With thanks to Carlo Lippolis who provided the text and photographs for this year's page and to Jérôme Gaslain (September 2002).
See Old Nisa Bibliography: Publications of Centro Scavi di Torino and contributions of the members of the Italian Expeditions to Nisa.
A new Nisa archaeological mission took place in July-August 2002, carried out by the Centro Ricerche Archeologiche e Scavi di Torino in collaboration with the National Department for the Protection, Study and Restoration of Historical and Cultural Monuments of Turkmenistan.
|
Aerial view of Nisa from North |
General view of excavations from Northwest |
|
|
|
| Click on pictures to enlarge | Photos by C. Lippolis |
The aim of the excavations was to continue the study of the huge Square Building situated to the north of the Round Hall. Part of the eastern sector of the building (three rooms in a row) has been excavated down to the floor level. In one of these rooms (n. 11) were brought to light some gypsum votive balls, arrow-heads, sling-shots, a hundred iron plaques (completely oxidized and therefore not legible) maybe belonging to an armature. Fragments of architectural decoration (methops, merlons, baked bricks) and traces of rooftrees were also found.
| Metal plaques in situ (maybe of an armour) from Room 11 | Metopa from Room 11 |
 |
|
| Click on pictures to enlarge | Photos by C. Lippolis |
The fragment of a head, sculpted in clay and attributed to Mithradates I (c. 171 - 138 B.C.), was found in the western part of the Round Hall in 1996 at a sounding the level immediately above the Parthian pavement, and left unexcavated by the Soviet expedition until this year.
| Fragment of bearded head identified as the portrait of Mithradates I | |
 |
|
| Click on picture to enlarge | Photo by C. Lippolis |
In the northern sector of the Square Building, the excavations revealed the presence of a wall of facade articulated by niches and pilasters. The remains of a colored plaster show that the facade of the building was partially painted in red.
|
Doorway
between the Northern Corridor of the Round Hall and Room 12 (a courtyard of the Northern building) |
|
 |
|
| Click on picture to enlarge | Photo by C. Lippolis |
A third sector of excavations was the big central area. Two soundings were undertaken nearby the entrances (to the north and to the south) which give access to the yard. The discovery of colored plaster (blue, red, black, white), small fragments of golden "sheets" and remains of architectural decorations are all elements that leave us faced with the problematic interpretation of this sector as an open courtyard. Future excavations in this central sector will confirm if it is really a courtyard or a huge covered room (maybe with central pilasters of support for the roof). The studies on the pottery and the clay sculptures, already begun last year, allowed a fruitful collaboration between the Italian mission and Ashgabat National Museum. With this most recent campaign, in fact, began the restoration, cleaning, and drawing of the ivory rhytons preserved in the Museum.
| Wood from the collapsed roof of Room 11 | |
 |
|
| Click on picture to enlarge | Photo by C. Lippolis |
Results and analyses of Archaeological Mission in Nisa, Year 2002 will be added to this web page as it becomes available. Please bookmark this page and check back often. For more information you can also visit the web page of Centro Ricerche Archeologiche e Scavi di Torino.
This page last updated 23 Feb 2021
|
|
|
