The Joint Expedition to Persia

ACTUAL excavating at Damghan was undertaken by the Joint Expedition to Persia, sponsored by the University Museum and the Pennsylvania Museum of Art, at the beginning of May and has been actively pursued since that date. For the first few weeks, the staff under Dr. Erich Schmidt, Field Director, was occupied in making soundings on the citadel of Damghan under the modern levels of which it was believed might be found remains of Hecatampylos, the ancient Parthian capital. Nothing was found, however, earlier than the Mohammedan era, though soundings were made to virgin soil; these, nevertheless, revealed a series of levels that will go far towards establishing a definite sequence for Islamic pottery from its earliest days down to the present.

With the citadel tests completed the Expedition’s activities were transferred to Tepe Hissar, a considerable mound a few miles from the town of Damghan. This site had been identified by Professor Ernst Herzfeld, Advisor to the Expedition, as belonging to the early Bronze Age and it was upon his recommendation that an investigation of this tepe was initiated. It has already proved immensely rich in finds and important in scientific results. Almost at once Dr. Schmidt and his associates started to uncover unusual bronze-age burials, each well-equipped with weapons, household goods and ornaments of singularly interesting character. One of the more important burials, illustrated on Plate VI, was apparently that of an illustrious warrior: a unique bronze bident, a short dagger, and a finely fashioned adze head were among the weapons buried with the dead, while sacrificial and household vessels of bronze, alabaster and grey pottery were ranged about the skeleton, with a single ewer in silver as the most striking piece [Plate VII].

Over forty graves of varying importance have so far been uncovered, each yielding valuable material of many sorts, though one waits impatiently for inscribed objects that will lead to an identification of the unknown people who lived at Tepe Hissar four or five thousand years ago. So far, in culture, they most closely resemble the Sumerians, but far more investigation is required before the relationships arc properly established.

Finally, a cable just received from Dr. Schmidt tells of the discovery on the same mound of a Sassanian Palace (about A. D. 300) with remains of fine stucco decorative details. Those who visited the Persian Exhibition in London last winter will remember how highly prized were the few examples of Sassanian stucco ornaments and will appreciate the great artistic value of this latest find.

Few expeditions in recent years have been at the outset so extremely successful as the Joint Expedition to Persia. It will be a pleasure to report in these pages the further important discoveries that are certain to follow so successful a beginning.