French archaeological delegation in Afghanistan

The French archaeological Délégation in Afghanistan ( DAFA ) was created in France in 1922, at the request of the Afghan government, to ensure the archaeological research in Afghanistan. After an interruption of research during the Second world war work began again in 1946-47 until its closing by the government Afghan pro-Soviet in 1982.

In 2002, in agreement with the Afghan authorities, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs decided the reopening and the restarting of the activities of the DAFA in Afghanistan. The mission of the DAFA is first of all to develop the Connaissance past of Afghanistan within the framework of free-Afghan archaeological operations. These operations consist of the continuation of the inventory of the archaeological vestiges (prospections, statements, etc) as well as the control of archaeological excavations within the framework of scientific programs well defined or requirements of rescues primarily related to intensive plunderings of the sites.

The DAFA belongs to the network of the 27 French Research institutes abroad of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

Archaeological work since 1922

  • 1923-1925 : work with Bactres
  • 1924: excavations of Païtava
  • 1926: prospections in Bactriane and the first work with Hadda
  • 1927-1928: excavations of Hadda
  • 1929: work with Bamiyan
  • 1933: excavations of Tepe Marandjan
  • 1934: excavations of Khair Khane
  • 1936: work in Seistan
  • 1936-1937: excavations of Begram
  • 1937: excavations of Fondukistan
  • 1937: excavations of Shotarak
  • 1947: work with Bactres (Schlumberger)
  • 1949-1951: excavations of Lashkari Bazaar
  • 1951-1959: excavations of the site protohistoric of Mundigak
  • 1952-1961: excavations of Surkh Kotal
  • 1957: discovered site of the minaret of Djam
  • 1957: work in the valley of Foladi
  • 1963: excavations of Kohna Masdjid
  • 1963-1965: excavations of the Monastery of Gul Dara
  • 1963: excavations of Shakh Tepe
  • 1964: prospections with Have-Khanoum
  • 1965-1978: excavations of the site of Have-Khanoum
  • 1974-1976: prospections of the plain of Have Khanoum
  • 1976-1978; prospections of Haut-Tokharestan
  • 1976-1978: excavations of Shortughaï
  • 2004-2007: excavations of Bactres
  • 2005: Al-Ghata excavations
  • 2005-2007: Franco-German work with Hérat
  • 2005-2007: work on the Mosque of Piyada Hadji.

List directors of the DAFA yes but not relevant-->

Random links:Friedensreich Hundertwasser | Sébécourt | Line Shinkansen Tōkaidō | Friedrich Herlin | Mike Keane | Culte_destructif