An Introduction to Islamic Archaeology

This book offers an introduction to the archaeology of the Islamic world. It traces the history of the discipline from its earliest manifestations through to the present and evaluates the contribution made by archaeology to the understanding of key aspects of Islamic culture. The author argues that it is essential for the results of archaeological research to be more fully integrated into the wider historical study of the Islamic world.Organising the book into broad themes allows a focus on issues that are relevant across different regions and periods. Short case studies are included to allow the reader to examine the ways in which archaeologists collect and interpret material in specific contexts. The emphasis is on archaeological work conducted in the area stretching from Afghanistan and the Central Asian republics in the east to Spain in the west. Comparisons are also be drawn with Islamic regions of sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian subcontinent, reflecting the main focus of archaeological work in the Islamic world to the present day.

Marcus Milwright is British Academy Global Professor at the University of York, UK, and professor of Islamic Art and Archaeology at the University of Victoria, Canada. His research focuses on traditional craft practices, cross-cultural interactions in the Medieval Mediterranean, and the history of medicine. He is the author of A Story of Islamic Art (Routledge, 2023), The Queen of Sheba’s Gift: A History of True Balsam of Matarea (Edinburgh University Press, 2021), Islamic Arts and Crafts: An Anthology (Edinburgh University Press, 2017), and The Dome of the Rock and its Umayyad Mosaic Inscriptions (Edinburgh University Press, 2016).