The Analysis of the Role of Natural Factors in Spatial Distribution of Archaeological Sites, during the Chalcolithic period in Bostanabad, Azerbaijan

The Analysis of the Role of Natural Factors in Spatial Distribution of Archaeological Sites, during the Chalcolithic period in Bostanabad, Azerbaijan When it comes to the ancient settlement patterns and how to set in a region, the role of environment and its infrastructure in a geographical landscape will be highlighted. Distribution of population and human settlements in a geographical area, has a great influence on the structure and function of human activities. Not only will these distribution patterns be affected by social and cultural factors, they were highly dependent on natural phenomena; because nature, is context of human geographical activities.
In this paper, be studied and analyzed the role of environmental factors in spatial distribution and shaping human settlements during the Chalcolithic period in Bostanabad. For this purpose, identified and collected surface data of 55 sites includes Chalcolithic works during 3 seasons archaeological survey and using statistical techniques for data analysis. To accomplish this work, natural factors included surface water, rainfall, altitude, climate, land use, vegetation, and slope have been evaluated.
This information illustrates that the geographical features of the region, especially water resources, altitude, and climate were the most important factors in the formation of settlement patterns in the desired area at the Chalcolithic period, and the manner of set of these sites was dependent on these mentioned factors more than any other environmental factor in this district. The vital role of water, especially rivers, caused sites have been made in form of linear pattern along the rivers.
The matter of study were collected from archaeological survey, and the librarian method was used to identify the sources and texts, use previous studies, and use the results of the excavations; then, the statistical methods were used to analysis of data. This field studies were carried out during the years 1385, 1392, and 1393 SH, and materials and sites of seven rural districts western and eastern Abbas Abad in the first season, eastern western and eastern Owjan, and Sahand Abad in the second season, and central and southern Mehran Roud in the third season were filed surveyed; then, they resulted in identifying and recording a number of prehistiric, historic, and Islamic sites. From them, 55 sites are containing matterials of Chalcolithic period which The matter of study of this research are based on. The analysis of the desired data in the geographic information system (GIS) have been conducted and its outcomes were described by using maps of the resulted system.
Chronology: Bostān-Abād relative chronology data was based on the study of collected pottery samples from the area and was compared with samples from the cultural layer in scientific exploration. However, in some cases due to their similarity with potteries from different sites, separating periods becomes quite difficult, and need scientific excavation or laboratory studies, as many factors contribute to the distortion of data in field studies; however, it was attempted to use reliable data as far as possible. In this regard at the regional scale, data were compared with neighboring regions outside of the current area (Mesopotamia, Anatolia and the Caucasus) and, in the region scale, with sites of Lake Urmia basin and, in the settlement scale, with Kül tepe Hadi-Shahr and Köhne Pasgah tepesi sites.
According to the scattered works in the area (including pottery and surface objects), 11 sites have Dalma pottery culture dates (characteristic of the Early and Middle Chalcolithic of Azerbaijan) and 52 sites have CFW (Chaff-Faced Ware) pottery culture (Characteristic of the Late Chalcolithic of Azerbaijan), which 8 sites of them last from the Early-Middle to Late Chalcolithic. Regarding the type, extent, situation of settlement, etc., we can claim that in Bostān-Abād we face both permanent and temporary seasonal settlements in the Chalcolithic period.
According to the tables and statistics, water played an important role in the formation of settlements, so that 62% of the settlements have been built at a distance of less than 500 meters to the main water sources (rivers permanent and seasonal). This character is evident in both the Early-middle and Late Chalcolithic period in the region, which 33 sites across 52 sites were attributed to the Late Chalcolithic period, and 8 sites from the 11sites in Early-middle Chalcolithic period (62% of the total collection) are in this distance. The vital role of water, especially rivers, caused sites have been made in form of linear pattern along the rivers.
Elevation is the other main factor in establishing the Chalcolithic settlements in the area. Charts and maps show Chalcolithic sites in Bostān-Abād tend to highlands; as about 75% of the sites have been established at an altitude of 1750 to 2100 meters above the sea level. Altitude has a direct relation with temperature reduction and increase of rainfall. When the weather become warm, these factors lead to the accumulation of snow, then, creating feeding nests of streams and melting saved snow which is responsible for having water resources, pastures and vegetation in the summer nomads.