
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 rediscovery 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 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, David Thomas has used this data to reassess the Gh奴rids and generate a more nuanced understanding of this significant Early Islamic polity.
Some supplementary appendices for this title can be found at
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rids
2. 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
7. The Gh奴rids: an unsustainable Early Islamic polity
Plates
Appendix 1: Google Earth study areas
Appendix 2: less well-known ethnies and dynasties
Works cited
Index
Supplementary appendices
: Architectural details of sites and structures recorded by MJAP in 2003 and 2005
: MJAP robber holes
: Small finds, MJAP 2003 and 2005
: Environmental data
: Descriptions of selected Gh奴rid sites analysed using upgraded satellite images available through Google Earth
: Summary data for all the ASAGE sites
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.鈥橰ichard McClary 鈥 鈥 this work of synthesis is quite significant, constructing an interdisciplinary image of Gh奴rid urbanism at Jam as well as the broader material footprint of Gh奴rid territorial politics through
multiple Afghan landscapes.鈥
Size: 250 x 176 mm
Pages: 414
Illustrations: 153 b&w ill., 35 col. ill., 27 tables
Copyright: 2018
ISBN: 9781743325414
Publication: 15 May 2018
Series: Adapa Monographs