The Impact of Geographical Factors in the Distribution Pattern on Parthian Sites in the Chehel-Chay River Basin, Minoudasht

The  Chehel-Chay River Basin, Minoudast, located to the east of Gorgan Plain, was according to historical sources and archaeological data, a strategic thoroughway during the historical, especially the Parthian period. Systematic archaeological surveys aimed at discerning the distribution pattern of the Parthian period, lead to the discovery of 110 sites, of which 80 date to the Parthian period. Using a landscape archaeology approach we explored the relationship between the environmental conditions and site distribution, especially the role environmental patterns played in site locations. Accordingly we used GIS softwares to carry out cluster analyses on the sites. The outcome suggested that the river, its surrounding heights and the communication routes were among the important factors in site distribution. Within the long intermountain valleys site distribution shows a lines pattern along the rivers whereas in the plains sites, are distributed with short distance between them clustered around a single large town.