Dāmḡān Tepe Hissar and Bactria-Margiana Culture

Tepe Hissar, the prehistoric site located just south of Dāmḡān in northeastern Persia, is one of the first important Iranian archeological sites ever been excavated. Since Schmidt's excavations in 1940s, a many archeological hypotheses and premises have been advanced suggesting different points concerning historic periods (prehistoric and historic) in archeology of Persia, specifically the central plateau and North East Persia. This study mainly investigates the relationship between this settlement and Bactria-Margiana Archeological Complex (BMAC). Tepe Hissar is repeatedly referred to as the origin of Bactria-Margiana culture or introduced as the settlement where people departed to Bactria or Margina to found BMAC. This study is written with the purpose of exploring and studying the similarities between the discoveries made at Tepe Hissar, specifically those concerning Period IIIC, and the objects and results produced in studies on BMAC. The results are later employed to explore the possible link between the two settlements in Middle and Late Bronze ages (2300-1500 BC). In addition to providing a methodical understanding of the basis and reasons for such a link, this study evaluates the hypothesis suggesting Tepe Hissar as the origin of BMAC.