A Study and Analysis of Chalcolithic Period in Malayer Plain Based on Stratigraphic Excavation in Tape Gourab

Tape Gourab is located at Jourāb Village, a suburb of Malayer township in Hamadan province, adjacent to the link road Arak-Malayer. Archaeological researches led by Ali Khaksar conducted on the site in 2006 to determine stratigraphy of the area achieved remarkable results. The site in its highest point is 28 meters above the surrounding lands. In order to provide data for absolute dating totally 13 samples of C14 have been taken from the stratigraphical layers on Tape. Three samples belong to Chalcolithic period. Dating of samples was conducted in the history and art laboratory at the University of Oxford and results were presented on March 4th of the year 2008. According to the chronology and considering the evidence of absolute chronology (C14), pottery and architectural evidence in Gourab, eight cultural periods have been distinguished: Middle Chalcolithic, Bronze Age (Kura-Arex), Iron III/ Achaemenid, Parthian, Sassanid, early Islamic Seljuk and Ilkhanid. Chalcolithic period data of Gourab Tape is comparable with the pottery from Godin Tape, Yaniq Tape, Siah-Bid and Choqa Maran. This paper focuses on the Chalcolithic period of Tape Gourab. According to the chronology and consider the evidence of absolute chronology (C14), pottery and architectural evidence in Gourab eight cultural periods can be specified: Middle Chalcolithic, ancient Bronze, Iron III? Or Achaemenid?, Parthian, Sassanid, early Islamic Seljuk and Ilkhanid. Chalcolithic period data of Gourab tape is comparable with pottery of areas around Godin tape, Yaniq Tape, Siah-Bid and Choqa Maran.