The Geomatic Analysis Landscape of Death in the Iron Age of Central Qaradagh, Azerbaijan, and Northwest of the Iranian Plateau

This study is an attempt to investigate the death landscape of the Iron Age in the Central Qaradagh Region of Eastern Azerbaijan. The mountainous zone of the Central Qaradagh has a semi-arid climate. It has been one of the main access passages of Eastern Urmia Lake to the Southern Caucasus in the prehistoric era. According to the evidence obtained from archaeological investigations, during the Iron Age, in this area, we are mostly faced with living systems that are not dependent on stable settlements. There are rarely much evidences left except graves and some evidence of temporary residence. The ecological features and the lack of soils suitable for agriculture have prevented the formation and development of settlements systems in this area. Based on the clay fragments and graves shape, the collection of the archaeological evidence obtained from this area is included under the Iron Age. The death landscape deals with the relation between the funerary evidence and the geographical landscape deals with the social and ideological aspects. What is the most important in the relation between the ancient graves and the environment is the non-arbitrariness of their location. In this regard, through the use of the GIS, the logic of the graves distribution can be clarified and they can be sociologically and ideologically interpreted. In order to do so, the environmental and cultural information of the graves and the areas enclosed in this region must be investigated and analyzed. The most important criterion for graves distribution in the death landscape of this region is the different types of these graves that can be marked in different ethno-sociological groups.