Theme: Luristan bronzes exemplify, almost like under a looking glass, a series of important issues in archaeological research today. The name pertains to a mountain zone in southwestern Iran where this specific and highly original group of Bronze- and Iron Age bronzes were excavated, mostly illegally, since the 1920s. Popular with collectors, the high demand for Luristan bronzes entailed more looting and forging, while excavated and observed contexts remain rare until today. The course aims to critically review the various approaches successively taken to understand these enigmatic objects and to develop perspectives how such problematic objects can fruitfully be dealt with today. We will look at the historical context of the looting, the arts market’s attempt to boost their popularity, the problems arising from forged objects and forged provenances. By dealing with original objects from the collection of the Vorderasiatisches Museum, students will at the same time acquire a thorough knowledge of materiality, technology, and typology of these bronzes. Requirements: The course is organized into six blocks, each set to deal with one individual theme. Participation in person is mandatory, as all studies are based on the autopsy of original objects that cannot leave the museum premises. There is no hybrid format available. Students will be assigned individual (groups of) objects to study, from primary documentation in drawing, description and photograph to literature review and contextualization. During each meeting, the state of these individual projects will be reviewed against the main theme of the session through short oral contributions / presentations. The final assignment is a 5000-word essay based on the individual study objects. Grades will be calculated from regular class contributions (60%) and the final presentation and essay (40%). Schließen

Curtis, J. 1988. Bronzeworking Centres of Western Asia 1000-539 B.C. London: Kegan Paul. Moorey, P.R.S. 1991. “The Decorated Ironwork of the Early Iron Age Attributed to Luristan in Western Iran.” Iran 29: 1–12. Muscarella, Oscar W. 1989. “Bronzes of Luristan.” In Encyclopedia Iranica, edited by E. Yarshater, 5:478–483. IV. New York: Routledge & Kegan Paul. – see for online version! Vanden Berghe, L. 1981. Luristan. Vorgeschichtliche Bronzekunst Aus Iran. Edited by P. Staatssammlung. München. Several short contributions in: Stöllner, T., R. Slotta, and A. Vatandoust. 2004. Persiens Antike Pracht: Bergbau, Handwerk, Archäologie; Katalog der Ausstellung des Deutschen Bergbau-Museums Bochum vom 28. November 2004 bis 29. Mai 2005. Veröffentlichungen aus dem Deutschen Bergbau-Museum. Bochum: Deutsches Bergbau-Museum. – in German and in English Schließen