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<strong>Chorasmia</strong>-<strong>Parthia</strong> <strong>connections</strong>:<br />
Figurative evidence from Kazakly-yatkan<br />
Fiona Kidd<br />
Australian Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow<br />
Department of Archaeology, University of Sydney
The Karakalpak-Australian Expedition to central Asia<br />
Satellite image showing the location of central and western Asia (USGS)<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
<strong>Chorasmia</strong> and <strong>Parthia</strong>: archaeo-historical background<br />
Ancient textual sources linking <strong>Chorasmia</strong> with <strong>Parthia</strong><br />
Achaemenid reliefs<br />
Archaeological evidence (pottery; numismatics)<br />
Trade routes (ancient and modern)<br />
The beginning of the ‘<strong>Chorasmia</strong>n eras’, early decades of the 1 st century CE<br />
Conundrum: is there a link? What is the nature of the link?<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
<strong>Chorasmia</strong><br />
<strong>Chorasmia</strong> and <strong>Parthia</strong>: archaeo-historical background<br />
Margiana<br />
Historically ‘isolated’ region – border fortresses;<br />
nomadic ties<br />
Achaemenid heritage<br />
Historiography – ‘ecological bias’ of scholars:<br />
David Christian; Gunder Frank<br />
‘Big picture’ research issues: indigenous art;<br />
relations with Iran (Achaemenid and <strong>Parthia</strong>n), and<br />
with the steppe<br />
Sogdiana<br />
Bactria<br />
Satellite image from www.---- showing central Asia and Iran<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
Kazakly-yatkan in ancient <strong>Chorasmia</strong><br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
A regional centre of power<br />
Kazakly-yatkan<br />
Elite status – an important arena for long distance political relations<br />
Kazakly-yatkan<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
Kazakly-yatkan: a ruling centre of ancient <strong>Chorasmia</strong>?<br />
KY10 monumental building complex<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
Schematic reconstruction of the KY10 complex<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
Schematic reconstruction of the KY10 complex<br />
Function of the building complex?<br />
Monumental programme of display<br />
Wall paintings – images, motifs, and realia<br />
Carved ivory and bone objects<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
The ‘portrait’ gallery<br />
Area 10 09<br />
The KY10 complex: a programme of display<br />
The central building<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
The ‘portrait’ gallery<br />
The KY10 complex: portraits and realia<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
The spiral torque with zoomorphic terminals<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
The spiral torque: a steppe and/or <strong>Parthia</strong>n origin?<br />
Artabanus II (Wroth 1903: pl. 8, 12)<br />
Spiral torque, Soboleva Mohyla,<br />
350 – 325 BCE (Scythian Gold cat. 159)<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
The spiral torque: a steppe and/or <strong>Parthia</strong>n origin?<br />
Detail of the zoomorphic terminal<br />
<strong>Parthia</strong>n coin (Wroth 1903: pl.8, 12)<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images A spiral and motifs torque | (Scythian Ivory | Gold The cat. conundrum<br />
159)
The spiral torque: evidence of a stylistic convention at Kazakly-yatkan?<br />
A stone statue from Bayte (Ustyurt Plateau)<br />
(afer Olkhovskiy and Galkin: fig. 6)<br />
Statue from Bayte<br />
(Olkhovski 1994: fig. 3)<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
The spiral torque: a stylistic convention?<br />
A spiral torque (Sokrovishcha Sarmatov, cat. 6) From Siberia, unprovenanced; 4 th —<br />
3 rd century BCE. D=33cm<br />
A spiral torque (Scythian Gold cat. 159)<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
The spiral torque: a stylistic convention?<br />
Artabanus II (Wroth 1903: pl. 8, 12)<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
The bird headdress<br />
The bird headdress<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
King Sanatruq from<br />
Hatra (Herrmann 1977)<br />
Choramian coins: bird<br />
with outstretched<br />
wings, 1 st c. BCE;<br />
Vazmar, 3 rd c. CE<br />
(after Vaynberg 1977: pl. 22, AII and pl.<br />
23, B2 V)<br />
The bird headdress<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
The bird headdress: local, <strong>Parthia</strong>n, steppe?<br />
The bird headdress<br />
Pazyryk culture<br />
Not highest status (cf. Pazyryk costume)<br />
Male and female<br />
Warrior identity<br />
No diadem<br />
Reconstruction of a female headdress<br />
from Ak Alacha (Polosmak and Steinert 1996, fig. 25)<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
The question of the left/right profile<br />
Significance of the profile direction?<br />
All <strong>Chorasmia</strong>n coin portraits face to their left<br />
<strong>Parthia</strong>n coin portraits face both left and right<br />
The two largest ‘portrait’ fragments showing left and right profiles<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
<strong>Chorasmia</strong>n coins<br />
( Vaynberg 1977: pl. 22, AII and pl. 23, B2 V)<br />
The question of the left/right profile<br />
Vadfradad, Persis, c. 80 BCE<br />
(http://www.grifterrec.com/coins/persis/persis.html)<br />
Darius II, Persis, c. 70 BCE<br />
(http://www.grifterrec.com/coins/persis/persis.html)<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
<strong>Chorasmia</strong>n coins (after<br />
Vaynberg 1977: pl. 22, AII and pl. 23, B2 V)<br />
The question of the left/right profile<br />
Headdress wearers typically face right/north<br />
Changeable profile in <strong>Parthia</strong>: region, hierarchy, period<br />
<strong>Chorasmia</strong>n coins show ruler in left profile<br />
Symbolism of the profile?<br />
Darius II, Persis, c. 70 BCE<br />
(http://www.grifterrec.com/coins/persis/persis.html)<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
The ‘portrait’ gallery<br />
The KY10 complex: images and motifs<br />
Area 10 09<br />
The central building<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
Ornamental motifs: vine leaves, grapes and tendrils<br />
Face in three quarter profile with vine leaf and grapes<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
Ornamental motifs: vine leaves, grapes and tendrils<br />
Face in three quarter profile with vine leaf and grapes<br />
Tendrils<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
Ornamental motifs: vine leaves, grapes and tendrils<br />
Nisa rhyton fragment (Masson and Pugachenkova 1982, fig. 16)<br />
Nisa rhyton fragment (Masson and Pugachenkova 1982, pl. 45)<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
The question of Hellenistic influences<br />
Face in three-quarter profile<br />
General mixture of Iranian<br />
and Hellenistic motifs<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
The ‘crowd scene’: links with Kuh-i Khwaja?<br />
Field photo showing the ‘crowd’ scene<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
The ‘crowd scene’: links with Kuh-i Khwaja?<br />
Digitised tracing of the ‘crowd’ scene showing three profile faces<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
The ‘crowd scene’: links with Kuh-i Khwaja?<br />
Detail of the marching profile heads<br />
Faccenna 1981, fig. 14<br />
Kuh-i Khwaja – ‘late’ <strong>Parthia</strong>n,<br />
1 st century CE (Faccenna 1981)<br />
Provenance of the motif?<br />
Questions of the movement/<br />
training of craftspeople<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
The carved ivory furniture fragment<br />
composite piece comprising various symbolic elements<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
?<br />
The carved ivory furniture fragment<br />
Wing elements<br />
Vegetal elements<br />
Lion’s paw<br />
‘Commas’?<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
The carved ivory furniture fragment: the Iranian heritage<br />
Throne leg, Naqsh-i Rustam © The Oriental Institute<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
The carved ivory furniture fragment: <strong>Parthia</strong>n links<br />
Reconstruction of the ‘throne of Mithradates’ and<br />
illustrations of Nisa ‘throne’ legs (after Pugachenkova 1969, figs. 3 and 8)<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
The carved ivory furniture fragment: wing elements<br />
Rhytons from Nisa (after Masson and Pugachenkova 1982)<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
The carved ivory furniture fragment: vegetal elements<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
The carved ivory furniture fragment: vegetal elements<br />
A rhyton from Nisa (Masson and Pugachenkova 1982, pl. 70, 2)<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
The carved ivory furniture fragment: ‘comma’ (?) shaped elements<br />
Susa, gryphon (© The Louvre Museum) Pazyryk, kurgan 2 (Rudenko 1953, pl. CIX)<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
The carved ivory furniture fragment<br />
Susa, bronze lion (Sarre 1922, fig. 44)<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
The carved ivory furniture fragment: combination of elements?<br />
Strong <strong>Parthia</strong>n/Iranian world parallels<br />
Mobility: provenance? Hierloom?<br />
Ivory carving ‘schools’ – Nisa, Ai Khanum<br />
Reconstruction of a parade<br />
shield, Nisa (after Invernizzi 2007, fig. 5)<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
<strong>Chorasmia</strong>-<strong>Parthia</strong>: a conundrum<br />
<strong>Chorasmia</strong> clearly fits into the surrounding Iranian world<br />
Provenance and direction of the links – local, <strong>Parthia</strong> or the steppe?<br />
torques - steppe<br />
stylistic conventions - <strong>Parthia</strong><br />
headdresses - steppe<br />
profile - ?<br />
vine leaves, grapes and tendrils - <strong>Parthia</strong><br />
Hellenistic traits(?) - ?<br />
‘crowd scene’ - <strong>Parthia</strong><br />
ivory - <strong>Parthia</strong><br />
Elite nature of the evidence – monumental mural art and carved ivory furniture<br />
Not blanket copying from the Iranian world; a <strong>Chorasmia</strong>n filter – active role of<br />
the <strong>Chorasmia</strong>ns in the broader cultural context; emulation?<br />
Conundrum: is there a link between <strong>Parthia</strong> and <strong>Chorasmia</strong>? What is the nature of<br />
the link?<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
The excavation of Kazakly-yatkan/Akchakhan-kala<br />
is undertaken by members of the<br />
Karakalpak-Australian Expedition to <strong>Chorasmia</strong>:<br />
Vadim N. Yagodin<br />
Ghairatdin Khozhaniyazov<br />
Cathy Daly<br />
Aysulu Iskanderova<br />
Natalya Kovaleva<br />
Alison Betts<br />
Shamil Amirov<br />
Vadim V. Yagodin<br />
Gulnara Akhadova<br />
Vanessa Terrapon<br />
Svend Helms<br />
Fiona Kidd<br />
Michelle Negus-Cleary<br />
Geraldine Fray<br />
Gallina Veresotzkaya
The carved ivory furniture fragment: combination of elements?<br />
Coins of Ardashir I (224-241 CE) showing a fire altar (after Goebl 1971, pl. 1)<br />
continuity of ideas – pre-<br />
Islamic Iranian<br />
<strong>Chorasmia</strong>’s role in the<br />
broader Iranian world;<br />
connected; not isolated<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
Torque fragments (?) from Area 10 09<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
Torque fragments (?) from Area 10 09<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
The diadem – local or <strong>Parthia</strong>n?<br />
The ‘crouching gryphon’ headdress<br />
Artabanus II (Wroth 1903: pl. 8, 12)<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
The diadem and tiara<br />
The ‘crouching gryphon’ headdress<br />
8 personages wearing<br />
headdresses<br />
Paikuli inscription: diadem =<br />
kingship<br />
1 st century BCE coin from<br />
<strong>Chorasmia</strong> showing a bird with<br />
outstretched wings<br />
(after Vaynberg 1977: pl. 22, AII)<br />
Archaeo-history| <strong>Chorasmia</strong> | Kazakly-yaytkan | KY10 complex | Portraits | Realia | Profile | Images and motifs | Ivory | The conundrum
The Kazakly-yatkan bone pins<br />
The bone pins from Kazakly-yatkan<br />
Introduction | Historical introduction | Wall painting traditions | Kazakly-yatkan | The paintings | Connections | Summary