Lecture Series on the History and Culture of Central Asia (Summer Semester 2023)The Islamization in the Middle Zerafshan ValleyA lecture by Sione Mantellini, Assistant Professor at the Department of History and Cultures, University of Bologna

2 May 2023

Photo: © IBISRC

We kindly invite you to the second lsession of the Lecture Series "Material Culture of the Zerafshan Valley '' which takes place this semester. The lecture will be held by Prof. Dr. Simone Montellini,  Assistant Professor at the University of Bologna and discusses the topic of “The Islamization in the Middle Zerafshan Valley”, which will take place on May 2^nd, 2023, at 1 pm CET via Zoom.

Abstract:
The lecture presents the transition related to the Islamization of Samarkand and its territory through the results of the Italo-Uzbek-UIAP Archaeological Project. The data collected so far range from regional to intra-site scale and cover economic aspects such as irrigated agricultural areas and funerary landscape.
Targeted investigations at the Kafir Kala site allow a better understanding of the transition that followed the Arab conquest in the early 8th century, highlighting elements of continuity and changes in the material culture, architecture, and function of the settlement.

Bio of the Lecturer:
Prof. Dr. Simone Mantellini is currently Assistant Professor in Indian and Central Asian Archaeology and Art History at the University of Bologna, Department of History and Cultures. He is Director of the Italian Archaeological Expedition in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, and Field Director of the Italian Historical-Archaeological Mission in Sindh, Pakistan. His research interests mostly focus on Central Asia with a specific attention to man-environment interactions, cultural landscapes and water management.

In order to attend, please use the following Zoom Data:
Zoom: ID 525 843 6902
Password: 12345
For the direct link for the Zoom meeting, press here!