23rd January – 21st March 2015.

Opening in January 2015 will be an exhibition presenting a selection of Maps – urban plans, topographic maps, and sea charts – taken from the ‘Dr Cyrus Ala’i’s Map Collection of Persia’ of over 250 maps that was gifted to the Centre for Iranian Studies SOAS, University of London in 2013. The collection includes important printed general maps of Persia and more specialist items from the early editions of Ptolemy, at the end of the 15th century, up until the end of the Qajar dynasty in 1925.

Iran or Persia as it was known in the West for most of its long history has been mapped extensively for centuries and many of the maps included in the exhibition will be publically shown together for the first time. These maps illustrate how cartography and the mapping of the region advanced with scientific accuracy in detail, whilst not ignoring their often artistic and design elements.

The maps along with other supporting material are presented within the context of Persia as an important cultural cross-road in southwest and central Asia. Illustrating how the region was viewed, interpreted and recorded by both indigenous scholars and visitors from abroad.

Following 20 years of research the noted scholar, Dr. Cyrus Ala’i produced a monumental cartobibliography in two volumes: General Maps of Persia, 1477-1925 (2005), and Special Maps of Persia 1477 – 1925 (2010).
The exhibition is made possible by the generous support of the London Middle East Institute (LMEI) and Centre for Iranian Studies at LMEI, SOAS.

BRUNEI GALLERY, SOAS OPEN: Tuesday – Saturday 10.30 – 17.00 (Thurs late night opening until 20.00)
THORNHAUGH STREET CLOSED: Sunday, Monday, and Bank Holidays ADMISSION FREE
RUSSELL SQUARE T. 020 7898 4046 (recorded information)
LONDON, WC1H 0XG E. gallery@soas.ac.uk
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As reported by B.B.C Paul Coleman from the Weekend Wanderers Detecting Club discovered more than 5,000 coins buried inside a lead bucket two feet under a field near Aylesbury.

The hoard contains specimens dating back to the 11th Century – the late Anglo Saxon, early Norman period.

The coins will now be examined by the British Museum.

A massive 5,000 year old underground city has been discovered in Turkey by the country’s Housing Development Administration (TOKI), according to reports Sunday.

Erdinç Çelikkan reports on what could potentially be the year’s largest architectural discovery, an underground city located in Turkey’s Central Anatolian province of Nevşehir.

The newly discovered city joins other such ancient cities found in the area, thought his one may end up being the largest of all the cities found so far.