Chronology and Village Periods Process Analysis in Patak Plain, Mousian, Deh Luran, Iran

The archaeological survey and identification of the Patak Plain in Deh Luran was carried out during the winter of 2016 titled “Drainage Survey and Identification Number 23” as one of the 10 Rescue Programs of the National Tropical Plan. Detection, documentation, national registration, determining the area and frontage of archaeological sites, and contingent necessary rescue excavations, were the main aims of this survey program. Patak plain is located in a definite environs between rivers Dowirag and Chichab, and the highlands of Mamelah and Dalpari southeastern of Deh Luran. During this survey which was done intensive and systematic methodologically, 58 mounds, sites and areas and two chains of ducts (Qanat) were discovered. Many evidences related to various phases of Village Periods were gathered from 22 sites of the given ancient areas. The material of the Initial Village Period (Bus Mordeh, Ali Kosh, Mohammad Ja’far, Sefid and Sorkh) were observed on the surface of 10 sites. 12 settlements were belong to CMT (Chagha Mami Transition), Sabz and Khazineh related to the Early Village Period. Increasing the number of settlements was the most important event in Patak Plain during the Middle Village Period. We have gathered the cultural material of this period in 17 sites. The number of sites decreased into 7 settlements during Late Village Period (the Susa A and Sargarab phases) extremely. Despite of the western portion of Deh Luran Plain in which many archaeological surveys and excavations have been conducted, its eastern part, mainly, Patak Plain was unknown. The performance of the present survey has pave the way to put some questions upon settlement pattern, chronology and regional interactions of the plain. We have analyzed the gathered material from the all sites to determine the position of chronology, to understand the situation of sites’ settling, and to distinguish the cultural interactions of Patak Plain. We have analyzed the data base of the survey and then classified and typed the sherds and lithics and objects, and studied them in relation with contemporary sites of vicinity regions comparatively to achieve a chronological result. The importance of the archaeological situation of Patak Plain was defined by doing of this survey. Moreover, we could improve our understanding of the number of sites and the position of their settlings, and the level of interrelations of the Patak Plain internally and externally during the four phases of Village Period (Initial, Early, Middle and Late). Finding of the stone tools and objects the same as those of Bos Mordeh and Ali Kosh phases in some sites of this region, intensifies a hypotheses of synchronous village period life by Patak Plain and western part of Deh Luran Plain residents. The most important point on Early Village Period in Patak Plain were the abandonment of some sites and the formation of new settlements. These occurrences are analyzable on the basis of easy and favorable access to ecological variables, and forced abandonment of some members of early village period original sites because of populations’ increase further site-catchment of settlements. Patak Plain faced with increasing of the number of sites (17) and abundance of population in middle village period. The number of settlements has reduced to 7 sites during late village period. Settlements in Patak plain have been begun from the Bus Mordeh and Ali Kosh phases and continued to Mohammad Ja’far period in which an important innovation in technology i.e. ceramic production was begun. Pottery shards of the various village periods in Patak Plains are comparative with simultaneous sites in Deh Luran Plain, Eastern Susiana (Chagha Mish and Chagha Bonut), and Western Susiana (Djowi, Ja’farabad and Susa).