This course is an introduction to the archaeology of ancient Persia, the modern country of Iran, from the arrival of the earliest inhabitants in the Paleolithic period, to the end of the Sasanian period and the rise of Islam (ca. 10,000 BCE-651 CE). Though little work was published on the archaeology of Iran in English after the 1979 Revolution, recent archaeological studies and excavations during more recent decades have brought new information to light. This is a cultural, rather than historical course, and we will emphasize cultural change over time, rather than political and historical events. Together, we will analyze how archaeology can inform us about our cultural past, and what remains to still be discovered in this important region.
By the end of this course, students are expected to learn:
- An introductory understanding of ancient Iranian archaeology, history, and culture
- To apply historical methods to a range of important questions in Iranian history through critical analysis of archaeological evidence and modern opinion and through the construction of detailed, reasoned arguments
- To recognize the distinctive features of the various time periods of Iranian history and culture
- Critical analysis of ancient textual and archaeological evidence and modern opinions
- Basic archaeological excavation methods and publication standards, using ancient Iranian examples