Talk on on ‘Archaeological Exploration of ‘Silk Road Cities’ in Central Asia’

Cambridge Central Asia Forum in collaboration with the Centre of Development Studies, University of Cambridge invites you to a talk by

Katie Campbell, King's Silk Roads Programme, University of Cambridge

on

‘Archaeological Exploration of ‘Silk Road Cities’ in Central Asia’

Date: 26 November

Time: 11am-1pm (UK)

Register in advance: https://cam-ac-uk.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJModuyrpzIsHtAqgAhiw_rippO-pyTBVt6z

For more information please go to https://centralasia.group.cam.ac.uk/events/cambridge-central-asia-forum-gcrf-compass-centre-development-studies-seminar-series

This seminar series is organised in collaboration with UKRI GCRF COMPASS Project & School of International Studies at Jeonbuk National University (Republic of Korea)

Abstract: Cities functioned as the essential nodes in Medieval trade networks, and arguably held an even greater importance in Central Asia where they occupied small areas of oasis land, essential stopping points for those crossing the region’s deserts. This has led to the term ‘Silk Road Cities’ becoming a common qualifier to these Medieval sites, particularly in the English language literature, but the phrase remains poorly defined, and it is unclear whether these cities share links in terms of form and function that emerged as a reaction to ‘Silk Road’ trade or a specific response to their environmental locations. Indeed, the cities’ unique oasis situation is little discussed and often overlooked, despite providing the backbone of important routes traversing the deserts of Central Asia. This talk will illuminate some of the archaeological work taking place at these cities and show how it fits with research agendas, development and political priorities in the region. I will demonstrate some archaeological methodologies to show how we know what we know about the sites and cover changing approaches through the Soviet period to today. With the use of case studies, I will explore issues of urban change, and consider some of the reasons for this between the 11th and 15th centuries.  

Biography: Dr Katie Campbell is an archaeologist who works on the cities of medieval Central Asia and the Caucasus, where she has been researching the archaeological evidence for the Mongol Conquest and its aftermath from c.1200-1400 CE. She now plans to focus on cities over a longer period, from the 11th-15th century, charting evidence for changes in their fortunes against the backdrop of dramatic political, linguistic, and cultural changes as Turkic and Mongol groups moved in Central Asia.

Everyone is welcome.