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Document Details :

Title: 'Through the Glass Darkly'
Subtitle: Reflections on some Ladies from Merv
Author(s): SIMPSON, St. John , HERRMANN, Georgina
Journal: Iranica Antiqua
Volume: 30    Date: 1995   
Pages: 141-158
DOI: 10.2143/IA.30.0.519288

Abstract :
Ceramic figurines or terracottas are a relatively common small find at the Achaemenid to Early Islamic city of Merv in Turkmenistan. The precise dating of many of the recognized types is problematic: however, new evidence is being provided by excavations in the walled citadel of Erk-Kala (Herrmann et al., 1993, 1994). These excavations form part of an integrated archaeological survey and excavation programme, undertaken by the International Merv Project, a collaboration between the Institute of Archaeology (University College London), YuTAKE (the South Turkmenistan Multi-Disciplinary Archaeological Expedition, Ashgabat) and the Institute for the History of Material Culture (St. Petersburg). They also act as a chronological control on the 1992-93 I.M.P. surface artefact survey of Merv: Erk-Kala (henceforth MEK) and the adjacent walled city of Merv: Gyaur-Kala (MGK). The combined results allow the reassessment of data from earlier investigations at Merv and other sites in the surrounding oasis. These sites include the ‘GilyakinChilburj’ wall, the ‘Antiochus’ wall, Changly, Chichanlyk-depe, Chilburj, Chirkou-depe, Dev-Kala, Eliming-depe, Göbekly-depe, Kichi-lylbarsdepe, Kishman-depe East, Kurtly, Munon-depe and Odynchi-depe.

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