Islamic Collections Exhibit

The Larissa Liventals Islamic Collections Exhibit displays archaeological objects from across the Islamic world, which expanded beyond Arabia—the birthplace of Islam—into North Africa, Syria-Palestine, Iraq, Iran, the South Caucus, and Central Asia. On view are portable objects from daily life—glazed ceramics, glass, textiles, coins, and games—alongside illustrated manuscripts and literary works. Others objects, inscribed in several languages and scripts, attest to the continued religious diversity of the region. The collections derive from excavations across the Islamic world, including Istakhr and Rayy in Iran and Medinet Habu in Egypt (1920s–1930s), Nippur in Iraq (1940s–1990s), Khirbet el-Kerak in Israel (1950s), Quseir in Egypt (1970s–1980s), and Aqaba in Jordan (1990s). ISAC also holds material from the Egypt Exploration Fund excavations at the ancient Egyptian sites of Naukratis, the Ramesseum, and Abydos (1880s–1910s) which continued to be occupied into the Islamic period, as well as objects from the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE) sponsored excavations at Fustat (1960s). Additional pieces, acquired through gifts and purchases, lack archaeological provenience.