Recognition of the Ancient City of AskarMokram on the Basis of Historical and Geographical Texts

The remains of the historical city of AskarMokram are situated in Khuzistan near the Band-e Ghir village in the form of various Tepes (hills) on either sides of the Gargar River. On the basis of historical and geographical sources, the city was established in the second half of the first century during the gradual development of the military camping place of Mokram- ibn- Motraf or Mokram- ibn- Fazar, the servant of Hajaj–ibn-Yusuf Saqafi in the Sasanian village or small city named Rostaqobad; therefore, the city is called “AskarMokram”. The city was gradually developed on either sides of Masroqan River and became famous as the center of Khoreh/Koreh with the same name, and as one of the most important cities of Khuzistan during the Islamic period. The strategic and military situation of the city, which was located in the way of Iraq and Khuzistan to Fars and Lurestan, and was considered before the establishment of the city (and actually is regarded as the main reason of the forming of AskarMokram), made the city more important. It seems that when the irrigation system of Masroqan River and the agricultural economy of the region were declined in the last centuries of the medial Islamic period, the importance of AskarMokram was reduced, and probably the city abandoned completely during the fifteenth century A.D.
   In this article, it is attempted to render the comprehensive picture of the city during the Islamic period by the exact study of historical and geographical sources, and make comparison between them.