Study on the Historical Site of Sarmashhad of the Fars Province in Historical Transcripts and the Findings of Islamic Geographers with Emphasis on Archaeological and Artistic Evidence

The village of Sarmashhad is located in the Dadin rural community of "Jarreh Baladeh" section of Kazerun city and 30km west of Baladeh city. There is a historical site in this village which is considered as one of the largest areas where the remaining artworks of the Sassanid period up to the 7th century AH can be perceived. This historical site is located seven kilometers from the village of Sarmashhad in a flat plain between two mountain ranges. Islamic geographers in their works have called this area "Barin" and "Ghandjan" plains. For the first time, Tabari (224-310 AH) introduces the Barin plain in "Ardeshir Khoreh" and attributes its history to the Sassanid era. A number of these sources have considered "Gandjan" in Ardeshir Khoreh furnace and others in "Shapur Khoreh" furnace and related to "Jarreh" region. This research has been done by descriptive and analytical methods by relying on library data and field observations. Findings of the study indicate that the study of the name of Gandjan and Barin plain in the texts of Islamic geographers and its adaptation to the historical site of Sarmashhad, provides valuable data on population dispersion, communication and trade, social relations and industrial centers and production. The method selected in this research is based on the study of historical geography and the study of archaeological and artistic evidence about the Barin and Gandjan plains and regional visits. According to this research, from the third century to the ninth century AH, ten Islamic geographers have mentioned the city of Gandijan and Dasht-e Barin in their works and provided several information about the city limits, water sources and the distance of this city to the surrounding homes. With regard to these descriptions, Gandjan Islamic texts are consistent with the historical site of Sarmashhad in the Fars province.

1. A study on the changes in the administrative geography of Gandjan in the form of Ardeshir Khoreh and Shapur Khoreh furnaces by studying the sources of Islamic geographers. 2. A revision of the historical and geographical area of ​​Sarmashhad.

Research questions

1. What are the reasons for the uncertainty of the historical and geographical background of the historical site of Sarmashhad? 2. What factors have played a role in the development and expansion of Gandjan city?