PROJECTS OF THE IUA

The project has as its aim the publication of a collection of sources for the history of Pre-Islamic Central Asia. This project constitutes a part of an important project undertaken by UNESCO whose aim is 'to know better the civilizations of the peoples of Central Asia by the study of their archaeology, history, science, and literature'.

The collection consists of the following parts:
Series I : Studies, introductions, and manuals
Series II : Inscriptions and official documents
Series III : Historical and literary texts
Series IV: Archaelogical and numismatic sources

The sources are written in Old Persian, Babylonian, Elamite, Avestan, Middle Persian, Parthan, Sogdian, Saka, Khwarezmian, Bactrian, Persian, Ancient Indian, Middle Indian, Tokharian A, Tokharian B, Aramaic, Syrian, Arabic, Armenian, Turkish in Runic script, Uighur, Chinese, Tibetan, Greek and Latin. Every volume contains a historical assessment of the sources and a commentary which includes the conversion of the dates, as well as the identification of events, persons and places.

To advance these studies, and discuss and clarify problems of the sources, both old and recently discovered, international colloquia are held from time to time.

The project was adopted as a Category B project by the UAI in 1972 on the initiative of CIPSH and UNESCO.

Directed by an international editorial committee. Director : J. Harmatta 1972-1991 ; Ph. Gignoux 1991-