It has been more than fifty years since Islamic epigraphists, historians, and Archaeologists of Islamic Art have worked on tombstones and cemeteries of Islamic societies and countries all around the world.

Until today, “Cimetières et Traditions Funéraires dans le Monde Islamique”, edited by BACQUE-GRAMMONT, J.-L. and TIBET, A. (1991), is one of the only reference books on this topic. After the conference, which was at the origins of this edited book, there have not been any no more international seminars, conferences or symposiums in which tombstones in the Islamic world have been specifically discussed. As far as I know, today there are no special research groups, units or even research projects with a special interest in tombstone studies of Islamic societies and countries. When I say special, I mean projects in which we work specifically on funeral epigraphy, interpretation of epitaphs, motifs and images, fabrication techniques, and also the lives of tombstone sculptors.

With this in mind, I think that the creation of an international academic network focusing on this field of research is essential.

In creating such a networking we can form:

- A list of academics who work on this topic;
- A reference bibliography;
- An online database entry for tombstone studies in Islamic societies and countries;
- Seminars, conferences and programmes focusing on this field of research.

I would appreciate it if you could share your ideas and comments with me. Please contact me at: pedram.khosronejad@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Yours sincerely,

Pedram Khosronejad

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Dr. Pedram Khosronejad
Department of Social Anthropology
71 North Street
University of St. Andrews
St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland KY16 9AL
Tel: +44 (1334) 461968
Fax: +44 (1334) 462985
Email: pedram.khosronejad@st-andrews.ac.uk