L’ARCHIVIO DEGLI ANNI ’60 DEL SECOLO SCORSO DELLE MISSIONI ARCHEOLOGICHE ITALIANE IN SISTAN

Abstract

On the basis of the skills developed by Università di Napoli “L’Orientale” and the tradition of studies on the
ancient Near East and Central Asia present also at ISMEO in Rome, work began on the data of the Umberto
Scerrato archive relating to the historical Sistan of the 60s of last century. Methods of excavation, documentation
and interpretative criteria in archaeology have changed a lot since that time. As is known, the Italian
archaeological activities carried out in Iran in Sistan in the 60s and 70s of the last century were planned and
organized in collaboration with the Service for the Restoration and Conservation of Historical Monuments
of Iran (now the Iranian Organization for the Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicraft: ICHTHO) and
the Istituto Italiano per il Medio ed Estremo Oriente (IsMEO) (later IsIAO, and now ISMEO). The activities
brought to light an urban settlement in Daha¯ne-ye Ghola¯ma¯n, monumental complexes in Qalʻa-ye Sam,
Qalʻye Tepe, and Kuh-i Khwaja.