Comprehensive Review of the Book “Political Archaeology of the Middle East”

The book “Political Archaeology of the Middle East” by Mehdi Mortazavi (Corresponding Author), Fariba Mosapour Negari, and Goodarz Hadadi Nasab, as the first comprehensive attempt in Persian, examines the complex and intertwined relationship between archaeology and politics in the Middle East region. This work, published by a university press, critically analyses how states and regional and supra-regional powers exploit archaeology to advance their political and ideological.Considering the analysis of the chapters, the author’s background in teaching, and the significance of the book, it can be said that “Political Archaeology of the Middle East” is a valuable and influential work in the field of political archaeology. With a critical and comprehensive approach, this book examines the challenges and political abuses of archaeology in the Middle East and helps readers gain a deeper understanding of this field. To maximize its impact, this book should be translated into key languages, particularly Arabic and Russian. This will enable countries in the Persian Gulf region and Central Asia to understand the historical exploitation of archaeology and artefacts by colonial powers, empowering them to make informed decisions for their future. This type of use of archaeology is informative and liberating (Mortazavi ۲۰۲۴). It reduces conflicts in the region and, according to the nature of archaeology, unites different ethnic groups and prevents the creation of artificial lands and the weakening of the Middle East.

کلیدواژه ها:

Middle East ، Iran ، Archaeology ، Politics