbil project, the European exhibit of 7000 years of Persian Art, or the forthcoming 2005 exhibit of Achaemenid world at the British Museum), and unique projects by foreign scholars (such as the 2003 creation of an Elamite digital catalogue for the National Museum of Iran). I then (3) would present an overview of the new material concentrating on how this material introduces changes in our understanding of the history of the ancient Near East. And finally, (4) would emphasize the renaissance of Iranian studies, with the ultimate hope that governments come to an understanding of the importance of keeping our common cultural heritage outside of politics. I would obviously include lots of good-quality photographs of representative artifacts and the greatest sites of Iran (Susa, Haft Tappeh, Tchoga Zanbil, Izeh/Malamir, Kurangun, Persepolis, Pasargadae, etc).Well, there you have my opinion in a nut shell. I am aware that this may sound too general but the alternative requires concentration in a particular time period or civilization and that, in my opinion, would demand a greater control of the evidence, in addition to access to the new material. I also think that given the state of Iran’s position in the world today, the general public have heard so little about Iran outside of political rhetoric, it seems that most readers of Archeology would welcome an update on Iranian archaeology since the revolution, and in light of the news regarding the demise of historical and cultural sites and artifacts from neighboring Iraq because of the most recent war there" (Javier Alvarez, Mon, 25 Jul 2005).
# posted by MEHDI MORTAZAVI @ 10:53 AM
Friday, July 29, 2005
IRON AGE
Bridge spouted pottery jug with red decoration on cream ground. From Tepe Sialk? Iron II period (c. 1000-800 B.C.) 19.4 cm. tall. Horned animals and geometric motifs. British Museum, UK.
# posted by MEHDI MORTAZAVI @ 10:55 PM
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Sistan and Baluchistan Province
Sistan and Baluchistan Province has a lengthy boundary with Pakistan and Afghanistan and consists of two parts, the Sistan region, which is located in the north of the province; and the Baluchistan region, which is situated in the south. The most important cities in Sistan and Baluchistan are Zahedan, the capital of the province; Zabol and Zahak in Sistan; Khash, Saravan, Iranshahr, Bampur, Ghasr-e-Ghand, Nikshahr, Chabahar and Konarak in Baluchistan.
# posted by MEHDI MORTAZAVI @ 3:02 PM
Monday, July 25, 2005
The Indus Valley and Southeast Iran
Commonality between Southeast Iran and the Indus Valley is valid as there were strong cultural and economical contacts between the two neighbouring areas during the third millennium BC.
# posted by MEHDI MORTAZAVI @ 10:01 PM
Sunday, July 24, 2005
South Asian Archaeologists Conference, London July 2005
Left to right:
Mr. Nicholas Barnard, Victoria and Albert Museum
?????????????? Victoria and Albert Museum
Dr.Mehdi Mortazavi, Sistan and Baluchistan University, Iran
# posted by MEHDI MORTAZAVI @ 10:53 PM
South Asian Archaeologists Conference, London July 2005
Left to right:
Pro. Bivar, London, SOAS
Pro. Lamberg-Karlovsky, Harvard University, Excavator of Tepe Yahya in 1960's
Dr. Mehdi Mortazavi, Sistan and Baluchistan University, Iran
Ms. B. de Cardi, Excavator of Tepe Bampur in 1966
# posted by MEHDI MORTAZAVI @ 10:43 PM
South Asian Archaeologists Conference, London July 2005
South Asian Archaeologists Conference, London July 2005
Left to right:
Pro. Vasant Shinde, Deccan College, India
Dr. Mehdi Mortazavi, Sistan and Baluchistan University, Iran
# posted by MEHDI MORTAZAVI @ 10:29 PM
South Asian Archaeologists Conference, London July 2005
Dr. Mehdi Mortazavi and His paper titled:
Economical role of the Complex Societies of
Southeastern Iran During the 3rd Millennium BC
# posted by MEHDI MORTAZAVI @ 10:19 PM
Iranian Archaeologists in South Asian Archaeologists Conference in London July 2005
From left to right:
Mr. Hassan Akbari, PhD Candidate, Tehran
Mr. Morteza Hessari, PhD Candidate, Germany
Ms. Lily Niyakan, PhD Candidate, Tehran
Dr. Mehdi Mortazavi, Lecturer in Archaeology, University of Sistan and Baluchistan
Mr. Khosrowzade, Cultural Heritage Organisation, Tehran
# posted by MEHDI MORTAZAVI @ 10:06 PM
Pictures from South Asian Archaeologists in London July 2005
IRANIAN ARCHAEOLOGY
What's your idea about development of the Iranian archaeology?
# posted by MEHDI MORTAZAVI @ 6:35 PM
