Sassanid-Islamic City of Ghandijan: Spatial Organization, Form and Function

Ghandijan is an archaic city from Sassanian era to the early Islamic period.Its remains are located in an area of approximately 600 hectares near a village called Sarmashhad in Dadin district in the southwestern part of Fars province. The ruins of this prestigious ancient city which are identified in the authors' investigation, includes Tell Khandaq, Bahram Caravanserai, Qizqala, Tell Naqarakhane and the single arched building, which are scattered in different parts of the city.Despite the importance of this ancient site and the wide range of cultural materials in its area, comprehensive and detailed studies have not been carried out regarding the shape and function as well as the spatial organization of this city.In this research, an attempt has been made to investigate the reason of Ghandijan formation in the Sassanid era and also its importance in the Islamic era. Also, questions about the characteristics of industries and productions, the state of ancient communication routes, the antiquity and use of ancient artifacts of this city must be answered.The analysis of the temporal and spatial distribution of movable data in determining its antiquity, made it clear that the life of this city continued in the Islamic era from the era of the Rashidin Caliphs to the Khwarezmshahs and Atabakans of Fars.The old name of the city probably was “Kandigān” but another hypothesis is “Pandegān”. The early Islamic historians mentioned the name of Ghandejan as a city in Fars state. The context of the city located in the south of Iranian plateau near the coast of Persian Gulf. Sassanid cities were founded on specific styles. Firuzabad was the first City that was built by Sassanian kings in 224 C.E as The first capital of empire. Firuzabad is in rounded shape with regular and symmetrical circle and central core that consist a brick watch tower. The other style based on the ancient Roman cities modeling, The Hippodamus city planning. In Hippodamus style, city was built with four gates rectangular shape and two crossroads(Decumanus maximus, Cardo maximus). Inside the south west of Fars plain near the ruins of ancient city of Sarmashhad rounded moat remains from pre- Islamic period just like the Sassanid city style. The archaeological remains of Sarmashhad present an immigration in early Islamic period. The reason of abondanment is not clarified yet. The reason of Fundament of Ghandijan was spatial situation and connection link of the plain between Bishapur, Darabgerd and Firuzabad to The Persian Gulf. The old roads of Ghandijan has shown the importance of tradeway to Sirāf port in coastline of the Persian Gulf. Sherds of pottery remained on surface of hills in plain. Analysis of pottery style and radiocarbon dating and petrography can represent chronology of the city. In our current studies, we consider all parts of archaeological evidence on the field. Sherds of potteries, mounds, architectural remains and satelite and aerial veiw considered to more provision evidence about the foundation of the city. The key research question is why Sassanian authorities chose this plain for construction of a new city?