IRANIAN ART & ARCHAEOLOGY: ARSACID DYNASTY

Archaeological Expedition in Parthian City of Nisa - Year 2000

The first Italian mission, by University of Turino in Nisa, was in 1990. The aim of these missions (and future ones) is to make a general topographical map of old Nisa and to learn the relationships between each building of the fortress located in the south part of Nisa.

View of the Nisa Site Excavation

Photo by Jérôme Gaslain

Click on picture to enlarge

In 1996, the Italian mission excavated the round hall to check the results of the Russian YuTake mission. They also excavated the north and west corridors of the round hall. The Italian mission found a face in clay which represents a head of Mithradates I or Mithradates II. This head is now displayed in the museum of history in Ashkabad, and will be published in late 2000 by Professor Antonio Invernizzi, University of Turin. So, from 1990 to 1999 the aim of the Italian mission was to do a general plan of Nisa and work in the round hall. The results of those missions are published in Mesopotamia.

General view of the excavations	General view of Nisa, east to west

Photo by Jérôme Gaslain Click on picture to enlarge

Those missions were not only Italian. For example, this year it was a combined Italo-Turkmenistan mission. This year 2000 mission had as its aim exploration of the northwest area of the round hall, to define its general plan, walls, and relationship with the round hall. It now appears that the area excavated this year is older than the round hall and the tower-temple. This place had never been excavated before, so it is a very important piece of the mission's goal to gain knowledge about old Nisa. It's still too early to give definitive conclusions about this mission.

The Round Hall

Photo by Jérôme Gaslain

Click on picture to enlarge

The Mission 2000 excavations will continue until the end of August. But it is already possible to say that there are constructions in the north-west part of the round hall. We also found Sasanid and Parthian walls and pottery.

View of the Square Hall	Remainder of the Square House

Photo by Jérôme Gaslain Click on picture to enlarge

Results and analyses of Archaeological Mission in Nisa, Year 2000 will be added to this web page as it becomes available. Please bookmark this page and check back often.

Members of Nisa Expedition 2000

Photo by Jérôme Gaslain


Professor Antonio INVERNIZZI, University of Turin (not in photo): Director of the mission (this year, he was not in Nisa)
In the photo, from left to right:
Alexander LAPCHINE, University of Vladimir: Professor of Medieval history; Archaeologist in Nisa; Translator of the mission
Roberta MENEGAZZI, University of Turin: Doctor in oriental archaeology; Archaeologist in Nisa
Ariela BOLLATI, University of Turin: Doctor in oriental archaeology; Archaeologist in Nisa.
Alessandra CELLERINO, University of Turin: Doctor in oriental archaeology; Archaeologist in Nisa
Jérôme GASLAIN, University of Vannes-Arradon (France): Guest-student in Nisa
Claudio FOSSATI: Architect in Nisa
Vito MESSINA, University of Turin: Doctor in oriental archaeology; Archaeologist in Nisa
Carlo LIPPOLIS, University of Turin: Doctor and specialist in oriental archaeology; Field-director of the mission; Archaeologist in Nisa
Brunella ROSA-BRUSIN, Turin (not in photo): Restorer in Nisa

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Source/Extracted From: Parthia.com

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