An Archaeological Survey of Parthian Settlements in Qarachai basin, Tafaresh county, Markazi Province

The central part of Tafarsh is a mountainous area surrounded by mountains. This area is located next to the north-south highway that passes through the Kavir desert edges. In different historical and perhaps prehistoric eras, it has been an opinion; It has given a special position to this area. In the Parthian period, this area is believed to be one of the first areas. This was noticed after the advance of the Parthians to the west and on the eve of the conquest of Media because this difficult-to-pass area as a natural fortress could provide the necessary fields for military supplies and preparations during crises. In this area, several settlements and sites related to this period were studied and investigated. Its results show that these sites were created on the banks of the Qarachai River and its tributaries and on the side of the mountain roads that connect this area to other areas or pass through this area. The study of pottery, along with other factors, also shows the cultural and commercial relations and the importance of this region in these exchanges as a communication and strategy link. Generally, I have tried in this article. First, I will discuss the situation of the Parthian period and the historical geography of Tafarsh from the archaeological and historical perspective. Then to the areas belonging to this period, which include the settlement (village) and the castle. In the following, I have discussed the historical developments of the Parthian period in which these areas played a role, as well as the effective factors in the formation and location of the areas and the analysis and comparison of the surface and architectural findings obtained. the end , have tried to provide a conclusion of them.