The Politics of the Past

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Cover; Title Page; Copyright Page; Contents Page; Chapter 1; Governments, Archaeologists, and the Lasting Remains of Ancient Empires in the Middle East; Introduction: Identity crisis in the modern Middle East; Historical background: the rise of nationalism in the Middle East; Why the archaeology of Persian empires needs to be deconstructed?; Chapter 2; Archaeologists and the professional ethics; Iran's first modern state and archaeology: the establishment of laws and the administrative atructure; Take your feet off me! Achaemenids Depicted in Reliefs and Inscriptions; Historical introduction

The rise of the Achaemenid EmpireSubjectivity of materials versus objectivity of human beings; Chapter 3; Reliefs, palaces, and inscriptions: the first indicators of a new empire; Get Off Your Horse! Sasanian Propaganda in Artistic Remains; Historical background: A brief introduction to the Parthians; The Concept of Enemy; Chapter 4; The King's images: Propaganda as an imposing historical fact; Sasanian propaganda in artistic remains; The ideal man/the ideal woman; Mechanisms of political and social suppression in the Sasanian Empire

The Sasanian Empire: a socio-political review based on material cultureNationalism and the Reproduction of the Ancient Kings/Empires by Iran's Modern States; Introduction; Historical Background: Shah, curiosity about history and archaeology as an imported commodity; Islamic Revolution and Achaemenid and Sasanian material culture as negative heritage; Summing Up; Chapter 5; Iranian nationalism and the archaeology of the Achaemenid and Sasanian periods; Qajar relief as negative heritage; Some parts of Fath-Ali Shah and Naser al- Din Shah reliefs

Kings Riding Bikes: Towards the Deconstruction of Official Nationalist ArchaeologyThe necessity of a politically- situated archaeology(ies); A practical approach towards a nongovernmental archaeology: A personal narrative; Archaeology, sustainable development and future in developing countries; Public archaeology(ies) as a necessity; Acknowledgement; Glossary; Geographical names; Historical places/archaeological sites; Names; Historical texts; Especial historical terms; Bibliography; Figure 1. Map of the Persian Achameneid Empire. Copyright Ian Mladjov.

Figure 2. Behistun inscription and rock relief (Rawlinson 1846). Figure 3. Dialouge (designed by A. Roustaeeyanfard).; Figure 4. Ardašīr I victory on Ardavan V, Tang-e Tangab, Fars province (Falndin 1977).; Figure 5. Sasanian Persia. Copyright Ian Mladjov.; Figure 6. Kiss (designed by A. Roustaeeyanfard).; Figure 7. Šāpūr I's victory on Valerianus and Philip the Arab and Gordianus, Naqsh-e Rostam (photo by A. Roustaeeyanfard).; Figure 8. Alternative 1, Kings riding bikes (designed by A. Roustaeeyanfard).; Figure 9. Marriage gift (designed by A. Roustaeeyanfard).

Figure 10. The burning houses (designed by A. Roustaeeyanfard).

This book examines the highly problematic politics of the past surrounding the archaeology of ancient empires in Iran. Discussing their personal and professional experiences, the authors exemplify the real, ethical dilemmas that archaeologists confront in the Middle East, calling for reflectivity and awareness among the archaeologists of the region.

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