مجله مطالعات باستان شناسی پارسه
پیاپی 15 (بهار 1400)

This paper presents a summary of a recently conducted geoarchaeological survey in the Susiana plains in southwest Iran. Here, the question of subsequent interaction of human settlements and their riverine landscape of the Greater Susiana region (roughly equivalent to modern Khuzestan) in the Later Village and the Early-historical periods (~ fifth to second millennium BCE) has been chosen as a case study. This study challenges the idea of the cultural expansion from South-Mesopotamia and its direct socio-political involvement in the spatial evolution patterns in Susiana in this timespan. It also offers an alternative interpretation: the riverine landscape and its spatial interaction with the settlement system. It has been suggested that the Later village settlements of Susiana were greatly influenced by the physical changes of the riverine landscape in their spatial development. This paper examines this hypothesis via geoarchaeological methods from the macro-level such as remote sensing to micro-level such as laboratory analysis of sediment logs to address this issue. The results of this study confirm three main points: (i) the westward migration of active watercourses in the mentioned time span; (ii) the direct correlation of this event with the spatial evolution of the studied settlements; and (iii) the overall differences between the neighboring plains of Susiana and south Mesopotamia in their geomorphological response to their fluvial evolution. 

The Kur river basin located on the center of Fars province is one of the main regions in Iran for the formation and development of prehistoric settlements. The Persepolis plain on the marginal areas of southeastern the basin has been a strategic and cross-cultural place for socio-economic exchanges from prehistoric times. The area during Chalcolithic period including Bakun and Lapui phases in 5th and 4th millennium B.C. has been settled by small villages such as Tal-e Bakun and Jalyan Archaeological sites. Jaylan is a complex site constituted of three parts and mounds that its name was the adaption of a neighboring village (Jaylan or Galyan), is situated 3.2 northwestern of Persepolis palaces and inside of its Buffer Zone. The site is completely flat on the farming lands, which can identify just by some surface finds, especially pottery sherds. The most important landscape complication of the ancient site is the Polvar (Sivand) river close to 100 m., and flows across the plain continuing southwest join to Kur river. Archaeological soundings at Jaylan excavated on the six trenches in various sizes between 7×5 m., 3×3 m., 2×6 m., and 2×2 m. Furthermore, 10 small test trenches at a distance of 10 to 50 m. from the center of site to recognize its core area and buffer zone that these didn’t have any cultural layers. So the area of the site is restricted to 0.5 hectares. a large quantity of Lapui pottery assemblage was found in lower levels, which generally divided into two categories including common ware and fine ware form to red, orange, and slight quantity in grey and buff colors. other significant finds are human burial and foundation of a large mud-bricks wall. Archaeological excavations at Jalyan show the site related to Lapui period, was a small settlement with two occupational phases. 

The Chalcolithic Age is one of the most important prehistoric periods in Iran. The transformations of this period in the Central Zagros have emerged in continuation of the Neolithic period.  One of the important areas of Central Zagros, which had many settlements related to the Chalcolithic era, is Silakhor plain in the north of Lorestan. Despite the cultural richness of the Silakhor plain during the Chalcolithic Age, no purposeful study has been conducted to clarify the Chalcolithic status of this area. In this regard, in order to clarify the settlement models of the Chalcolithic era of Silakhor plain, this study is presented, which is a summary of Ahmad Parviz’s archaeological studies and purposeful studies by the researchers, In the present study, the authors have tried to find the answer to the following questions: What were the settlement models of Silakhor plain in the Chalcolithic era? How can the changes of settlement models in the old, middle and new periods of the Chalcolithic era of Silakhor plain be analyzed? It seems that several factors including water resources, altitude of Silakhor plain and state’s roads have been effective in the formation of settlements in this area during the Chalcolithic age. Studies conducted in this plain so far have shown 80 ancient sites related to the Copper Stone Age. Some of these sites involve all three periods of old, middle and new Chalcolithic era. The spatial data collected in this research have been studied by GIS science studies method and implemented in ArcGIS 10.3 software. The basis of these studies is the distance of each settlement area from the nearest river and its altitude level from Silakhor plain. These maps have been implemented in all three periods of old, middle and new Chalcolithic Age of Silakhor plain. 

Due to the long lasting durability of pottery, they remain unchanged and plays an important role in archaeological researches. Aside of its difference usage in archaeological research such as dating, artistic and subsistent and communications and exchanges among people of different regions, is used in technology level. Archaeological site of Tape Kelar Hill, situated near Hasankif city, in Kelardasht, is one of the most important prehistoric sites in southern coast of Caspian Sea, which includes cultural materials from the Late Chalcolithic from the fourth millennium B.C. to the Islamic era. The significance of this site has become twofold considering the previous views issued about prehistoric cultures in western Mazandaran and Gilan provinces. The Early Bronze Age potteries of this site are of Kura-Araxes. These are the most important finds of this site. The main research question of this article pertains to the structure of the pottery in this area in two periods and aims to see whether or not the initiation of Kura-Araxes pottery has resulted from external factors and there is difference between Early and Middle Bronze Ages? In this study, 15 pieces of pottery from Early and Middle Bronze ages were studied via petrography method in order to compare in terms of composition and mineral tissues. Research has shown that the pottery of this site, in spite of experiencing some changes in the tissues, is local production.

The Zab River basin contains the cities of Piranshahr and Sardasht in West Azerbaijan and parts of the city of Baneh in Kurdistan. The Zab River rises from the Northwest highlands of Piranshahr and after joining many branches passes through the highlands of Alan in Iran and enters Iraq. The extension of this basin is a relatively vertical strip along the Iran-Iraq border and the Little Zab River. Its orientation is Northwest to southeast and from west to east. The Zab Basin is located in an area with a cold and temperate mountainous climate, a Mediterranean rainfall regime, with average annual temperatures between 11.7°C and 13. 3°C and, 700 ml annual rainfall (Hojabri et al 95). This article tries to answer the question of how the cultural relations between this point and other areas of the presence of the late bronze culture have been established by studying the cultural materials belonging to the late bronze cultural tradition in Akhoran tepe. Also, what was the chronology of the stables? The results of archaeological excavations led to the identification of a late Bronze Age camp. The study of Akhoran cultural materials also indicates the presence of a late bronze pottery tradition. Studies and relative chronology of pottery showed that most of the cultural interactions and influences were with Hasanlu regions and outside the borders of Iran with Anatolia and Iraqi Kurdistan. The present study is based on archaeological excavations and then library studies and with a descriptive-analytical approach tries to introduce new pottery of the late Bronze Age.

In determining the boundaries of Qara Tappeh Sagzabad and Tappeh Qabristan in July 2016, evidence of a cemetery in the east of Qara Tappeh and southwest of Tappeh Qabristan belonging they revealed to the Iron Age 2 and 3 under sedimentary layers. In the 2018 and 2019 seasons of excavations, we got valuable findings in trenches 13 and 12 on the site. Among these findings are two tablet-like objects, one of these two objects, made of stone with a rectangular shape and light gray with a length and width of 12.5 × 18 cm and a thickness of 2.8 cm with circular blind holes, The holes made in four vertical rows and nine horizontal rows to a depth of 1.4 cm on one side of the object. We found the object in Grave No. 8 of Trench 13. Another example is a broken part of a gray rectangular clay object measuring 5.1 x 5.86 cm long and 2.81 cm thick with six circular blind holes 2.2 cm deep. We excavated this object from Trench 12. The two objects in question are comparable to the specimens found from Kul-Tarikeh, Haftavan Tappeh, and specimens unearthed from the neighbors of the Uzbeki archaeological site and the Sialk cemetery in the first millennium BC. This article examines these objects in terms of morphology and compares them with other similar findings, and it is likely that these findings, based on other examples and examples from older periods, are a kind of tablet for counting games; First by placing the findings in the archaeological context and comparative comparison with contemporaneous sites and then measuring the results with earlier examples of these findings in other archaeological sites, a preliminary proposal to use a counting game or board game for objects provided.

Glaze is not a new material and human beings have been familiar with it for many years. Glazes contain a wide range of organic and inorganic compounds. This research is about identifying the glazes of Achaemenid glazed bricks in Persepolis. So far, studies have been conducted on these bricks in the field of introduction, but comprehensive technical studies have not been done on identifying the composition of their glazes. The glazes used in Persepolis clay bricks are painted in white, light green, light green, dark brown, gray and fawn yellow. In this study, light green, light green and yellow fawn glazes were investigated. This research, which is of experimental-laboratory type with reference to valid scientific documents, has been carried out with the aim of identifying the constituent elements of glazes in Achaemenid glazed bricks in Persepolis. What are these bricks? In this regard, using XRD, SEM, DTA and TGA methods and more chemical analysis of the body and glazes, it was identified that the body of this type of brick is a siliceous body and very porous. According to the experiments, the results obtained in this study show that iron and magnesium are present in the composition of all glazes, which may have been present in the main composition (base glaze) in addition to color effects as impurities.

Due to its geology, topography and climate, the land of Iran is rough and unstable. Therefore, the historical monuments located on it are always loading and unstable conditions and therefore need continuous maintenance in a scientific and experimental way. Documenting or reading historical monuments is the most important part of studying antiquities, through which the data and information contained in these monuments can be accessed and using the collected data to understand the knowledge hidden in the engineering of this building. Lack of correct knowledge of the works and insufficient attention to the details and laws hidden in the historical works, leads to incorrect analysis and as a result wrong reading of the work. Which leads to misguidance in policies facing the preservation of monuments and as a result damage to cultural and historical heritage.
This article tries to analyze three incorrect readings of three famous historical works. The method of analysis in this paper is the use of analytical engineering and detailed analysis of the parameters of the effect and how to relate to them, which shows how a system was created and how it worked. And through this, it is concluded that a misreading of a historical collection leads to a misunderstanding of the function of that work, which can lead to errors in dealing with and preserving the work. The studied works include Pasargad site, Bostan arch complex and Biston complex. Each of these three historical sites contains elements for which scientists and archaeologists have defined the subject and application so far. Therefore, in this article, citing structural analyzes and causal relationships, it has been proven that the reading of these scientists is wrong and an attempt has been made to open a new perspective and path for exploring and recognizing these works.

The existence of some places in northern Iran with different climates has created special features and since the climate has a direct impact on the formation of culture and architecture of each region, cold and mountainous climate in Kojoor region has led to the formation of different architecture from other parts of the north. Which is mostly taken from the ancient cultures of this area. Meanwhile, architecture and sustainable development, based on naturalism, audience-oriented, functionalism based on exterior design with a combination of memories, needs and common aesthetics between archeology and architecture, designs and directs the exterior space. Kojoor is located between Haraz and Chalous valleys in the west of Mazandaran province, which has the widest areas and identified artifacts belonging to the Islamic era in the region. These works are divided into two groups: hills, and grounds and tomb buildings. In the archeological study of the works of Between the mountains plain of Kojoor, a lot of works including yards, cemeteries, ordering stone architecture, stone mills were identified, which shows its impact on the current culture and architecture. According to the clay data, the time range of the identified areas includes from the prehistoric period (Middle and New Bronze Age, Old Bronze, Iron) to the Islamic period (Qajar), with the largest number of settlements belonging to the Parthian historical period. Considering the large number of places, sites and cultural monuments of different periods in this region, it can be said that favorable conditions for the establishment of human societies have ruled this region. The present article tries to analyze the results of this research and examine the developments of this period, to address the role of these areas in the sustainable development of the region. 

Qorveh county is located in the southeast of Kurdistan province and is considered one of the highlands of Zagros. This plain find better environmental conditions from historical and Islamic times and this had attracted the attention of human groups. Compared to other neighboring areas, archaeological research in this plain has been done very little, especially the Islamic period archeology. In 2018, the plain and the county of Qorveh were surveyed and identified archaeologically that results of this research are part of its findings. The findings will be discussed, including the Islamic period pottery collection which is considered the most important goal of this research. Introducing and classifying these findings and presenting a picture of the situation of pottery and common types of pottery of the Islamic period in this region forms the general structure of this research. The research indicates the similarity and compatibility of the findings of this plain with neighboring areas, especially Hamedan which have almost the same conditions in terms of environmental landscape and cultural context. Questions for this study include: Which types of pottery of the Islamic period can be identified in Qorveh plain? At what time period are the studied pottery findings dated? Do the pottery findings of Qorveh plain show evidence of regional and extra-regional interaction? The results of this study show that 12 pottery types can be identified in the surface surveys of Qorveh plain and they can be dated from the early Islamic centuries to the present. The studied pottery is very close to the neighboring areas in terms of technique and patterns and we can even say that they are quite similar; but in comparison with the cross-regional although the techniques are similar but are clear differences in terms of decorative motifs. 

The historical site of Qalat Mutabad in Piranshahr is of paramount importance in numerous historical and cultural documents such as potteries and brick architectural remains, especially in terms of architectural maps and plans. The existence of a star-shaped plan in the design of the site’s outer fence illustrates the importance and pivotal role of this area in the Piranshahr plain. The site is located beside one of the branches of the Little Zab (or Lower Zab) River, which has been gradually destroyed due to the passage of time and the land-use change, “use as a military base in the contemporary period,” and currently the evidence of the architectural debris of the building at the site is evident. Examples of star-shaped plan design in different parts of Iran, as well as European fortresses, can be observed, and it is comparable to the plan of Qalat Mutabad in this respect. The main problem of this article is to evaluate the site relying on the available documents and evidence so that we study the importance of military forts in the Piranshahr plain while achieving a relative dating of the site. Accordingly, some questions about the architectural structure, especially its plan and the military and residential function of the site arise. According to written historical sources, the study of similar examples, as well as material artifacts at the site level, hypotheses concerning the attribution of the site to the period after Safavid, “Afshar or Qajar,” military function inspired by Western architectural elements, are presented. This study was conducted in a historical, descriptive-analytical method. In addition to studying historical sources and field documentation by the authors at the site, aerial images and data gained from these images were exploited. 

During the Safavid period, the Shiite denomination spread in the Dekan peninsula and some sultans of the region having some common religious beliefs established good political relations with the Safavid government. The migration of Iranian shiits to one of the eighth century AH had significantly increased and reached its peak in the tenth and eleventh centuries. One of the emigrants who played a decisive role in strengthening the political relation between Nezam Shahian dynasty and the Safavid government was Shah Tahir. This paper aims to study the role of Shah Tahir, the factor in that ralationship and its impact on both governments. The authors applying a descriptive- analytical method try to explain the role of Shah Tahir in propagation of Shiism and consolidation of relations between the two countries. Data was collected through a research and library method. Although Nezam Shahian unlike Adel Shahian and Qutb Shahian had initially no connection with Iran and the Safavid dynasty, in fact they weren’t among those who had migrated to southern India, Shah Tahir’s migration led to the establishment and development of political, cultural relations with the Safavids. However the Nezsm Shahian lagged significantly behind the other Shiite governments in southern India, converting to Shiism, its attitude to Shiism was closer to that of the Safavid to it. And this led to a special connection between the Safavid government during Shah Tahmasb’s reign and Nezam Shahian dynasty. So we can say that the factor of religion played a key role strengthening the relation between the Safavid and Nezsm Shahian and the person who caused such a religious closeness was the Iranian bureaucrat, ShahTahir. In fact the migration of the Iranian bureaucrats to the southern India led to the spread of Shiism in that region and Shah Tahir influencing the king of Nezam Shahian caused the Shiite to become official in the region. That was the beginning of a Safavid-Nezam Shahian solid relation.