Investigating Parthian Glassworks from the Shaur Palace

Shaur palace located at western side of Susa ancient site, next to Shaur River. Excavations at the site began since 1970 to 1976 by Remi Bucharlat, Adran Labrus, and Mahmoud Kordavani. They identified three archaeological levels that dated to Islamic, Parthian, and Achaemenid periods. Excavations revealed few glassworks among recovered material, which dated from Parthian to Islamic periods including vessels for medical, cosmetic purposes; such as bottles, attar vials, bowls, glasses, and ornaments such as beads and rings. The glassworks usually were green objects that manufactured using free-blowing method, while some productions enjoyed mold-blowing method. Considering comparable Iranian and foreign objects, they probably produced by same technique and decoration, or exchanged within the Parthian territories. However, some remains indicate Iranian artistic effects, Hellenistic and Roman motifs dominated glassworks of Shaur, would indicate regional exchanges between Khuzistan Plain and more distant western areas.