From Apavortene to Abivard: Feasibility and Identification of the Early Parthian City of Dara in Northeastern Iran

According to classical texts, Dara stands out as a significant city from the early Parthian era, situated on the eastern fringes of the Parthian Empire. Classical sources have documented this region under various names such as Apavortene, Zapaortenon, Partauticena, and Apauarcticena. Since the latter half of the nineteenth century, Iranologists have engaged in speculation about the location of Dara, drawing insights from descriptions provided by Justin and Pliny, as well as references to its whereabouts in classical texts. This research endeavors to offer relative conjectures concerning the location of Dara and Shahr-Tepe, a potential site representing it, through an evaluation of archaeological data alongside classical and Islamic texts. To achieve the research objectives using a descriptive-analytical approach, the study employs the library research method and incorporates archaeological data. In alignment with classical texts, the research suggests that the province of Apavortene is situated in Eastern Iran, and there exists a likelihood that the Islamic-period Abivard is a transformed manifestation of this Parthian-period province. Aditionally, a comparative examination of Dara in classical texts with present-day Shahr-Tepe in Dargaz reveals congruence, aligning with the descriptions provided by Justin and Pliny. Shahr-Tepe, located on the opposite side of Hezar Masjed Mountains between Nisa and Abivard, exhibits a singular historical period. Surrounded by Hezar Masjed Mountains, the region boasts an abundance of rivers and springs, expansive meadows, and remnants of forests within Tandooreh National Park and Tivan region. These characteristics confirm the general depiction of Apavortene and Dara found in classical sources. Collectively, these findings suggest that Shahr-Tepe, covering an area of approximately 70 hectares, could indeed represent the prominent city of the early Parthian period