"Archaeologists Rante (Louvre Museum) and Mirzaakhmedov (Uzbek Academy of Sciences) envision a three-volume English language publication reporting the results of a large-scale, ten-year regional study by the Mission Archéologique Franco-Ouzbèke in western Central Asia, focusing on the geoarchaeology of the Zerafshan River delta for the long-durée: 3rd century BCE through 16th century CE. Three chapters of this initial volume, written mostly by Rante, concentrate on the survey of the landscape paleoecology, hydrography, and settlement evolution (1,040 archaeological sites), offering a detailed paradigm for urban morphology, differentiating unique sites and urban categories (bipartite and tripartite cities) through six well-defined chronological phases. The narrative emphasizes population dynamics; political administration and communication; the management of economic resources; interactions between urban, suburban, and rural communities; and sacred landscapes. Six chapters document in abundant detail trench excavations in six settlements, including three large cities: Ramitan, Paykend, and Bukhara. Rante’s concluding essay provides historical and cultural reconstructions of oasis irrigation systems, climate change, desiccation, and resulting social dynamics. The meticulous narrative is accompanied by 216 magnificent color illustrations, an extensive bibliography (172 references), and a comprehensive index. This report is unique for Central Asia and designed for professionals and researchers... Summing Up: Highly recommended. Graduate students, faculty, and professionals." C.C. Kolb in: Choice Connect, Vol. 57 May 2020.

Rocco Rante, Ph.D. (2009), Professional Research Fellow (2018), University Pantheon-La Sorbonne, is archaeologist at the Louvre Museum. He has published Rayy: From Its Origins to the Mongol Invasion (Leiden, 2015) and The Greater Khorasan (Berlin, 2015).