gems, lapis lazuli, Afghanistan, history of gemology, gem trade, Central Asia, locality, species, trade routes

Archaeological and textual evidence of the fourth and third millennia are used to reconstruct a trade route for lapis-lazuli. Originating in Badakhshan. this route probably traversed Kerman (Aratta). Fars (Anshan) and Khuzistan (Susa). The present reconstruction argues against control of the lapis trade by such northern communities as Hissar and Gawra. and minimizes the role of the Great Khorasan (Silk) Route.