The iconic minaret of J膩m stands in a remote mountain valley in central Afghanistan, the finest surviving monument of the enigmatic 12th-century Gh奴rid dynasty. The re-discovery of the minaret half a century ago prompted renewed interest in the Gh奴rids, and this has intensified since their summer capital at J膩m became Afghanistan鈥檚 first World Heritage site in 2002.
Two seasons of archaeological fieldwork at J膩m, the detailed analysis of satellite images and the innovative use of Google Earth as a cultural heritage management tool have resulted in a wealth of new information about known Gh奴rid sites, and the identification of hundreds of previously undocumented archaeological sites across Afghanistan. Drawing inspiration from the Annales School and the concept of an 鈥榓rchipelagic landscape鈥, Thomas has used these data to re-assess the Gh奴rids and generate a more nuanced understanding of this significant Early Islamic polity.
In addition to complementing the 茅惫茅苍别尘别苍迟蝉 which form the focus of the urban-based historical sources, the new archaeological data are used by Thomas to reconsider the urban characteristics of the Gh奴rids鈥 summer capital. Throughout The Ebb and Flow of the Gh奴rid Empire, Thomas uses this to explore the issues of Gh奴rid identity, ideology and the sustainability of their polity.
A range of appendices are available for download. Please click on the Table of Contents tab for links to download .
David C. Thomas is an honorary associate in archaeology at LaTrobe University.
List of figures
List of plates
List of tables
Abstract in Dari
Acknowledgements
Preface
Note on transliteration and dates
Abbreviations
Introduction
1. The nomadic empire of the Gh奴rids2. The Gh奴rid landscapes
3. The rise, expansion and demise of the Gh奴rids under the Shansab膩n墨d dynasty
4. The archaeological remains of the Gh奴rids
5. Exploring J膩m
6. Re-defining J膩m: an archaeological eye in the sky
Supplementary appendices
: Gh奴rid sites
: Architectural details of sites and structures recorded by MJAP in 2003 and 2005
: MJAP robber hole data
: MJAP robber holes
: Excavated contexts, MJAP 2003 and 2005
: Small finds, MJAP 2003 and 2005
: X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) data
: Environmental data
: Descriptions of Gh奴rid sites analysed in high-resolution satellite images available through Google Earth
: Descriptions of selected Gh奴rid sites analysed using upgraded satellite images available through Google Earth
: ASAGE sites referred to in Chapter 7
: Summary data for all the ASAGE sites
'Thomas鈥檚 book is interesting not only for its subject matter 鈥 it is arguably the first detailed analysis of archaeological work carried out in the Ghurid heartland of central Afghanistan 鈥 but also for its process that integrates the traditional with the technological. Satellite archaeology has facilitated the desktop studies of specific sites and entire regions through free, high-resolution, geo-referenced images.'
Asma Ibrahim Dawn
鈥 鈥 this work of synthesis is quite significant, constructing an interdisciplinary image of Ghu虅rid urbanism at Jam as well as the broader material footprint of Ghu虅rid territorial politics through
multiple Afghan landscapes.鈥
Kathryn Franklin Antiquity
鈥楾his book is very well researched and draws on a wide range of sources, both written and archaeological, and does a great deal to place Ghurid studies into the historiographic continuum.鈥
Richard McClary Plekos
Size: 250 脳 176 脳 28 mm
414 pages
153 b&w illustrations, 27 b&w tables, and 35 colour illustrations
Copyright: © 2018
ISBN: 9781743325414
Publication: 15 May 2018
Series: Adapa Monographs