A New Perspective on the Archaeology of the Khorasan Region during the Iron Age

Khorasan’s Iron Age differs significantly from the Iron Age elements found in western Iran. In terms of cultural aspects and life structures, this encompasses two distinct cultures known as Yaz and Dahistan in classic classifications. Such definitions, which Russian archaeologists introduced to archaeological literature, have been heavily criticized. This is because the 8th and 7th centuries BCE, 550-300 BCE, and 330-217 BCE, which corresponded with the Medes, Achaemenid, and Seleucid Empires, were overlooked. Accordingly, the primary goal of the research was to investigate the political positions of the aforementioned empires in the region during the Iron Age. However, data collected about the Achaemenid and Hellenistic eras, as well as documented sources, have frequently mentioned the Satraps of these two empires in northeast Iran. The majority of cultural material on this region has been introduced based on the first millennium BCE, but this study took a political sociology approach to present new suggestions in the chronology of Khorasan’s Iron Age. Having said that, social developments in Khorasan from the Late Bronze Age to the establishment of ruling dynasties have been overlooked. According to chronology, the pre-Median, Median, post-Median, Achaemenid, and Seleucid eras all fall within the Iron Age period, and it is suggested that they be included in the region’s political history