The activities of the Italian Archaeological Mission in Afghanistan 

Annual Report 2022

 

CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS (NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL) - With the participation of at least two members of the mission

Online seminar Regards sur les arts du monde iranien (période islamique), IFRI – Institut Français de Recherche en Iran (Tehran), Centre de recherche sur le monde iranien (CeRMI/CNRS), Paris/Téhéran. https://cermi.cnrs.fr/seminaires-de-recherche/regards-sur-les-arts-du-monde-iranien-periode-islamique/

  • Laviola, V., “Islamic Metalwork from Afghanistan: Preserving the Memory of Lost Collections”, Metalwork Session, January 25, 2021. 
  • Allegranzi, V., “Islamic Inscriptions from Medieval Afghanistan: Innovations in the Content and Style of Royal Epigraphy”, April 26, 2022.
  • Massullo, M., “Islamic Inscriptions from Medieval Afghanistan: Funerary Texts as Sources for Local History”, April 26, 2022.

25th Conference of the European Association for South Asian Archaeology and Art, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcellona July 4-8, 2022. https://easaa.org/conferences/barcelona-2022/

  • Annucci, A., “«Bull and Horseman» coinage of the Turkic Islamic dynasties (10th-13th centuries)”. 
  • Forgione, G., “Gemstones as “pure” symbols: archaeological insights from the Buddhist site of Tapa Sardar”.
  • Forgione, G., participation in the Round Table “Current perspectives for the Heritage in Afghanistan”, sponsored by Casa Asia.

Colloque international Centenaire de la D.A.F.A. Un siècle de coopération archéologique franco-afghane. Université de Strasbourg, 20-21 Septembre 2022. https://www.misha.fr/websites/misha/images/actus-agenda/2022/09-2022/Programme_Centenaire_DAFA.pdf

  • Filigenzi, A. «L’archéologie italienne en Afghanistan: parcours de recherches, de réflexions épistémologiques et de coopérations amicales». 
  • Laviola, V., “Disclosing the Ghaznavid Palaces. The Legacy of the Délégation Archéologique Française en Afghanistan”.

Colloque international Arts et patrimoine de l’Afghanistan. Cent ans de recherches archéologiques, 1922-2022, Musée national des arts asiatiques - Guimet, Délégation Archéologique Française en Afghanistan, Fondation Inalco, Paris, 18-19 novembre. https://cermi.cnrs.fr/arts-et-patrimoine-de-lafghanistan-cent-ans-de-recherches-archeologiques-1922-2022/

  • Filigenzi, A., Giunta, R. « Fouilles, documentation, études : Les travaux de la Mission Archéologique Italienne ».
  • Allegranzi, V., « Le rôle des inscriptions dans la compréhension du site archéologique de Ghazni ».
  • Massullo, M., « Étude et valorisation des données archéologiques de Ghazni. Du musée de Rawza au projet d’un musée virtuel».

 

CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS (NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL) - Individual participation

Allegranzi, V., «Les gunbads de Chisht-i Sharif : Nouvelles perspectives sur un site méconnu et sur l’histoire des Ghourides en Afghanistan (moitié XIIe – début XIIIe s.)». Seminar Sociétés, politiques et cultures du monde iranien, Centre de recherche sur le monde iranien (CeRMI/CNRS). Paris, 17 novembre 2022.

Annucci, A., “Catalogue of Hindu Śāhi Coins in the Münzkabinett of the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien”. Cultural History of the Shahi Kingdoms: Formation and Transformation Across Three Centuries. Final workshop: New Research and Publication Planning (Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Universität Wien). Vienna, March 27-29, 2022.

Annucci, A., “Authorities on the Islamic coinage of the Eastern Iranian territories (8th-11th centuries). Coins and Borderlands in Eastern regions of Afghanistan)”. 16th International Numismatic Congress (Uniwersytet Warszawski). Varsavia, September 11-16, 2022. 

Annucci, A., “The Caliphate and Hindu Shahis: History through Coinage on Afghan Borders”. Eckhels Erben: Neue Forschungen aus der Wiener Numismatik 41 (Institut für Numismatik und Geldgeschichte - Universität Wien). Vienna, November 3, 2022.

Filigenzi, A., “Buddhist settlements in Afghanistan: Art, doctrine, socio-economic interactions”. Online seminar (MA): Il “santuario” in Asia meridionale (focus: Afghanistan) LM2580 2021-2022, organised by L.M. Olivieri. Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, February 22, 2022.

Filigenzi, A., “Betrayed expectations and post-colonial revenge: Archaeology in the cross-hairs of conflicts”. In: Round Table - Archaeology and sustainable development: A covenant for the future (proposer A. Filigenzi). VII Congresso CUCS Napoli 2022, La Cooperazione Universitaria nelle nuove sfide per lo sviluppo sostenibile. Naples April 21-23, 2022. https://www.cucsnapoli2022.it/it/home-cucs2021/

Filigenzi, A., «Archéologie et écriture de l’histoire en Afghanistan: quelques réflexions sur les travaux de la Mission Archéologique Italienne.»  Journée d’études Splendeurs des grands sites d’Afghanistan: cent ans de coopération archéologique. Paris, INHA (Institut national d’histoire de l’art), 21/05/2022. http://www.arscan.fr/blog/splendeurs-des-grands-sites-dafghanistan-cent-ans-de-cooperation-archeologique/

Filigenzi, A., “Archeologie difficili e sistemi di valori. Il caso dell’Afghanistan”. Lecture (in presence and online) in the framework of the cycle Ripensare il mondo. Il confronto tra culture nella formazione delle civiltà (Museo delle Civiltà and ISMEO). Roma, MuCiv, Palazzo delle Scienze, June 23, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY8kdYRwAHs

Filigenzi, A.  Discussant (online) of Panel 04: Buddhist Networks in Gandhāra and Beyond (Convener: Jessie Pons). The XIXth IABS Congress, Seoul, August 15-19, 2022. http://iabs2020.snu.ac.kr/academic-program/Updated_Program.pdf

Filigenzi, A., “The Huna period in Afghanistan and Pakistan: An archaeological enquiry into facts and factoids”. European Workshop on Mediaeval Nomadism, University of Naples L'Orientale, November 23-25, 2022.

Filigenzi, A., “The archaeology of pre-Islamic Afghanistan: challenges, achievements and perspectives”. Online course Archaeology of the historical pre-Islamic period in Central, Western and Southern Asia, Peking University, December 2, 2022.

Filigenzi, A., “The Buddhist Monastery at Tepe Sardar, Afghanistan”. Re-assembling Hadda (Afghanistan) in the early Buddhist world: perspectives from conservation, archaeology, and art history. One-Day Online Zoom Conference, Chicago Center for Cultural Heritage Preservation, Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, December 7, 2022. https://events.uchicago.edu/oi/event/189899-webinar-re-assembling-hadda-afghanistan-in-the

Forgione, G., “Archeologia e storia dell’arte dell’Afghanistan. Il lavoro della Missione Archeologica Italiana: ricerca, metodologia e documentazione”. PCTO Project - Tempo e realtà, natura e artificio, effimero e duraturo: alcune prospettive dell’arte Indiana. LICEO STATALE PITAGORA - B. CROCE. – Torre Annunziata (online), April 22, 2022.

Forgione, G., “Frammenti materiali, tracce di storia: l’archeologia del Buddhismo in Afghanistan”. Spring 2022 online Lecture Series, Centre for Buddhist Studies, University of Naples L'Orientale, May 3, 2022. 

Forgione, G., “Il progetto iCHeriSH: esperimenti di accesso libero ad un sapere attendibile per lo studio e la salvaguardia del patrimonio culturale dell’Asia meridionale”. Paper presented at the 3rd Conference Egitto e Vicino Oriente antichi: tra passato e futuro - EVOA 2022. Rome June 30 - July 1, 2022. https://www.antichita.uniroma1.it/egitto-e-vicino-oriente-antichi-tra-passato-e-futuro

Giunta, R., «Le pouvoir ghaznévide (977-1186). Témoignages archéologiques, épigraphiques et numismatiques». Lecture, Ausonius Umr 5607 Maison de l’archéologie, Bordeaux, janvier 2022.

Laviola, V., “Ghazni Stuccoes. From an Old Excavation to the Synergetic Study of the Ghaznavid Palace Architectural Decoration”. Stucco Decoration in the Architecture of Iran and Neighbouring Lands: New Research – New Horizons. University of Bamberg, May 4-7, 2022.

Massullo, M., «Les tombeaux et les épitaphes de Ghazni du XIIIe-XIVe siècle», XXIIIe Journée du Monde Iranien, CeRMI (CNRS, UMR 8041). Auditorium de la BULAC, Paris, 1 avril 2022.

Rugiadi, M., “Trafficking of Marble Reliefs from Ghazni”. Smithsonian Institution, U.S. Department of State’s Cultural Heritage Center, in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Art Crime Program and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cultural Property, Art, and Antiquities Program. March 28, 2022.

Rugiadi, M., “Afghan Marbles: the Expanded Archaeological Archive”. Lindner Center Lecture Series in Art History. Co-sponsored by the Art Department and the Interdisciplinary Program in Archaeology, University of Virginia. February 24, 2022.

 

PUBLICATIONS

Annucci, A. (2022) Forschungsstelle für islamische Numismatik Tübingen - Münze des Monats Mai 2022. Online: https://uni-tuebingen.de/fakultaeten/philosophische-fakultaet/fachbereiche/asien-orient-wissenschaften/orient-islamwissenschaft/fint/muenze-des-monats/#c1571771

Forgione, G. (2021) Clay-based sculptures: analysis of technical aspects and typologies. Parthica. Incontri di culture nel mondo antico, 23, 2021 [2022], pp. 145-176. Abstract: http://www.libraweb.net/articoli3.php?chiave=202103501&rivista=35&articolo=202103501008

Giunta, R., Filigenzi, A. (2022) La mission archéologique italienne en Afghanistan: soixante-quinze ans de travaux et de mémoire. In Afghanistan ombres et légendes. Un siècle de recherches archéologiques, pp. 182-191. Paris.

Giunta, R. (2022) Les tombeaux. In Afghanistan ombres et légendes. Un siècle de recherches archéologiques, pp. 192-194. Paris.

Giunta, R. (2022) Plaques en marbre du palais ghaznévide de Ghazni. In Afghanistan ombres et légendes. Un siècle de recherches archéologiques, pp. 195-198. Paris.

Giunta, R. (2022) Carreaux de céramique. In Afghanistan ombres et légendes. Un siècle de recherches archéologiques, pp. 199-201. Paris.

Massullo, M. (2022) Tombes et lieux de ziyāra à Ghazni, dans S. Denoix et H. Renel (éd.) Atlas des mondes musulmans médiévaux, CNRS Editions, Paris, pp. 182-183.

 

DISSEMINATION WORKS

Allegranzi, V., Filigenzi, A., Forgione, G., Laviola, V.: concept of animated videos about pre-Islamic and Islamic archeological sites of Ghazni as part of a short bilingual series (Dari/English), meant to engage a broad audience. In collaboration with company Science Animated (Sci Ani, UK). 

Forgione, G.: creation of two short didactic videos in the framework of the project ICHeriSH – inputting Cultural Heritage and Side Histories into the digital arena: Towards a collaborative network for South Asia.

1)    https://youtu.be/6dtzTQoD8Nw/ https://youtu.be/fQV4mgmf8wg

2)    https://youtu.be/DAUdLPuZTkY 

 

STUDY PERIODS ABROAD

Annucci, A. (unpublished coins issued in Afghanistan, 8th-9th century):

  • 30.03.2022 – 10.04.2022 - Visiting Researcher, Forschungsstelle für Islamische Numismatik - Universität Tübingen (Tübingen, Germany).

  • 06.03.2022 – 12.03.2022 - Visiting Researcher, Heberdeen Coin Room – Ashmolean Museum (Oxford, United Kingdom).

  • 30.03.2022 – 10.04.2022 - Visiting Researcher, Forschungsstelle für islamische Numismatik - Universität Tübingen (Tübingen, Germany).

  • 03.05.2022 – 07.05.2022 - Visiting Researcher, Ekonomiska Museet (Stockholm, Sweden).

 

COLLABORATIONS

Massullo, M.: collaboration as «assistante de recherché» for the design of the Chaire de préfiguration «Arts et patrimoine de l’Afghanistan» della Fondation INALCO (Programme «Urgence Afghanistan»).

Forgione, G.: collaboration with the project ICHeriSH – inputting Cultural Heritage and Side Histories into the digital arena: Towards a collaborative network for South Asia, section Afghanistan. https://www.icherish.cloud/pages/default.aspx

 

IN PREPARATION

CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS (NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL) - Individual participation

Rugiadi, M., A Globalized Afghanistan: from the Prophet to the Mongols. Fall 2022 Arts of Asia Series. Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, January 20, 2023.  

 

PUBLICATIONS

Allegranzi, V. (in press) New Epigraphic Data from a Ghurid Monument in Chisht-i Sharif: Expressing Power and Piety in Sixth/Twelfth‑Century Afghanistan, in B. O’Kane, A.C.S. Peacock, M. Muehlhaeusler (eds.) Inscriptions of the Medieval Islamic World, Edinburgh: EUP.

Allegranzi, V., Laviola, V. (accepted for publication) Stucco in the Architectural Decoration of the Ghaznavid Palace in Ghazni (Afghanistan, 11th-12th Century), in R. McClary (ed.) Islamic Stucco. Edinburgh, EUP.

Annucci, A. (in preparation) The coins from Ghazni and Tapa Sardar (tbd) (con M. Alram; introduzioni di G. Verardi e R. Giunta).

Annucci, A. (in preparation) Hindu Śāhi coinage: towards a new chronology. Sourcebook for the Shahi Kingdoms. Online.

Filigenzi, A. (in press) (with L.M. Olivieri) Object 11: Bodhisattva Bhaishajyaraja, “The Healing King”. In K. Debreczeny, E. Pakhoutova (eds.) Himalayan Art in 108 Objects. New York: Rubin Museum of Art and Scala. 

Filigenzi, A. (in preparation) Kings, families, children and monks: A taxonomic enquiry into the ritualised celebration of patronage in the Buddhist art of Afghanistan.  In C. Ramble, A. Filigenzi, C. Moretti (eds.) The Image as Instrument and as Reflection of Ritual in Central Asia and the Himalaya: from Antiquity to the Present. Actes du Cinquième colloque international de la SEECHAC (Société Européenne pour l’Etude des Civilisations de l’Himalaya et de l’Asie Centrale), Napoli 5-7 Novembre 2018 [provisional title].

Filigenzi, A. (in preparation) The Archaeology of Pre-Islamic Afghanistan: Challenges, Achievements And Perspectives. In G. Vignato (ed.) Archaeology of the historical pre-Islamic period in Central, Western and Southern Asia (亚洲考古：从铁器时代到公元7世纪) [provisional title].

Forgione, G. (in press) Il progetto iCHeriSH: esperimenti di accesso libero ad un sapere attendibile per lo studio e la salvaguardia del patrimonio culturale dell’Asia meridionale. In Scienze dell’Antichità.

Forgione, G. (in preparation) Clay sculptures from Tepe Narenj (Kabul). New evidence of Buddhist art in the Huna and Shahi eras.

Fusaro, A., Allegranzi, V. (accepted) A Treasure of Lustrewares from Ghazni (Afghanistan, mid-12th –early 13th century), Annali dell’Università degli Studi di Napoli "L’Orientale". Sezione orientale.

Massullo, M. (accepted) Funerary epigraphy from Ghazni after the Mongol Invasions. New observations on specimens dating to the 13th-14th centuries, Sepolture nel Medioevo Mediterraneo – Minima Medievalia. 

Rugiadi, M. (in press) Notes on absences. Towards charting the drill in medieval Islamic stonework and its modern investigation, in A fascinating story. Il trapano in scultura, dall’Antico Egitto al Modernismo, edited by P. d’Agostino and L. Simonato. Turnhout: Brepols, ISBN 978-2-503-60025-3.

Rugiadi, M. (in press) The marble carving tradition of Ghazni and entries for 11 artefacts, in Monuments and Memorials. Carvings and tile work from the Islamic world, edited by R. Pinder-Wilson and Mitchell A.K. Krites. London: The Nour Foundation (The Nasser D. Khalili Collection of Islamic Art XXIV, ISBN 978-1-874780854).

 

EXHIBITIONS

Rugiadi, M., Sultans and Saints. Marbles from Medieval Afghanistan. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, date TBD in 2025 (working title). 

Rugiadi, M., Entangled: Stuttgart – Afghanistan. Linden Museum Stuttgart. Co-curated with Annette Kraemer and others, 2025.