The University of Sydney Central Asian Programme (USCAP) Archive

The USCAP Archive is a unique, heritage collection of digital and non-digital archaeological excavation data, collected primarily by Assoc Professor Betts, and Dr Kidd.  The collection content spans the late prehistoric period (6000 BC) through to the early historic period (500 AD). Data collection began in 1976, and is ongoing (April 2012).  The collection content covers Central Asia, including China, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and sub-collection documenting the excavation and mapping of early historical period wall paintings, discovered in the Akchakhan-kala, (Kazakl’i-yaktan, Kazakly-yatkan) building, in the Karakalpak region of Uzbekistan.

As of April 2012, the USCAP Archive collection included some 6000 images on slide film, photographic film and in raw digital format, thousands of documentary drawings from the field, handwritten notes in field journals, historical maps, filemaker databases, 3-D digital reconstructions and more.  The exact size and scope of the collection is not known.

The USCAP Archive is supported by the University of Sydney Central Asian Programme (USCAP), and associated website: http://sydney.edu.au/arts/uscap/.  USCAP was established in 1992 to support research into the archaeology of Central Asia. Under the auspices of USCAP three collaborative archaeological programmes are currently in progress in Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and China. USCAP also organises workshops and conferences, and promotes academic and popular publications. Please see below for a list of selected publications associated with the USCAP Archive collections.  A key aim of the USCAP programme is to encourage the publication of research by citizens of Central Asian countries in English language journals and monographs.