Journal of Ancient Iranian Studies
Volume:4 Issue: 12, 2025

Many historical-cultural artifacts obtained from archaeological excavations are not fully visible due to post-depositional processes, and their complete recovery requires specific tools and methods. Various approaches to reveal motifs and surface information of objects face challenges such as limited access, transportation issues, cost-effectiveness, and applicability to different types of items. The Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) method is a computational imaging technique that produces high-quality images that can be dynamically exposed and viewed from multiple angles and enhancement by various algorithmic rendering textures and surface color This method on effective historical objects has shown effective results from the technical study of production technology and surface morphology. A case study of this method is the discovered Beaker from Chalade’em cemetery which was excavated in 2017 from Shal Khalkhal village, Ardabil province, and is currently kept in the Ardabil Archaeological Museum The decoration of this Beaker. Due to the delicacy of its execution and high surface dirt and corrosion deposits, even after cleaning, it was not completely clear and legible in the conservation and restoration process. Results from RTI method led to the acquisition of various information on the surface in revealing the motif implementation method, evidence of use, morphology of corrosion products and representation of the role. Finally, based on the reading of the motifs, and the interpretation of the motifs, it can be said that this beaker dates back to the end of the second millennium to the beginning of the first millennium BC.

The Persian Garden is one of the oldest and most well-known landscape patterns in the world, which has interacted with nature as one of the most distinguished human creations. Various factors have participated in the creation of this historical phenomenon, the investigation of each of which requires a separate study, and among them, the cultural, ritual and climatic parameters are considered to be the most significant factors in the formation of the Persian garden. In such a way that many researchers, while accepting one factor, have rejected or considered very weak the possibility of the influence of other factors in the creation of the Persian garden. Considering the wide range of arid climates in Iran, which requires finding suitable models for landscaping in this land. In addition, facing the climatic conditions and confronting the phenomenon of desertification, this paper aims to, regardless of other views, identify the climate of the first Persian gardens and determine the position of the climate in the design of Persian gardens by analyzing and criticizing different opinions in this field. The research method of the present paper is interpretative-historical in the form of content analysis in the context of library studies. By analyzing different theories and perspectives on Persian garden creation, the climatic background of the first Persian gardens and the architectural features of Pasargadae Garden as an archetype. Persian gardens, location and influence of climate in the formation of Persian gardens are shown in the context of history. The results indicate that the emergence of the Persian garden was based on climatic goals in arid regions and climate is one of the main factors in its formation.

The art of bas-reliefs at Persepolis represents a remarkable synthesis of indigenous aesthetics and the cultural and artistic elements of various civilizations, executed with exceptional accuracy and precision. A significant aspect of these prominent motifs is their resemblance to fractal geometry, which mirrors patterns derived from nature. This relationship has proven instrumental in conveying modern motifs within the context of ancient Iranian art. This article seeks to address the following questions: What are the fractal motifs found in the bas-reliefs, and what are their defining characteristics?

Zel Hastijan Cave, in the city of Delijan, is considered one of the most important sites in archaeological studies between the central plateaus and the western part of the country, and was excavated in 2023. During one season of excavation in this ancient cave, unique cultural monuments such as manuscript leather, a Bullae, textile, wooden tools, and pottery were obtained. Due to the significance of pottery and its role in archaeological studies, this cultural material was studied in this paper. For this research, 78 significant pieces of pottery from the Sasanian era, out of 1389 pieces of pottery obtained from the excavation, were selected for study. At first, these potteries were classified and typified based on technical specifications and shape. This research has a fundamental quiddity with a descriptive-analytical approach and the procedure method of this research is library and field studies (pottery). The main purpose of this article is the quantitative and qualitative study of Sasanian pottery in Zel cave. The results of the research showed that these potteries belong to the late Sasanian period and the early Islamic period, and among the shapes identified among the pottery of Zel cave, in the order of abundance, they include jars, pots, bowls, skillet, plates, and trays, and the most common motifs. The decoration of the pottery is carved patterns. Most of the pottery has proper firing (although some of them have improper firing) and this shows the temperature control of the kiln for firing pottery. In general, the results of the typological comparisons and comparative chronology of the pottery samples of Zel cave hill clearly show the similarity of these samples have with the pottery of its neighboring and extra-regional areas; In such a way that the greatest cultural similarity have with the regions of western Iran and northwestern Iran.

The Sasanian, the last Iranian dynasty before the Arab invasion of Iran, overthrew the Parthians and ruled the region for more than four centuries between 224-651 AD. One of the structural characteristics of the Sasanian state was the establishment of an official religion and the concentration of political and religious sovereignty. The official recognition of the Zoroastrian religion led the Sasanian kings and priests to build numerous fire temples in various parts of Iran, and many archaeological evidences of Sasanian era burials have been found, which are intertwined with art. The kings enriched the art of this period by creating rock carvings to display various matters. A rock carving in the Sasanian style was accidentally discovered a few years ago at a local airport in England. When this discovery was reported in the early days of 2023, the main question was whether it was an independent rock carving that had been detached from the mountain or whether it belonged to a structure? Based on the library studies and comparisons made with other works in this article, it seems that the newly discovered Sasanian rock carving from Stansted Airport in London was likely part of a stone structure similar to a fire altar or a Astōdān (one type of Ossuary), and it most probably dates back to the early Sasanian period.