Halil Rud Archaeological Project (Iran)

This project focuses on excavation of the sites of Konar Sandal South and North near the town of Jiroft in the valley of the Halil river in south-central Iran. The area was first revealed by extensive looting in 2000 and 2001, and Iranian archaeologists began excavation at the Bronze Age sites in the valley of the Halil Rud under the direction of Youssef Madjidzadeh in 2003. Dr. Holly Pittman (Professor, History of Art; Curator, Near Eastern Section, University Museum), together with students from History of Art, Anthropology, and AAMW, participated in several seasons of excavations of the two mounds, as well as the exploration and survey of the region. The preliminary results of these early seasons of excavation have revealed a hitherto unknown civilization of the early Bronze Age that interacted with societies in Mesopotamia, the Indus valley, and Central Asia. Most interesting among the finds are more than 150 impressions of cylinder and stamp seals used in the administration of the region. One of the brick tiles is inscribed with linear Elamite.