RESAF: Resource exploitation and antique mining in Afghanistan
Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry
Final Report Abstract
Aim of the project was research on the use of mineral resources in Afghanistan. The timeframe was established broadly, however, with focus on the mineral lapislazuli (Neolithic to Middle Ages) and the copper ore deposit of Mes Aynak, with an important antique Buddhist monastic complex, in which mining and metallurgy were persued. Afghanistans wealth in ores and minerals was exploited since the Neolithioc and is known world-wide today. Special interest was accorded to lapislazuli, as well as tin, gold, silver and copper. Lapislazuli is a sought gemstone for which Afghanistan is thought o fas the only source used in Prehistory. In the 4th and 3rd Millennia BC this stone was highly prized in early civilizations, proven for Egypt, Mesopotamia. Middle Asia and the Indus. Tin as an alloy addition to copper is basis for bronze, the most important innovation of early metal periods. Lead isotope analyses show that a large part of early tin came from sources not identified yet. The simultaneous appearance oft in bronzes, with gold and lapislazuli in the 4th and 3rd millennia BC in Mesopotamia indicated that all three materials came from the same region, Afghanistan. Afghanistan also has large copper sources. However, little is known about prehistoric exploitation and distribution of the raw materials in Afghanistan. The significance of these resources and the role of Afghanistans in the discussion have long awaited scientific research and is still highly hypothetic. Reliable data is available only from the neighoring countries and the role of Afghanistan as a pivot in the supply of raw materials in the bronze metallurgy – in the context of early civilizations – remains a priority desideratum. Difficult terrain, low logistical connections, lacking medical care and a difficult security situation due to lasting wars have very negatively affected the country for decades; the country has also been increasingly isolated from the international scientific community due to other factors as well. The recent interest of global powers in Afghanistan not only went along with an inversely proportionate reduction of scientific research in all fields, but the building and reinforcing of organisations and infrastructure for education was also missed in the interior and exterior. Original internal scientific research practically did not exist in Afghanistan any longer. Digital documentation of archaeological sites and materials, as well as training of colleagues in and from Afghanistan were therefore a special issue in the project.
Publications
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On the trail of Early Metallurgy. Archäologie Weltweit 2 2016, 42-45
Steiniger, D. & Thomalsky, J.
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Von Erz und Glanz. Auf den Spuren früher Metallurgie. Archäologie Weltweit 2 2016, 42-45
Steiniger, D. & Thomalsky, J.
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Ancient mining and metal production in Afghanistan. In: Hansen S. (Hrsg.): Current Research in Eurasia. Berlin: German Archaeological institute, Eurasia-Department, 88-89.
Boroffka N.
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Between the Bronze Age and the Middle Ages: New Investigations of Slag from Panjhir, Afghanistan. In: P. Eisenach, Th. Stöllner and A. Windler (ed.), The RITaK conferences 2013-2014. Der Anschnitt Beiheft 34 (2017). Bochum: Deutsches Bergbau- Museum, 271-283. ISBN-13: 978-3-86757-026-8
Merkel, S.
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Afghanistan. Antiker Bergbau und Kulturelles Erbe. Die Arbeiten der Jahre 2013 bis 2017. e-Forschungsberichte 1 2018, 5-12.
Boroffka N. & Steiniger D.
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Obsidian deposits from north-western Iran and first analytical results: implications for prehistoric production and trade. Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry, Vol. 18, No 2, 107-118.
Abedi A., Vosough B., Razani M., Kasiri M.B., Steiniger D. & Ebrahimi G.
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The provenance of Kul Tepe obsidian artifacts: Syunik and the highlands of Armenia as possible seasonal pastureland. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 21, 406-412.
Abedi, Akbar; Mohammadi, Vahideh Dibazar; Steiniger, Daniel & Glascock, Michael D.
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Analysis of stone axes from the Borodino hoard and stone rings from the Turbino burials by poartable energydispersion x-ray-flourecence. In: Shishlina N. (ed.), The Borodino hoard of the heroic period of the Bronze Age. Natural scientific and historical context). Works of the State Historical Museum (Moscow) 211, 58-75 ISBN 978-5-89076-378-5
Steiniger D.
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Archaeometallurgical Evidence at Mes Aynak. Logar Province, Afghanistan. Archäologische Mitteilungen aus Iran und Turan 48, 2019, 265- 281. ISSN 1434-2758
Eley T., Marquis P. & Agha Noori N.
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Lapis Lazuli - raw material sources, provenance studies and Prehistoric distribution patterns in Eurasia - an overview. In: Meiji University (Hrsg.): Social changes and Trade between the east and the west in Eurasia - Archaeological and Archaeometrical approaches. Proceedings of the International Symposium on ancient Japanese studies, Meiji University, Tokyo 23.02.2019, 13-20.
Steiniger D.
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Portable XRF analysers (pRFA). Mining archaeology research in Afghanistan. Archäologie Weltweit 2 2019, 63-67
Boroffka N. & Steiniger D.
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The First Obsidian Source in North-Western Iran for Provenance of Local Prehistoric Lithic Artifacts. Journal of Research on Archaeometry, 5(1), 1-15.
Abedi, Akbar; Vosough, Bahram; Razani, Mehdi; B., Kasiri Masoud; Steiniger, Daniel & Ebrahimi, Ghader
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Tragbare Materialanalysegeräte (pRFA). Montanarchäologische Untersuchungen in Afghanistan. Archäologie Weltweit 2 2019, 63-67
Boroffka N. & Steiniger D.
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Анализ каменных топоров Бородинского клада и каменных колец из могильника Турбино с использованием портативного энергодисперсионного рентгено-флуоресцентного спектрометра. In: Н И Шишлина (ed.), Бородинский клад
Штайнигер Д.
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Pamir-Gebirge, Tadschikistan. Tadschikisch-Deutsche Pamir-Expedition. Die Arbeiten des Jahres 2019. e-Forschungsberichte 3 2020, 101-110.
Steiniger D. & Junker K.
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A remote sensing-based survey of archaeological/heritage sites near Kandahar, Afghanistan through publicly available satellite imagery. PLOS ONE, 16(11), e0259228.
Karaucak, Mehmet; Steiniger, Daniel & Boroffka, Nikolaus
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Archaeological Gazetteer of Afghanistan. Revised edition, written by Warwick BallThe archaeology of Afghanistan. From the earliest times to the Timurid Period, edited by Warwick Ball and Norman Hammond. Ancient Civilizations from Scythia to Siberia, 28(2), 369-381.
Boroffka, Nikolaus G.O.
