Acknowledgements
The extended journey that this book represents would not have been possible without the innumerable people who lent their support and encouragement along the way. So the most profound thanks is due to everyone who has kept me going since I embarked on this idea. Certain individuals, I would like to single out for their critical contributions to the shaping of the research and the text over the years, and their substantial guidance. In the rough order of where they joined me along the route:
The Director of the Ancient Merv Project, Prof. Tim Williams, for his support throughout the project but most importantly as the person who first took me to Merv, and thus provided the original inspiration to undertake this research.
Dr Gaigysyz Jorayev, for his countless contributions on so many different aspects of the research: from his role as co-planner, guide, and photographer and in the first field season to tireless translation and logistical negotiations, but most importantly his advice and friendship at every stage.
None of this work would have been possible without the close collaboration of my Turkmen colleagues at The National Administration for the Protection, Study, and Restoration of Cultural and Historical Monuments of Turkmenistan, and the Historical and Cultural Park Ancient Merv, particulary Dr Mukhammed Annaevich Mamedov, Dr Rejep Jepbarov, and Dr Annamurad Orazov.
The team of the Karakum Routes Survey 2009–2013 joined me in undertaking the core fieldwork for the research and so deserve extended thanks for their contribution to this volume. In particular Alexis Pantos, whose expertise and ingenuity as a photographer, kite-photographer, and in digital modelling are evident throughout the research, and on whom I was completely reliant during the fieldwork. Others who kindly lent their expertise and time include: Elise Thing, Nick Pearson, Dr Leslee Michelsen, Dr Katie Campbell, Mags Felter, Lucy Denton, Jelena Zhivkovitch, Benedict Lee, and Dr Steve Markofsky.
I must also thank all other members of the Ancient Merv Project, of which the Karakum Routes Survey was but a small part, including: Dave Gilbert who provided crucial information about the ceramic material throughout the research, and Laura Conger for undertaking XRF analysis of many of the small finds from the survey.
Prof. Alan Walmsley saw the potential to develop this project into a PhD, and I cannot thank him enough for his encouragement to pursue this at Copenhagen. He patiently guided me through the process and ensured that I made it through to end of the doctorate. Dr Louise Blanke, Dr Steve Markofsky, and Dr Robert Wordsworth all proof-read drafts of my research during the PhD and gave invaluable comments on the script. Dr Luke Treadwell identified and translated the one legible coin retrieved by the survey at this time, which surprisingly enriches our understanding of the chronology of the sites.
Subsequently during the preparation of the volume, the Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford, kindly undertook XRF analysis of the chalcedony cabochon found during the survey.
In publishing this volume, I should also like to thank Patricia Radder and her colleagues at Brill for their faith in the project, but also Elizabeth Stone for assiduous copyediting, and to my anonymous peer reviewer for superbly detailed and helpful comments.
Before, during, and after the PhD, the concrete foundation of support has come from my family: Helen and Robert Wordsworth; Anna, Carl, Will, Audrey, Ada, and Henry Larson. Their unwavering love underpins all the writing and researching I have done over the years. This has been combined with the immeasurable kindness of partners and friends who experienced the long metamorphosis of the research finally into a book, and endured my varying moods with astonishing grace and patience. Thank you.