ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE SILK ROAD

The course focuses on the archaeology, fine arts and material culture of the ancient 'Silk Road' regions between 500 BCE and 1000 CE. The course aims to introduce students to the issues of archaeology, fine arts and material culture from Afghanistan to South and Central Asia. In particular, the focus will be on the period between the formation of the polities of the so-called 'Hellenistic Far East', up to the later political and economic control systems (Saka and Kushan phases) in the period between c. 300 BC and 350 BC. The geographical focus is on the Gandhara region (modern Pakistan and Afghanistan).
The study area specifically includes Afghanistan and other regions critical for their cultural heritage. For this reason, the course will introduce the main archaeological areas and sites, also addressing the issues of 'archaeological and monumental heritage' in the area, the question of 'archaeological contexts', presenting the history of studies and methodologies, and case studies.

At the end of this course, students should have acquired a good understanding of the history and historical geography of the region, a fair knowledge of the main sites and excavations, as well as the main research topics with a focus on Gandharan/Silk Road art and archaeology, a good understanding of the topics discussed and the related methodologies, and, in particular, the following points: 1. Knowledge and critical understanding of the main topics concerning the cultural history of the study area; 2. Correct evaluation of the historical-artistic importance of an artefact, a site or an archaeological area; 3. Formation of an autonomous idea, reasoned and free from preconceived theories, on the characterisations and transformations of the cultural territory, as well as on the characterisations and transformations of the cultural heritage of a civilisation; 4. Ability to autonomously interpret the main sources, with particular reference to Gandharan/Silk Road art and archaeology 5. Autonomous capacity to interpret the main sources, written (in translation) and iconographic, in the field of cultural heritage; 6. Capacity to autonomously find and consult resources and basic tools for learning and updating knowledge and skills in the field of cultural heritage. 7. Ability to develop questions in a clear and articulate manner in order to deepen, complete and integrate the knowledge and skills learnt. 8. Ability to express with logical rigour in written and/or oral form the knowledge and skills learnt in the course of study.

This is not necessary. However, a basic knowledge of ancient history, geography and ancient art history is preferable. Supplementary materials and tutoring may be provided for students who require specific help in this regard.

Urban archaeology
Sanctuaries
Sanctuaries and cities
The role of religious communities
Art, elites and donation
Architecture and technology
Import and exchange of technical knowledge
Behind the elites: the archaeology of subalterns
Economy and production
Political control systems
Trade and communication
Global factors: climate change

Seminars:
1: Buddhist shrines.
The construction of a stupa: from the quarries to the elevation. organisation of the construction site, the workers, the client. Case study: Saidu Sharif I
2: Models, contamination and emulation between India and the Mediterranean. Case study: The Frieze of the Master of Saidu
3: Dynastic sanctuaries. Case study: Surkh Kotal
4: The Shahi Brahmanical temples. Case study: Barikot, Zalam-kot
5: Ancient economy: agricultural production and the role of Buddhist monasteries
Case study: The double-crop regions.

Workshop:
cataloguing and describing Buddhist sculptures from Gandhara

1) H. Hartel. Along the ancient silk routes : Central Asian art from the West Berlin State Museums: an exhibition lent by the Museum für Indische Kunst, New York, 1982: Introduction, pp. 13-49.
2) Luca M. Olivieri. The archaeology of Gandhara. Oxford Research Encyclopedia, Anthropology, 2022.
3) Luca M. Olivieri (2025) selected chapters in G. Tucci, Uddiyana, The Way of Swat, Sang-e-meel Publishers (open access: ARCA card: 10278/5096632)
4) L.M. Olivieri, Digging up. Fieldwork guidelines for archaeology students. Sang-e-Meel, Lahore 2014 [available as a free resource]: selected chapters.
5) S. Withfield, Silk Roads: Peoples, Cultures, Landscapes. Thames and Hudson, London 2019: selected chapters.
6) Further readings to be downloaded from Ariel/Moodle.

Main readings for the seminars:

Seminars 1-2) Luca M. Olivieri (2022) Stoneyards and artists in Gandhara. The Buddhist stupa of Saidu Sharif I, Swat (c. 50) https://edizionicafoscari.unive.it/it/edizioni4/libri/978-88-6969-577-3/ (selected Chapters)
Seminar 2) Anna Filigenzi (2006) From Saidu to Miran, Indologica Taurinensia, XXXII, pp. 67-89. http://www.asiainstitutetorino.it/indologica/volumes/vol32/03_Filigenzi.pdf
Henri-Paul Francfort (2014) Les peintures de Mirān et l’art de l’Asie centrale, Monuments et Mémoires de la Foundation Eugène Piot, 93, pp. 23-64. https://www.persee.fr/doc/piot_1148-6023_2014_num_93_1_2129
Seminar 3) Luca M. Olivieri, F. Sinisi (2021) The stele and other statues. A stone puzzle from Surkh Kotal, East and West 2(61), pp. 115-161. Daniel Schlumberger (1961) The Excavations at Surkh Kotal and the Problem of Hellenism in Bactria and India. Proceedings of the British Academy. https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/documents/4847/47p077.pdf
Seminar 4) Luca M. Olivieri (2022) The temples of Swat. The Śāhi archaeological landscape of Barikot. In H.P. Ray et al. (eds.) The Routledge Handbook of Hindu Temples Materiality, Social History and Practice. London: Routledge India, pp. 251-276.
Luca M. Olivieri et al. (2025) Vajirasthāna. The Archaeology of the Barikot Hilltop, Sang-e-Meel Publishers, Lahore (3 vols.) (open access)(selected chapters)
Seminar 5) Luca M. Olivieri (2022) The Swat routes, new perspectives. In X. Liu (ed.) The World of the Ancient Silk Road. New York: Routledge, pp. 354-377; Luca M. Olivieri (2025) Double-crop Pocket Zones and Empires: The Case of Swat. In Lara Fabian et al. (eds.) Economies of the Edge: Frontier Zone Processes at Regional, Imperial, and Global Scales (300 BCE – 300 CE). Heidelberg: Heidelberg University Publishing, pp. 45–80. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17885/heiup.1582.c22721

Handbook for Gandharan art cataloguing test:
Faccenna, D., A. Filigenzi (2007) REPERTORY OF TERMS FOR CATALOGUING GANDHARAN SCULPTURES BASED ON MATERIALS FROM THE ITALIAN ARCHAEOLOGICAL MISSION IN SWAT, PAKISTAN. IsIAORepMem: Rome. (in Italian and English).

Space will be given to active discussion of the main topics to test understanding of the subject.
Individual material cataloguing and study exercises will be conducted on materials uploaded on Ariel unimi.
Before the exam, students will be requested to complete two class assigmnents: 1) a questionnaire; b) an exercise in cataloguing Gandharan art material. These assignments will be completed during the last two classes.
Seminar lessons will be held on 5 topics (each lasting two lessons). At the end, a short written summary will be requested (asynchronous mode). These summaries will be corrected individually by the teacher as they are submitted.

oral

The exam consists of three parts:
- participation in the 5 seminar activities (30% of the final grade);
- individual essay (average 3000 words). The selected topic will be agreed upon with the lecturer. The essay (.doc) should be sent to the lecturer through Ariel unimi at least two weeks before the day of the oral exam (60% of the final grade);
- discussion of the essay (10% of the final grade).
The final assessment is graded as follows: 18-22 (sufficient ability to orient oneself with respect to the chronology and geography of the areas of study, submission of a paper of a generic nature of less than 2000 words with sufficient bibliography); 23-25 (good general knowledge and ability to study specific areas of study in depth, submission of a paper on a specific topic of more than 2000 words with basic bibliography); 26-29 (excellent general knowledge and ability to produce original in-depth studies on one or more topics related to the area of study submission of a related paper of more than 4000 words with basic bibliography); 30-30L (more than excellent general knowledge and ability to produce innovative insights on one or more topics related to the study area; submission of a related paper of more than 4500 words with bibliography updated to the most recent research).

Conventional with seminar
Eight lectures will be accompanied by images and texts in PowerPoint presentations, which will be made available before each class on Ariel unimi.
One exercise involving cataloguing and studying materials from the documentation available online and from the photographic archive of the Italian Archaeological Mission in Pakistan.
One mid-term or final test with open and multiple-choice questions.
Five seminars.
Before the exam, the candidate will present a short (in English or Italian) research essay on a topic selected by the candidate that references and cites the texts we have studied.
With the help of the teacher, the most original papers may be transformed into a research note or short article to be published in English in a specialised journal.
The possibility of participating in the fieldwork of the Italian Archaeological Mission in Pakistan (Swat Valley: https://www.unive.it/pag/32771/ ) can be considered.

The exam will be conducted orally and in person. The submission of a short essay on one of the topics covered during the course is recommended (but not compulsory) for the exam. The essay can be 5-10 pages (i.e. 5-10 slides), including the introduction and references. The APA style can be adopted for references (see e.g. https://www.iup.edu/writingcenter/writing-resources/research-and-documentation/apa-style/what-is-apa.html ; https://libguides.csudh.edu/ld.php?content_id=52097964 ). For the preparation of the essay, if the candidate agrees, I would prefer it to be shared with the lecturer during the writing process, so that suggestions can be made on both form and content. This correction phase should be completed no later than one week before the examination date. In the case of an essay (I repeat: not compulsory), the second part of the exam will be a general interview on the course content. If you prefer not to do the essay, the entire examination will focus on the content with questions (which can also be carried out by requesting a commentary on images of objects and works of art), trying to activate an active interview on the answers, in the least mechanical way possible.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Cities, infrastructure and social capital" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development