نشریه پیام باستان شناس
پیاپی 9 (بهار و تابستان 1387)

The relation between Iran and China goes back elements the time of Arsacids. This historical relationship was the result of two practical ways: a) the Silk Road, which was as a major road between eastern and western Asia passing through the north of Iran and b) the Persian Gulf located in the south of Iran. The Silk Road was a well-known commercial and religious connection between west and east for the Parthians and especially the Sogdians. Thus, it is not surprising to read or hear new findings revealing the extension of ancient cultural heritage of Iran in China (and even Japan). The archaeologists have recently shown some new aspects of ancient Iranian culture in China including a stone bas-relief of Sag-did, famous Zoroastrian funeral and a new bilingual Sogdian-Chinese inscription. This article investigates these two Iranian cultural artifacts encountered in China.

It should be accepted that the scientism grade of each field of specialty depends on the extent it uses mathematics and particularly statistics. Until 1950, archeologists often tended to use traditional methods and the use of mathematics and natural sciences had no role in archaeological researches, when prof. Libby in his method of dating by carbon 14 showed that archeologists should refer to the other sciences for their finding and data analysis. Cultural material analysis, classification and naming have always been matters of interest to archaeologists. This paper, does not aim to present the history of these activities, but to present and introduce statistical researches and methods in the field of archaeology. It tries to prepare the necessary patterns for similar cases in classification and naming of cultural materials. The cultural materials mentioned in this paper are collected, classified and studied from Kokobudai area in Japan.

This article deals with an analysis of the components of crucible steel, which was made in Iran. It is very important so one can learn about the internal structure of this precious steel.  Because all physical attributes of this type of steel such as sharpness, flexibility, sturdiness, white lines set in blackish/grayish background are all due to the elemental components of this type of steel and as well due to the processes of making crucible steel, forging, quenching, and tempering.  To understand the components and the internal structure of the crucible steel some samples were taken from four antique Persian swords kept in the Cultural Institute of Bonyad. 

Human being as a creature, who is alive and is thoughtful about death, endeavors to find a solution to get away when death threatens his life. This wish and the fear from death created on aim to desire to be immortal and motivated man to compose legends of invulnerable hero’s with eternal life to satisfy his thirst for an eternal life under the ever-lasting names of these heroes. One way to achieve this goal in a comparative approach of the concept, has been studies. Invulnerability has been categorized, compared and summed up in these mythological stories: Gilgamesh – the most ancient world epic – Alexander and his seeking for elixir of life; Achilles in Greek literature; Balder one of the famous Scandinavian mythologies; Siegfried – the well known German Invulnerable and Esfandiar the Iranian clerical heroic prince.

Registering a work in the world heritage list will attract more attention from both experts and people. UNESCO and other international organizations related to historical and cultural monuments also provide their technical and scientific assistance to the owner country if needed. There is also a fund for financial support of world-registered historical works. In addition, in recent years, the registration of the spiritual and non-material heritage of nations has also received attention because the cultural heritage of a country is not limited to the material works left behind by its ancestors. Spiritual and immaterial culture and mental and intangible aspects of societies are equally important with material works.

Attempt has been made in this article, based on the various verses of the Gathas, to achieve a better understanding of Zoroaster’s rhythmic language and to find out whether or not it is symbolic. If the language is an encoded system, it can be considered as a struggle to push human understanding beyond the worldly limits within and away from the world while an interpretation of the symbols can lead us to a better knowledge of Zoroaster’s thoughts and of the collective unconscious of his time. A symbolic interpretation of the world of Fravahars and of the Amesha Spentas liberates us from the limited one-dimensional circle of prejudicial thoughts while it provides for the better depicting of their inner meanings at different levels. Zoroaster’s symbols signify his creativity in poetically encoding aspects of human life, which is in fact an expression of the tribal unconscious of his time and in which cultural symbols are used to explain the truths of eternity. Having started symbolically from the conscious mind, at the same time personifies discrete concepts and creates new metaphors, thence the language grows and this in turn extends awareness and contributes to a deeper understanding of the surrounding world.

Sogd was the ancient name of a place near Badaxšān valley. The center of this city was Samargand. In Sasanian era, Sogdian people were known for business activities especially with China and India. This place was considered as one of the main Iranian economic centers. There remains a large number works from these people. Historically, the most important works are sogdian ancient letters. Which were discovered in 1907 by the British archaeologist Sir Aurel Stein in a Chinese watch Tower in Gansu province? These letters include five nearly complete letters and four incompleteness. The author of letters provides extremely important information about the era of the Sogdian Diaspora a long the Silk Road, and also refers to the over whelming chaos and the difficult conditions in China.

Museums are the reflection of human thoughts and creativity, which represent their concepts through a special language i.e. real Language of items. The role of space and architecture in organizing current museums and having them released from their especial cliché usage, and creating qualitative development in their scientific, educational and investigational employs much investigation in the fields like illumination, color, design, windows and their supply/maintenance units, which are obtainable by designing them through different major artistic , historic and scientific fields. Today, noticing the architecture of museums is considered as the most challengeable among plan designing in the world, because they are considered to be the fields of innovation and creativity. Consequently, in case the properties in museums compound with space and capacity architecture with a true scientific, artistic, psychological and decorational criterion. The precious cultural heritage which is the representation of culture of a society will interpret the concepts truly, and special role of the complex will be defined. We have tried, in this research, according to architectural hypotheses and paleontologist intentions, to represent a new method in organizing attractiveness in visiting museums and removing previous failures.