Archaeological research on the metallic and pottery assemblages from the Oxus Basin to the Indus Valley during Protohistory

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The project will undertake, for the first time, a general large scale study of a selected part of the archaeological material (metal and pottery) of Central Asia and Indus-Baluchistan, i.e. the Oxus and Indus basins, from Chalcolithic to the Iron Age (5th to 1st mill. BC). The interrelations were observed since a long time in Mehrgarh, Sarazm, Shortughai", Sibri, Pirak ...in the context of proto-urban and urban development, but only on some isolated remarkable pieces of precious metal, stones or exceptional potsherds. Now on the basis of existing typologies and chronologies elaborated in France and Germany, after excavations carried out since decades in the mentioned regions by the specialized teams (of DAI and CNRS-MAEE), the group wishes to eluddate the transformations and the transfers of material, technologies and forms locally, regionally and at large scale. For this it is proposed to proceed by a purposely oriented large selection (several hundred) of metal and pottery samples from 25 sites, in existing collections, in Europe or in Asia, to which the team has access, and to analyze them. Metal analyses: instrumental neutron activation analysis and thermal ionization mass spectrometry (for lead isotopes), where sample sizes permit also metallography. The results would allow: 1) the definition of metal groups, with indications on raw material sources, 2) the recognition of trade networks for metal and 3) the definition of technological groups and interrelations in technology transfer. Pottery analyses: XRF, ICP, petrography. The analyses' results would allow: 1) local relative results (i.e. the heterogeneous/homogenous; exogenous/endogenous) and 2) regional and macro-regional comparative results (a region vs. another region). They will concem the followings: 1) Metal: the chemical and isotopic composition, raw material provenance and alloying technology. 2) Pottery: the fabrics, the surface treatment, the paintings. A definition of metallurgical and/or ceramic provinces or regions (shapes, techniques) is expected as well as a better understanding of the technological changes and transfers throughout time, and finally a delineation of the successive stages of the interrelations networks of the "Middle Asian Interaction Sphere". The interpretations of the advances of technologies and exchanges and their historical significance, intemally in this area, and extemally will be discussed and disseminated jointiy.