Journal of Archaeological Studies | University of Tehran (original) (raw)
Papers by Journal of Archaeological Studies
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2020
Tape Gourab is located at Jourāb Village, a suburb of Malayer township in Hamadan province, adjac... more Tape Gourab is located at Jourāb Village, a suburb of Malayer township in Hamadan province, adjacent to the link road Arak-Malayer. Archaeological researches led by Ali Khaksar conducted on the site in 2006 to determine stratigraphy of the area achieved remarkable results. The site in its highest point is 28 meters above the surrounding lands. In order to provide data for absolute dating totally 13 samples of C14 have been taken from the stratigraphical layers on Tape. Three samples belong to Chalcolithic period. Dating of samples was conducted in the history and art laboratory at the University of Oxford and results were presented on March 4th of the year 2008. According to the chronology and considering the evidence of absolute chronology (C14), pottery and architectural evidence in Gourab, eight cultural periods have been distinguished: Middle Chalcolithic, Bronze Age (Kura-Arex),
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2020
This article aims to reveal the technical and historical characterizations of gilded tile decorat... more This article aims to reveal the technical and historical characterizations of gilded tile decorations from the Islamic period architecture of Iran. This research is based on several years' observation in different cities, associated with technical analyses and bibliographical researches. The assessments of results show this technology initially appeared in Miani wares and tiles in Seljuk era. Gilding techniques over silica glazed materials continued on Lajvardina tiles and wares in the Ilkhanid period and thereafter reappeared on various other types of tiles such as Haft Rang (seven-colored), monochrome or Muarraq (Persian-tile mosaics) from Timurid until the Safavid period. Although one sample of gilded tile from Qazvin has been reported from the Qajar, this technique seems to be forgotten after the Safavid period. Gilded tiles have a thin layer of gold as a part of their design (powder of leaf) that was fixed in different technical styles on the surface of glaze. In some samples, the gold leaf simply covered the whole surface of the tiles such as Muarraq pieces, whereas in some other cases it formed very sophisticated decoration. Technical details of gold attachment to the glaze substrate were the subject of different scientific researches. A brief technical description of this technology by Abu al-Qasim al-Kashani in his book Arayes al-Javaher va Nafayes al-Atayeb written in 1301, and aforementioned analytical studies shed new lights on this topic and make it possible to provide a historical and technical overview on this subject.
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2020
The study of transition process of prehistoric societies from egalitarian stage to the classified... more The study of transition process of prehistoric societies from egalitarian stage to the classified and state, is one of the important subjects of archaeology. The administrative technology is one of the symbolic features of prehistoric complex societies, indicating the presence of elite class for controlling the socioeconomic and political affairs. Large amounts of garbage with various deposited cultural materials were discovered during the archeological excavations in 2016 at the ancient site of Ālou in Radekan Village, Qazvin Plain. The site chronologically related to the Late Chalcolithic/ Late Plateau period. The administrative artifacts including clay seals and counting objects (tokens) were found in this project. These artifacts are the main devices of administrative technology. The main purposes of this paper are to introduce and interpret the administrative technology devices in Ālou site and the research on the origins of socioeconomic developments in the Central Plateau of Iran. It reevaluates, at first, the background of cultural developments in the Central Plateau with emphasis on administrative technology and information processes, and afterwards, studies the related cultural materials from excavations of Ālou. The results indicate that the societies of Central Plateau, in the mid-fourth millennium BC, had achieved the socioeconomic complexities by the classified-or chiefdom-structure, prior to the Proto-Elamite horizon. These developments therewith cultural interactions and communications with adjacent regions, originated in the Central Plateau of Iran.
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2020
The different environmental features of the Central Iranian Plateau and the Central Zagros region... more The different environmental features of the Central Iranian Plateau and the Central Zagros region, including the type of access to hydrological resources adjacent to the climatically high pressure regions, such as desert lands and mountainous locations, and the communication constraints are characteristics that throughout the millennia shaped the cultures of these areas. It seems that according to the recent archaeological discoveries and the natural and geographical features' effects on determination of cultural zones, the revision of archaeological divisions of the central plateau and Zagros is an obvious and essential issue. In the past, the definition of the Central Plateau mainly included the plains of Kashan, Qom and Saveh, Qazvin, Tehran, and the margins of Kavir desert, but did not mention Kurdistan and Hamedan at all. Also, in the Central Zagros area, never mentioned any sites beyond Asadabad and Nahavand. Thus, the role of these regions in the course of cultural transformation, like a blind spot, has always been neglected and archaeologists never considered important places in the areas located between the central plateau and central Zagros, until now. Whereas, geographical divisions, despite the differences between the views of some geographers, emphasize the geomorphologic distinctions of these regions against the Central Plateau and Zagros. Thus, by a review of the factors such as geographical features, catchment areas, quality of communication routes, and the distributional coherence of some cultural materials, especially pottery, the necessity of defining an independent identity for the "Near west" of central Iran, which corresponds to the geological zone of the Sanandaj-Hamedan, distinct from the Central Zagros and the Central Plateau zone, will simply be accepted.
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2020
The silverware works of the Sassanid period have their own significance not only for their techno... more The silverware works of the Sassanid period have their own significance not only for their technological components but also because their archaeological distribution reveals how this craft was very important during the Sasanian period. Their geographical distribution from the interior and exterior territory of the Sasanians Empire also shows the degree of the influence of Sasanian art. These metal works are made in different forms and unique designs, which mostly include images of royal hunting, banquets, faces and torsos of officials, animal and mythical motifs. Mazandaran was one of the important areas for making silver vessels during this period and even years after the collapse of the Sassanian Empire. The dishes introduced in this article are from the latest silver plates obtained from Mazandaran. They are unique in terms of motifs and themes. We compare these findings with other silver works found in the other parts of Iran.
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2020
Seals are one of the most important archaeological findings that provide reliable information abo... more Seals are one of the most important archaeological findings that provide reliable information about geographical names and job positions of the past. During Sasanian period seals were used by individual government officials. The use of seals expanded with the growth of Sasanian economy. In the archives of the Bu'ali Museum of Hamadan, 23 Sassanid seals from the Asadabad area are kept. Eleven of these seals have motifs of human, six have animal motifs, one has hand motif and two others hybrid mythological. The present research deals with the ten seals. Among these ten seals, five have human image (four a man's image and one a woman image), four seals have animal designs (three bull and one ram) and one is a monogram seal. The purpose of this research is to document, read inscriptions and examine the roles of these seals.
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2020
The Islamic site of Anda-jin is one of the most prominent and extensive sites from the Islamic pe... more The Islamic site of Anda-jin is one of the most prominent and extensive sites from the Islamic period of Hamadan-Bahar plain, located 8 kilometers north of Hamadan in the fertile Quraq plain. The purpose of this research is to study the historical geography, cultural background and archaeological findings of the site. Studying and analyzing the archaeological findings obtained from the site and its correspondence with the written sources is the most important issue to be addressed. According to the abundance of pottery found, such as tiles and architectural remains, the site dates back to the sixteen and eighteen centuries AH. Archaeological, historical references and geographers reports of the Islamic period-such as those on Marje Gharatkin, Dai-Marje, Ghorogh and Andaei Meadow-indicate that this region may have been a large settlement (town) in the Ilkhanid period and perhaps there has been a military camp in the western parts of the country called "New Hamadan" or "Isin-Qotlogh".
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2020
Pottery is the most prominent archaeological material which has a great role in reconstruction of... more Pottery is the most prominent archaeological material which has a great role in reconstruction of regional and interregional interactions. So, identification of the pottery assemblages of each cultural period is very important to clarify their chronology and their technological significance. So far, few archaeological sites related to the Parthian period have been excavated in western Iran. Therefore, due to the lack of ceramic collections to identify and distinguish the pottery of this period, recognition of Parthian sites in western Iran encounters some problems. So, it is necessary to present a precise dated collection of the Parthian pottery in order to have a better understanding of their regional changes in this period. One of the most important sites in western Iran is Qal'eh-i Yazdigird, which has been excavated recently. Describing the pottery forms of this region could be helpful in the regional pottery studies, as well as for relative chronology in the Parthian world. According to the excavated pottery, three types have been reported, including clinky, glazed and common wares. Comparative studies on the pottery suggest most of them have been made locally, but some are probably from other sites and show cultural-commercial relationships between this site and other contemporary settlements during the Parthian. On the basis of forms and technical characteristics, it seems that the pottery belonging to the late Parthian period can be classified into two types of ordinary pottery and semi-precise ceramics. In addition to the pottery, other archaeological findings, such as building units, are very useful in our study to reconstruct the chronology of site.
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2020
Despite numerous archeological activities in the recent years in Kermanshah province, there has b... more Despite numerous archeological activities in the recent years in Kermanshah province, there has been little attention to the eastern parts of the province, including Sonqor and Koliaei. Appropriate geographical and environmental conditions, including the permanent rivers, the small and fertile midlands, and route of communication has provided suitable condition for habitation from a long time ago up to the present. Due to lack of information about the afore-mentioned region it was necessary to do a series of systematic studies based on regular and targeted excavations. Accordingly, the rescue studies of archaeological sites in Jamishan Dam Project could be the best opportunity for such purposes and could provide a good background for further studies. Faramarz is a late Chalcolithic site in the Jamishan Dam basin which was excavated with the goal of rescue studies. According to the preliminary results of excavation of the Faramarz site and comparing its pottery with the other contemporary archaeological sites, the site was occupied in a single phase, Godin VI3 period. According to data from the excavation of the Faramarz site it can be concluded that the breeding animals were very important and we hope that future animal bone studies helps to reconstruct the plaeo-diet of the site. On the other hand, a large number of shells of sweet waters were found in the site, which indicates that aquatics were hunted from adjacent rivers by residents. The ceramic assemblages of the site help us to reconstruct the relationship between the central plateau and central Zagros and Mesopotamia.
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2020
The Arg, situated in the northeast of Bam, is one of the historical complexes which perfectly por... more The Arg, situated in the northeast of Bam, is one of the historical complexes which perfectly portrays the landscape of a traditional Iranian town. Despite some research related to its layout, there are some questions related to the architectural elements; for instance, the structure, formation, and development of the first/ main entrance of the Arg. The following paper, which is an analytical history research, tries to shed light on these unsettled questions. The results show that the gateway has three layers. The first consists of two cubic towers and dates back to the Seleucid or early Parthian era. During the reign of Seljuk/ Atabakan of Kerman and probably Kutwali (fortress holder) "Sabiq al-Din Ali" (1163-1184 AD), besides adding a layer to the cubic body of towers, another architectural layer with two cylindrical towers was constructed beside them. The last phase of the annexations was conducted in the Ilkhanid/ Muzaffarids dynasty and most likely during the reign of Sultan Abu-Saeid Bahador's agent, "Aji Shujauddin" (1316-1343 AD). During this phase, in addition to the cylindrical towers, a fort with a north-south axis was created and a "vestibule" was also annexed. Two relatively small cylindrical towers were also built alongside the new gateway. The new layer was renovated at least twice during the Timurid period.
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2020
Regarding the evolution of the production technique over a long period of prehistory, chipped sto... more Regarding the evolution of the production technique over a long period of prehistory, chipped stone assemblages provide many features that are recognizable and suitable for relative chronology, among which production techniques including hard/soft direct percussion, indirect percussion and pressure, especially in blade and bladelet production, are more reliable. This paper presents a research on blade and bladelet production techniques identified in the chipped stone assemblage of Komishan Cave in Mazandaran, a multi-period site presenting cultural material from Mesolithic, Neolithic and later periods including Chalcolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages. The lithic industry indicates the application of soft direct percussion and punch technique in blade and bladelet production in Mesolithic period, while in the Neolithic, pressure technique is presented in conical, bullet shaped and boat shaped cores and their products. Another evolution in the production technique of blades and bladelets occurred in later periods, detected through observation of traces of applying metal tips in punches and pressure tools, which obviously was impossible during Neolithic.
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2020
According to the report of the Center for Marine Medical Studies affiliated to Bushehr University... more According to the report of the Center for Marine Medical Studies affiliated to Bushehr University of Medical Sciences about the discovery of pottery fragments from the seafloor in the coastal waters of Bushehr Port, Department of Underwater Archeology, Iranian Center for Archaeological Research (ICAR) undertook to study and identify these cultural remains during August 2016. With the participation of professional divers, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences began scientific diving in the Persian Gulf. During the underwater archaeological survey, an area containing clay fragments in the seafloor was identified. The site is located 500 meters from the shores of Bushehr Port and at a depth of three to six meters. Underwater archeological studies of the coasts of Bushehr port in the Persian Gulf, cultural materials including Torpedo jars, small and large glazed crabs and fragments of pottery in the seafloor were identified. Among the cultural findings, a small number of Torpedo jars and more broken pieces of this pottery and several glazed potteries were collected. Torpedo jars and Turquoise glaze pottery are among the most prominent Sassanid pottery in the Persian Gulf that were shipped from Iranian ports to destination ports in the maritime trade. Determining the true nature of this historic site and its dating was one of the major impetus for underwater archaeological diving operations on these beaches, which led to the discovery of cargo from a historic ship from the Sassanid era. In this article, while explaining the underwater archaeology research program of Bushehr port, the discovered pottery of this study, including turquoise and glazed pottery as the most prominent Sassanid and early Islamic pottery in the Persian Gulf, will be discussed. The Sassanid position in the Persian Gulf maritime trade and the importance of trade in this historic period from Iranian ports to destination ports in the Indian subcontinent, the southern coasts of the Persian Gulf and East Africa are carefully considered.
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2020
Castle monuments are one of the settlement types whose location, formation and space distribution... more Castle monuments are one of the settlement types whose location, formation and space distribution are strongly influenced by natural factors and communicational factors. The present study, using field and documentary data and using the Geographic Information System (GIS) and Hierarchical Analysis Process (AHP), seeks to investigate the correlation between natural factors and castle settlements in Ardabil province and ranking of natural factors influencing the spatial distribution of these settlements. Based on the data obtained from field and documentary studies, 100 castles from different prehistoric, historical and Islamic periods in the geographical area of Ardabil province, which constitute the materials and statistical population of this study, were identified and studied. To analyze the data, after compiling the database, the distribution of identified castle settlements in relation to the variables of distance from the river, land shape, elevation, slope, aspect, climate, Land use/ vegetation and soil type were studied and measured. The results of the research indicate that natural factors have played a significant role in spatial distribution, determining the type of function and the importance of castle settlements in Ardabil province. The correlation analysis between natural factors and spatial distribution of the province's castle settlements shows that the land shape (plain and mountainous), the distance from the river and the elevation have had the greatest impact on the amount and pattern of castle distribution. Other variables, namely slope, aspect, climate, Land use/ vegetation and soil type, have also been important and effective in the spatial distribution of these castles, respectively.
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2020
According to the Zoroastrian religious teachings, and in order to prevent the contamination of th... more According to the Zoroastrian religious teachings, and in order to prevent the contamination of the four sacred elements of water, soil, wind and fire, dead bodies should be put in an open area and on the top of mountains, should be consumed by carnivorous animals, and their bones should be buried in a specific place named Astodan (Ostekhandan). This method, which has been the most common burial tradition of Zoroastrians in the Islamic period, was carried out in the circular hypaethral structures built up on the top of mountains. These structures are called "Dakhma" and the mentioned ritual is called "Dakhmagozari." Despite the research done on "Dakhmagozari" ritual and the "Zoroastrian Dakhma," important questions about the historical background of this tradition and the history of the burial structures associated with it, and the evolution of the architectural features of the Zoroastrian Dakhma throughout the various historical periods still remain unanswered. So, the present research ties to answer these ambiguities by doing field studies and interpreting and analyzing the findings of these studies with a "historical approach." According to the results obtained by referring to historical sources and archaeological evidence, the tradition of giving dead bodies to carnivorous animals, which has been a common burial tradition in Moqan since Achamenian periods, and using circular Dakhma, common throughout the Parthian-Sassanid period, have been popular among Iranian Zoroastrians. Following the mentioned trend during the Islamic period, the Dakhmagozari ritual and using circular Dakhmas have continued to exist up to the present time by going through changes in the way of performing the ceremonies and in the architectural components of the related burial structures.
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2019
The archaeological site of Moshkouyeh that nowadays called Moshkin tape is located in northern pa... more The archaeological site of Moshkouyeh that nowadays called Moshkin tape is located in northern part of the Iranian plateau, between the two historical cities of Rey in the north and Saveh in the south. The two terms can be considered for the word of the Moshkouye: A) Moshkouye was a region where the hunting of gazelle and extraction of musk was carried out there. B) Moshkooy can be considered a kings palace or harem. By Searching in historical resources, it became clear that nowadays Moshkin Tape is the same as historical Moshkouye that was settlement in Khurasan Road. After reading the historical texts, the systematic survey of the site showed that pottery shards and pottery equipment could be the remains of an industrial city from the Seljuq Era. Archaeological excavation in 2008 indicated this small city has produced the pottery required by inhabitants of Rey and many villages in the political and cultural region of Rey during the 5th and 6th centuries after Hijrat. This paper analyzes the structure, function and chronology of excavated kilns. This aim has been achieved through the analyses and interpretation of ceramic along with ethnographic studies, historical resources and especially archaeological data which has been yielded from Moshkin tape survey and excavation.
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2019
In recent years, two significant historical sites, Tepe Forodgah and Sangtarashan have been excav... more In recent years, two significant historical sites, Tepe Forodgah and Sangtarashan have been excavated in Khorramabad. Bronze objects explored from both sites exhibit an interesting feature of metal production in terms of shapes and techniques used. Tepe Forodgah was excavated in 2014 and Sangtarashan was excavated during six seasons since 2003. Tepe Forodgah yielded few bronze objects but a large number of bronze objects were obtained from Sangtarashan. In this research, two bronze objects were selected from each historical site and results of the analysis were analyzed and compared concerning their chronological orders. In this research, type of alloy, manufacturing technique, elements and chemical compounds of samples were studied by Scanning Electron Microscopy equipped with Elemental Analysis, Metallography, Computed Tomography and X-Ray Radiography. According to the results, the alloy used in all the objects was known to be bronze and based on the microstructure of the objects, hammering and annealing used in manufacturing technique.
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2019
Symmetry is an analytical tool, used in recognition of intercultural relations as well as artisti... more Symmetry is an analytical tool, used in recognition of intercultural relations as well as artistic objects comparison. It was first appeared in archaeological research since 1900’s by studying the patterns that were depicted on the potteries. Various cultures (different historical periods) have various symmetry tastes. Some kinds of cultural changes are reflected in changes in symmetry preferences and/or in the presence of a new type of symmetrical pattern. The purpose of this research is to study the transformation or continuity of culture in historical periods of Hittite civilization based on the symmetrical pattern. The present research, based on the study of the written sources and the study of sculpture and bas-reliefs of the Hittite civilization regarding the mathematical nature of the symmetrical pattern, shows that the first signs of the use of symmetry in the art of this civilization have been introduced during the Great Hittite kingdom. In this period, there were various kinds of translation, Bi-lateral, Reflection, and Rotation symmetries in motifs, which seem to be rendered consciously, non-random and with a specific purposes. The presence of a new type of symmetry pattern during the Neo-Hittite period is likely to be as the result of a change in environment or the settlement pattern.
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2019
A joint team from University of Tehran and Leicester University carried out a first season of arc... more A joint team from University of Tehran and Leicester University carried out a first season of archaeological exploration of Zoroastrian societies in Maybod of Yazad province during May of 2016 for two weeks. Historical archaeology is in its infant stage in Iran while most of data in nowadays due to the modernity has been disappeared and therefore, any researches can be considered as salvage program. The aim of this research is to answer some historical archaeology approach concerning social history and ritual activities of the last communities of Zoroastrian societies of Yazd province based on the analysis of architectural layout and ethnographic data. In this paper we represent the preliminary report of the survey results of Mazra’e Kalantar and Hassan Abad villages. In this paper we have clarified the architectural patterns and the typology of buildings of Zoroastrian communities. We have analyzed two different buildings types of religious and domestic spaces of Mazra’e Kalantar and Hassan Abad villages. The second part of this paper has focused on the ethnographic results in order to achieve a holistic understanding of life experience based on the historical knowledge of native people. The second season of this project will help us to focus more on the cultural interaction of the present and past societies of the above mentioned region.
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2019
The Chehrabad salt mine is one of the rare ancient salt mine in the world and the only identified... more The Chehrabad salt mine is one of the rare ancient salt mine in the world and the only identified salt mine in Iran which has evidences of salt extracting over a long time span from 500 BC to modern times. According to the field researches conducted so far, in the excavated area, mining activities are proven to be in use in the Achaemenid, Sasanian, Middle and Late Islamic periods. After the accidental discoveries in 1993 and 2004, several season of excavation and archaeological surveys, have been carried out in the mine and around it. Archaeological researches brought to light interesting results concerning the techniques, periods and extracting tools, also relation between salt mine and the archaeological sites around it. Digging deep tunnels inside the salt rock deposits in different dimensions and sizes and using the various extraction tools can be seen in the excavated area with the difference in details in all the aforementioned periods. The long- term salt extraction activities and multi- periodic collapse of the tunnels, have resulted the formation of various layers such as fall, occupation, mining and erosion layers in different parts of the mine and the filling many of its old tunnels. According to documents, Most of the discovered human remains were probably non- native miners who died during catastrophic mining accidents and mummified naturally.
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2019
The analyses and interpretations of archaeological findings and historical texts of the Sassanid ... more The analyses and interpretations of archaeological findings and historical texts of the Sassanid period have not yielded satisfactory results in some cases despite extensive evidence. The plastered motifs of Bandian Fire Temple in Dargaz are still unknown despite many years of archaeological excavations and reports. Designed around the entrance hall, these motifs include images of hunting, battles of riders, victory (defeating the enemy), religious ceremonies, meetings of kings, coronation, and banquets. They actually reconstruct the story of the Hephthalites' invasion of Iran during the reign of Bahram V and their defeat by Iranians. However, some of the scenes and characters in this hall have not been analyzed and interpreted properly. By presenting well-documented evidence using historical and iconographical texts in the plastered motifs, this study evaluates and recognizes some of the scenes and images in order to provide a clearer picture of a historical narrative.
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2020
Tape Gourab is located at Jourāb Village, a suburb of Malayer township in Hamadan province, adjac... more Tape Gourab is located at Jourāb Village, a suburb of Malayer township in Hamadan province, adjacent to the link road Arak-Malayer. Archaeological researches led by Ali Khaksar conducted on the site in 2006 to determine stratigraphy of the area achieved remarkable results. The site in its highest point is 28 meters above the surrounding lands. In order to provide data for absolute dating totally 13 samples of C14 have been taken from the stratigraphical layers on Tape. Three samples belong to Chalcolithic period. Dating of samples was conducted in the history and art laboratory at the University of Oxford and results were presented on March 4th of the year 2008. According to the chronology and considering the evidence of absolute chronology (C14), pottery and architectural evidence in Gourab, eight cultural periods have been distinguished: Middle Chalcolithic, Bronze Age (Kura-Arex),
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2020
This article aims to reveal the technical and historical characterizations of gilded tile decorat... more This article aims to reveal the technical and historical characterizations of gilded tile decorations from the Islamic period architecture of Iran. This research is based on several years' observation in different cities, associated with technical analyses and bibliographical researches. The assessments of results show this technology initially appeared in Miani wares and tiles in Seljuk era. Gilding techniques over silica glazed materials continued on Lajvardina tiles and wares in the Ilkhanid period and thereafter reappeared on various other types of tiles such as Haft Rang (seven-colored), monochrome or Muarraq (Persian-tile mosaics) from Timurid until the Safavid period. Although one sample of gilded tile from Qazvin has been reported from the Qajar, this technique seems to be forgotten after the Safavid period. Gilded tiles have a thin layer of gold as a part of their design (powder of leaf) that was fixed in different technical styles on the surface of glaze. In some samples, the gold leaf simply covered the whole surface of the tiles such as Muarraq pieces, whereas in some other cases it formed very sophisticated decoration. Technical details of gold attachment to the glaze substrate were the subject of different scientific researches. A brief technical description of this technology by Abu al-Qasim al-Kashani in his book Arayes al-Javaher va Nafayes al-Atayeb written in 1301, and aforementioned analytical studies shed new lights on this topic and make it possible to provide a historical and technical overview on this subject.
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2020
The study of transition process of prehistoric societies from egalitarian stage to the classified... more The study of transition process of prehistoric societies from egalitarian stage to the classified and state, is one of the important subjects of archaeology. The administrative technology is one of the symbolic features of prehistoric complex societies, indicating the presence of elite class for controlling the socioeconomic and political affairs. Large amounts of garbage with various deposited cultural materials were discovered during the archeological excavations in 2016 at the ancient site of Ālou in Radekan Village, Qazvin Plain. The site chronologically related to the Late Chalcolithic/ Late Plateau period. The administrative artifacts including clay seals and counting objects (tokens) were found in this project. These artifacts are the main devices of administrative technology. The main purposes of this paper are to introduce and interpret the administrative technology devices in Ālou site and the research on the origins of socioeconomic developments in the Central Plateau of Iran. It reevaluates, at first, the background of cultural developments in the Central Plateau with emphasis on administrative technology and information processes, and afterwards, studies the related cultural materials from excavations of Ālou. The results indicate that the societies of Central Plateau, in the mid-fourth millennium BC, had achieved the socioeconomic complexities by the classified-or chiefdom-structure, prior to the Proto-Elamite horizon. These developments therewith cultural interactions and communications with adjacent regions, originated in the Central Plateau of Iran.
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2020
The different environmental features of the Central Iranian Plateau and the Central Zagros region... more The different environmental features of the Central Iranian Plateau and the Central Zagros region, including the type of access to hydrological resources adjacent to the climatically high pressure regions, such as desert lands and mountainous locations, and the communication constraints are characteristics that throughout the millennia shaped the cultures of these areas. It seems that according to the recent archaeological discoveries and the natural and geographical features' effects on determination of cultural zones, the revision of archaeological divisions of the central plateau and Zagros is an obvious and essential issue. In the past, the definition of the Central Plateau mainly included the plains of Kashan, Qom and Saveh, Qazvin, Tehran, and the margins of Kavir desert, but did not mention Kurdistan and Hamedan at all. Also, in the Central Zagros area, never mentioned any sites beyond Asadabad and Nahavand. Thus, the role of these regions in the course of cultural transformation, like a blind spot, has always been neglected and archaeologists never considered important places in the areas located between the central plateau and central Zagros, until now. Whereas, geographical divisions, despite the differences between the views of some geographers, emphasize the geomorphologic distinctions of these regions against the Central Plateau and Zagros. Thus, by a review of the factors such as geographical features, catchment areas, quality of communication routes, and the distributional coherence of some cultural materials, especially pottery, the necessity of defining an independent identity for the "Near west" of central Iran, which corresponds to the geological zone of the Sanandaj-Hamedan, distinct from the Central Zagros and the Central Plateau zone, will simply be accepted.
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2020
The silverware works of the Sassanid period have their own significance not only for their techno... more The silverware works of the Sassanid period have their own significance not only for their technological components but also because their archaeological distribution reveals how this craft was very important during the Sasanian period. Their geographical distribution from the interior and exterior territory of the Sasanians Empire also shows the degree of the influence of Sasanian art. These metal works are made in different forms and unique designs, which mostly include images of royal hunting, banquets, faces and torsos of officials, animal and mythical motifs. Mazandaran was one of the important areas for making silver vessels during this period and even years after the collapse of the Sassanian Empire. The dishes introduced in this article are from the latest silver plates obtained from Mazandaran. They are unique in terms of motifs and themes. We compare these findings with other silver works found in the other parts of Iran.
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2020
Seals are one of the most important archaeological findings that provide reliable information abo... more Seals are one of the most important archaeological findings that provide reliable information about geographical names and job positions of the past. During Sasanian period seals were used by individual government officials. The use of seals expanded with the growth of Sasanian economy. In the archives of the Bu'ali Museum of Hamadan, 23 Sassanid seals from the Asadabad area are kept. Eleven of these seals have motifs of human, six have animal motifs, one has hand motif and two others hybrid mythological. The present research deals with the ten seals. Among these ten seals, five have human image (four a man's image and one a woman image), four seals have animal designs (three bull and one ram) and one is a monogram seal. The purpose of this research is to document, read inscriptions and examine the roles of these seals.
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2020
The Islamic site of Anda-jin is one of the most prominent and extensive sites from the Islamic pe... more The Islamic site of Anda-jin is one of the most prominent and extensive sites from the Islamic period of Hamadan-Bahar plain, located 8 kilometers north of Hamadan in the fertile Quraq plain. The purpose of this research is to study the historical geography, cultural background and archaeological findings of the site. Studying and analyzing the archaeological findings obtained from the site and its correspondence with the written sources is the most important issue to be addressed. According to the abundance of pottery found, such as tiles and architectural remains, the site dates back to the sixteen and eighteen centuries AH. Archaeological, historical references and geographers reports of the Islamic period-such as those on Marje Gharatkin, Dai-Marje, Ghorogh and Andaei Meadow-indicate that this region may have been a large settlement (town) in the Ilkhanid period and perhaps there has been a military camp in the western parts of the country called "New Hamadan" or "Isin-Qotlogh".
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2020
Pottery is the most prominent archaeological material which has a great role in reconstruction of... more Pottery is the most prominent archaeological material which has a great role in reconstruction of regional and interregional interactions. So, identification of the pottery assemblages of each cultural period is very important to clarify their chronology and their technological significance. So far, few archaeological sites related to the Parthian period have been excavated in western Iran. Therefore, due to the lack of ceramic collections to identify and distinguish the pottery of this period, recognition of Parthian sites in western Iran encounters some problems. So, it is necessary to present a precise dated collection of the Parthian pottery in order to have a better understanding of their regional changes in this period. One of the most important sites in western Iran is Qal'eh-i Yazdigird, which has been excavated recently. Describing the pottery forms of this region could be helpful in the regional pottery studies, as well as for relative chronology in the Parthian world. According to the excavated pottery, three types have been reported, including clinky, glazed and common wares. Comparative studies on the pottery suggest most of them have been made locally, but some are probably from other sites and show cultural-commercial relationships between this site and other contemporary settlements during the Parthian. On the basis of forms and technical characteristics, it seems that the pottery belonging to the late Parthian period can be classified into two types of ordinary pottery and semi-precise ceramics. In addition to the pottery, other archaeological findings, such as building units, are very useful in our study to reconstruct the chronology of site.
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2020
Despite numerous archeological activities in the recent years in Kermanshah province, there has b... more Despite numerous archeological activities in the recent years in Kermanshah province, there has been little attention to the eastern parts of the province, including Sonqor and Koliaei. Appropriate geographical and environmental conditions, including the permanent rivers, the small and fertile midlands, and route of communication has provided suitable condition for habitation from a long time ago up to the present. Due to lack of information about the afore-mentioned region it was necessary to do a series of systematic studies based on regular and targeted excavations. Accordingly, the rescue studies of archaeological sites in Jamishan Dam Project could be the best opportunity for such purposes and could provide a good background for further studies. Faramarz is a late Chalcolithic site in the Jamishan Dam basin which was excavated with the goal of rescue studies. According to the preliminary results of excavation of the Faramarz site and comparing its pottery with the other contemporary archaeological sites, the site was occupied in a single phase, Godin VI3 period. According to data from the excavation of the Faramarz site it can be concluded that the breeding animals were very important and we hope that future animal bone studies helps to reconstruct the plaeo-diet of the site. On the other hand, a large number of shells of sweet waters were found in the site, which indicates that aquatics were hunted from adjacent rivers by residents. The ceramic assemblages of the site help us to reconstruct the relationship between the central plateau and central Zagros and Mesopotamia.
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2020
The Arg, situated in the northeast of Bam, is one of the historical complexes which perfectly por... more The Arg, situated in the northeast of Bam, is one of the historical complexes which perfectly portrays the landscape of a traditional Iranian town. Despite some research related to its layout, there are some questions related to the architectural elements; for instance, the structure, formation, and development of the first/ main entrance of the Arg. The following paper, which is an analytical history research, tries to shed light on these unsettled questions. The results show that the gateway has three layers. The first consists of two cubic towers and dates back to the Seleucid or early Parthian era. During the reign of Seljuk/ Atabakan of Kerman and probably Kutwali (fortress holder) "Sabiq al-Din Ali" (1163-1184 AD), besides adding a layer to the cubic body of towers, another architectural layer with two cylindrical towers was constructed beside them. The last phase of the annexations was conducted in the Ilkhanid/ Muzaffarids dynasty and most likely during the reign of Sultan Abu-Saeid Bahador's agent, "Aji Shujauddin" (1316-1343 AD). During this phase, in addition to the cylindrical towers, a fort with a north-south axis was created and a "vestibule" was also annexed. Two relatively small cylindrical towers were also built alongside the new gateway. The new layer was renovated at least twice during the Timurid period.
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2020
Regarding the evolution of the production technique over a long period of prehistory, chipped sto... more Regarding the evolution of the production technique over a long period of prehistory, chipped stone assemblages provide many features that are recognizable and suitable for relative chronology, among which production techniques including hard/soft direct percussion, indirect percussion and pressure, especially in blade and bladelet production, are more reliable. This paper presents a research on blade and bladelet production techniques identified in the chipped stone assemblage of Komishan Cave in Mazandaran, a multi-period site presenting cultural material from Mesolithic, Neolithic and later periods including Chalcolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages. The lithic industry indicates the application of soft direct percussion and punch technique in blade and bladelet production in Mesolithic period, while in the Neolithic, pressure technique is presented in conical, bullet shaped and boat shaped cores and their products. Another evolution in the production technique of blades and bladelets occurred in later periods, detected through observation of traces of applying metal tips in punches and pressure tools, which obviously was impossible during Neolithic.
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2020
According to the report of the Center for Marine Medical Studies affiliated to Bushehr University... more According to the report of the Center for Marine Medical Studies affiliated to Bushehr University of Medical Sciences about the discovery of pottery fragments from the seafloor in the coastal waters of Bushehr Port, Department of Underwater Archeology, Iranian Center for Archaeological Research (ICAR) undertook to study and identify these cultural remains during August 2016. With the participation of professional divers, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences began scientific diving in the Persian Gulf. During the underwater archaeological survey, an area containing clay fragments in the seafloor was identified. The site is located 500 meters from the shores of Bushehr Port and at a depth of three to six meters. Underwater archeological studies of the coasts of Bushehr port in the Persian Gulf, cultural materials including Torpedo jars, small and large glazed crabs and fragments of pottery in the seafloor were identified. Among the cultural findings, a small number of Torpedo jars and more broken pieces of this pottery and several glazed potteries were collected. Torpedo jars and Turquoise glaze pottery are among the most prominent Sassanid pottery in the Persian Gulf that were shipped from Iranian ports to destination ports in the maritime trade. Determining the true nature of this historic site and its dating was one of the major impetus for underwater archaeological diving operations on these beaches, which led to the discovery of cargo from a historic ship from the Sassanid era. In this article, while explaining the underwater archaeology research program of Bushehr port, the discovered pottery of this study, including turquoise and glazed pottery as the most prominent Sassanid and early Islamic pottery in the Persian Gulf, will be discussed. The Sassanid position in the Persian Gulf maritime trade and the importance of trade in this historic period from Iranian ports to destination ports in the Indian subcontinent, the southern coasts of the Persian Gulf and East Africa are carefully considered.
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2020
Castle monuments are one of the settlement types whose location, formation and space distribution... more Castle monuments are one of the settlement types whose location, formation and space distribution are strongly influenced by natural factors and communicational factors. The present study, using field and documentary data and using the Geographic Information System (GIS) and Hierarchical Analysis Process (AHP), seeks to investigate the correlation between natural factors and castle settlements in Ardabil province and ranking of natural factors influencing the spatial distribution of these settlements. Based on the data obtained from field and documentary studies, 100 castles from different prehistoric, historical and Islamic periods in the geographical area of Ardabil province, which constitute the materials and statistical population of this study, were identified and studied. To analyze the data, after compiling the database, the distribution of identified castle settlements in relation to the variables of distance from the river, land shape, elevation, slope, aspect, climate, Land use/ vegetation and soil type were studied and measured. The results of the research indicate that natural factors have played a significant role in spatial distribution, determining the type of function and the importance of castle settlements in Ardabil province. The correlation analysis between natural factors and spatial distribution of the province's castle settlements shows that the land shape (plain and mountainous), the distance from the river and the elevation have had the greatest impact on the amount and pattern of castle distribution. Other variables, namely slope, aspect, climate, Land use/ vegetation and soil type, have also been important and effective in the spatial distribution of these castles, respectively.
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2020
According to the Zoroastrian religious teachings, and in order to prevent the contamination of th... more According to the Zoroastrian religious teachings, and in order to prevent the contamination of the four sacred elements of water, soil, wind and fire, dead bodies should be put in an open area and on the top of mountains, should be consumed by carnivorous animals, and their bones should be buried in a specific place named Astodan (Ostekhandan). This method, which has been the most common burial tradition of Zoroastrians in the Islamic period, was carried out in the circular hypaethral structures built up on the top of mountains. These structures are called "Dakhma" and the mentioned ritual is called "Dakhmagozari." Despite the research done on "Dakhmagozari" ritual and the "Zoroastrian Dakhma," important questions about the historical background of this tradition and the history of the burial structures associated with it, and the evolution of the architectural features of the Zoroastrian Dakhma throughout the various historical periods still remain unanswered. So, the present research ties to answer these ambiguities by doing field studies and interpreting and analyzing the findings of these studies with a "historical approach." According to the results obtained by referring to historical sources and archaeological evidence, the tradition of giving dead bodies to carnivorous animals, which has been a common burial tradition in Moqan since Achamenian periods, and using circular Dakhma, common throughout the Parthian-Sassanid period, have been popular among Iranian Zoroastrians. Following the mentioned trend during the Islamic period, the Dakhmagozari ritual and using circular Dakhmas have continued to exist up to the present time by going through changes in the way of performing the ceremonies and in the architectural components of the related burial structures.
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2019
The archaeological site of Moshkouyeh that nowadays called Moshkin tape is located in northern pa... more The archaeological site of Moshkouyeh that nowadays called Moshkin tape is located in northern part of the Iranian plateau, between the two historical cities of Rey in the north and Saveh in the south. The two terms can be considered for the word of the Moshkouye: A) Moshkouye was a region where the hunting of gazelle and extraction of musk was carried out there. B) Moshkooy can be considered a kings palace or harem. By Searching in historical resources, it became clear that nowadays Moshkin Tape is the same as historical Moshkouye that was settlement in Khurasan Road. After reading the historical texts, the systematic survey of the site showed that pottery shards and pottery equipment could be the remains of an industrial city from the Seljuq Era. Archaeological excavation in 2008 indicated this small city has produced the pottery required by inhabitants of Rey and many villages in the political and cultural region of Rey during the 5th and 6th centuries after Hijrat. This paper analyzes the structure, function and chronology of excavated kilns. This aim has been achieved through the analyses and interpretation of ceramic along with ethnographic studies, historical resources and especially archaeological data which has been yielded from Moshkin tape survey and excavation.
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2019
In recent years, two significant historical sites, Tepe Forodgah and Sangtarashan have been excav... more In recent years, two significant historical sites, Tepe Forodgah and Sangtarashan have been excavated in Khorramabad. Bronze objects explored from both sites exhibit an interesting feature of metal production in terms of shapes and techniques used. Tepe Forodgah was excavated in 2014 and Sangtarashan was excavated during six seasons since 2003. Tepe Forodgah yielded few bronze objects but a large number of bronze objects were obtained from Sangtarashan. In this research, two bronze objects were selected from each historical site and results of the analysis were analyzed and compared concerning their chronological orders. In this research, type of alloy, manufacturing technique, elements and chemical compounds of samples were studied by Scanning Electron Microscopy equipped with Elemental Analysis, Metallography, Computed Tomography and X-Ray Radiography. According to the results, the alloy used in all the objects was known to be bronze and based on the microstructure of the objects, hammering and annealing used in manufacturing technique.
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2019
Symmetry is an analytical tool, used in recognition of intercultural relations as well as artisti... more Symmetry is an analytical tool, used in recognition of intercultural relations as well as artistic objects comparison. It was first appeared in archaeological research since 1900’s by studying the patterns that were depicted on the potteries. Various cultures (different historical periods) have various symmetry tastes. Some kinds of cultural changes are reflected in changes in symmetry preferences and/or in the presence of a new type of symmetrical pattern. The purpose of this research is to study the transformation or continuity of culture in historical periods of Hittite civilization based on the symmetrical pattern. The present research, based on the study of the written sources and the study of sculpture and bas-reliefs of the Hittite civilization regarding the mathematical nature of the symmetrical pattern, shows that the first signs of the use of symmetry in the art of this civilization have been introduced during the Great Hittite kingdom. In this period, there were various kinds of translation, Bi-lateral, Reflection, and Rotation symmetries in motifs, which seem to be rendered consciously, non-random and with a specific purposes. The presence of a new type of symmetry pattern during the Neo-Hittite period is likely to be as the result of a change in environment or the settlement pattern.
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2019
A joint team from University of Tehran and Leicester University carried out a first season of arc... more A joint team from University of Tehran and Leicester University carried out a first season of archaeological exploration of Zoroastrian societies in Maybod of Yazad province during May of 2016 for two weeks. Historical archaeology is in its infant stage in Iran while most of data in nowadays due to the modernity has been disappeared and therefore, any researches can be considered as salvage program. The aim of this research is to answer some historical archaeology approach concerning social history and ritual activities of the last communities of Zoroastrian societies of Yazd province based on the analysis of architectural layout and ethnographic data. In this paper we represent the preliminary report of the survey results of Mazra’e Kalantar and Hassan Abad villages. In this paper we have clarified the architectural patterns and the typology of buildings of Zoroastrian communities. We have analyzed two different buildings types of religious and domestic spaces of Mazra’e Kalantar and Hassan Abad villages. The second part of this paper has focused on the ethnographic results in order to achieve a holistic understanding of life experience based on the historical knowledge of native people. The second season of this project will help us to focus more on the cultural interaction of the present and past societies of the above mentioned region.
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2019
The Chehrabad salt mine is one of the rare ancient salt mine in the world and the only identified... more The Chehrabad salt mine is one of the rare ancient salt mine in the world and the only identified salt mine in Iran which has evidences of salt extracting over a long time span from 500 BC to modern times. According to the field researches conducted so far, in the excavated area, mining activities are proven to be in use in the Achaemenid, Sasanian, Middle and Late Islamic periods. After the accidental discoveries in 1993 and 2004, several season of excavation and archaeological surveys, have been carried out in the mine and around it. Archaeological researches brought to light interesting results concerning the techniques, periods and extracting tools, also relation between salt mine and the archaeological sites around it. Digging deep tunnels inside the salt rock deposits in different dimensions and sizes and using the various extraction tools can be seen in the excavated area with the difference in details in all the aforementioned periods. The long- term salt extraction activities and multi- periodic collapse of the tunnels, have resulted the formation of various layers such as fall, occupation, mining and erosion layers in different parts of the mine and the filling many of its old tunnels. According to documents, Most of the discovered human remains were probably non- native miners who died during catastrophic mining accidents and mummified naturally.
Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2019
The analyses and interpretations of archaeological findings and historical texts of the Sassanid ... more The analyses and interpretations of archaeological findings and historical texts of the Sassanid period have not yielded satisfactory results in some cases despite extensive evidence. The plastered motifs of Bandian Fire Temple in Dargaz are still unknown despite many years of archaeological excavations and reports. Designed around the entrance hall, these motifs include images of hunting, battles of riders, victory (defeating the enemy), religious ceremonies, meetings of kings, coronation, and banquets. They actually reconstruct the story of the Hephthalites' invasion of Iran during the reign of Bahram V and their defeat by Iranians. However, some of the scenes and characters in this hall have not been analyzed and interpreted properly. By presenting well-documented evidence using historical and iconographical texts in the plastered motifs, this study evaluates and recognizes some of the scenes and images in order to provide a clearer picture of a historical narrative.