نشریه پژوهش های باستان شناسی ایران
پیاپی 4 (بهار و تابستان 1392)

Based on ancient human believes, some cultural artifacts contain some values on which artistic forms have been visualized. Aiming to understand these, it is necessary to know the symbolic markers which sometimes had distinct meanings in ancient cultures, as a verbal language, were representative of especial meaning of mythological believes. Iconology is trying to clarify the significance of these symbolic markers which based on different cultures were repeatedly the represented and interpret them via scientific method aiming to clarify these meaning and getting to know their cultural values based on the iconographic classification and analysis. In symbolic linguistic system, the symbolic markers represent themselves as a word, image, or a behavior in a metaphoric system; although iconology is a research on the content of the images, but basically, it’s an attempt to understand the relationship between these markers in a broader symbolic metaphorical cultural system. Having iconological approach, the current paper trying to understand the symbolic significance of leopards and snakes in the chlorite artifacts of Jiroft in the 3rd millennium B.C. Aiming to getting that and understanding the cultural context and the representative methods of its believes of the period are required. The dominance belief of the Great Goddess and its influence on figurative motives especially the role of leopards and snakes in that period will be mentioned via iconography.

Of the interesting branches of archaeology functions enlivening the human cultures, is to discuss about the thought, traditions and human believes of various societies; doing that, the religious monuments are the most important informative resources. This paper is trying to discuss about the tradition background of Saqā-Khāneh and the setting of scarifying some elements such as water in ancient Iran while mentioning their external characteristics. Therefore, an example of the old traditions in form of new Islamic customs among the Iranians has mentioned. In the first part, the characteristics of Saqā-Khāneh and the relation of such parameters with cultural continuity of special social norms in the Iranian culture have emphasized. In the second part, The Arbāb Mirzā Saqā-Khāneh of Shahr-e Kurd, a worth mentioning of Saqā-Khāneh, has introduced by studying its main characteristics; finally, it has been concluded that these characteristics can be seen in form, decoration and function of this example. Based on the lab and field studies, the methodology of this paper is descriptive, historical analytic. So, it has been observed that, studying the background of the Saqā-Khāneh and stemming the Pre-Islamic norms and values, it is possible to trace the reason of the appearance of such monument as an important indicator in the cultural geography of Iran and the continuing belief of Muslim Iranians. As well as, by investigating the Saqā-Khāneh applying semiotics and its architecture, a well-documented recognition of the ethnic thought continuation in new framework has presented. According to the presented documents on its remained sacred aspects in the modern society with less functional difference and their continuity and using their symbolic parts by modern art as well, it is cleared that the requirement and glory of old values supporting this objective symbol is still stable and spiritual; Saqā-Khāneh is a valuable treasury of old components and it can be understood from the history that its characteristics is a reason on the continuity of believes of people over times.

In this research, 16 pieces of Parthian “Clinky ware” from western borders of modern Iran using PIXE, XRF and XRD spectroscopic methods were analyzed. These samples are from 8 Parthian sites in modern Hamadan region which is one the main zones of Clinky ware production area in East Central Zagros. Based on given methods the Chemical Analyses have revealed some considerable results on the composition, firing technique and degree of the kiln of this kind of pottery. Three chemical compositions, CaO, SiO and Al2O3, have proved the use of lime particles, which is similar to the geological structure of the area (Sanandaj-Shirjan and Central Iran) leading to suggest the local production of Clinky ware. The existence of CaO is the definite evidence of Calcite (CaCO3); regarding to the refraction degree for this element which is in between 600-1000 centigrade heat, it is now evident that the Clinky Ware kilns were used with similar heat. Regarding to oxidization and Vestite (FeO), Magnetic and Anorthite Compositions such as Hematite (Fe2O3); enlivening conditions shows the essentiality of oxidation and revival processes in firing process of the Parthian Clinky ware.

It seems that the emerging date of spinning and weaving industry in Iran was from the time people using caves such as Houto and Kamarband; here, there are some strong evidences on such industry. Spinning and weaving have been of thriving professions in Iran and since it is a basic and functional need over time; it has been attempted to become self-sufficient in its products. Documents verify that the Iranian textiles have been produced mainly for export in some time spans as regimes have done their best to develop the textile industry. Understanding the studies on the potential of fibers production, informative resources of this industry must be sought. Such studies are mainly focus on ancient animal and botanical findings. Of the most important information resources in producing fiber are spinning Spindle whorls. Archaeological studies on such finds which based on typology, classification and other documents provide studying the fibers production and spinning industry, presenting two factors of settlement in villages and herding by using existing evidence via ethnoarchaeology. Having motivator for settling leading to development of rural centers is a title which is considered in researches on fibers production; herding should be considered as a vital basis on development and production of fibers in Zagros. Assuming the relationship between herding and fiber production, it gives us better understanding about the details and organization in textile production. In this research, we understood how to analysis the spinning industry by the Chalcolithic period in Seymareh River, presenting the Spindle whorls typology and patterns to organize fiber and textile production. Based on ethnoarchaeology studies on 26 Spindle whorls recovered from second season of excavation in Tappeh Chār Ārou.

The Northern slopes of Alborz Mountains have limited to the lowlands in between Mountains and Caspian Sea. According to previous archaeological excavations in Eastern Mazandaran carried out on some sites such as Hotu, Belt and Ali tappe caves, the recovered material were attributed to the Paleolithic and Neolithic era. These researches were the main idea to write current article on the Neolithic of the region; along with given data, the basic descriptive information of the history of archaeological studies in Northern Iran have used clarifying the current research. The last archaeological systematic survey was carried out leading to identify some Neolithic sites and other archaeological evidences. The reason of this research was the clarification of Neolithic period and Neolithization process of Northern Alborz especially Behshahr – Neka zone. Aiming to analyze the Neolithic and the Neolithization process of the region, the geological and geographical information and the Caspian Sea fluctuations over recent 10000 years were used. According to the recent archaeological surveys and the geographical and geological information, the settlement pattern and positioning of the Neolithic sites have been noticed; thus, it has been concluded that there could be some direct relation between the Epi-Paleolithic and the Neolithic sites of the region. In other word, the general hypothesis of the research was mainly based on the idea that the Houto, Kamar band, Ali Tappeh and Komishan caves were the main cores of the Neolithization process and Neolithic of the Northern Iran.

Despite of great deal of archaeological researches on the various Eastern Central Zagros, occur slightly scattered evidences connected to the Neolithic and pre-Neolithic eras in the parts. There are further settlements in the western and also southern parts of Zagros during Neolithic, proto-Neolithic and earlier phases, which provided more complete regional chronology. Archaeological excavation at Tappeh QelaGap in the Azna district of the Luristan in 2009 carried out after four seasons of survey project on the district, as one of eastern plains of Central Zagros region. The excavation revealed evidences of late Neolithic and transitional Chalcolithic periods in the stratigraphic trenches. The evidences in the one of the trenches called C show three separated Neolithic to Transitional Chalcolithic phases on the trench, providing by comparison of ceramic assemblage and absolute dates of other typical sites. Phase one as QelaGap 1 paralleled to late Sarab horizon, phase two as QelaGap 2 paralleled to Sarab-Bagh-e¬ No horizon, phase three as QelaGap 3 related to Transitional Chalcolithic and subsequently it begin early Chalcolithic period during phase four as QelaGap 4. Additionally, other Neolithic materials are tokens, spindle whorls, beads and piece of figuringes that indicated to Calculating, weaving, decoration and ritual activities and also occur several burnt stiff hard floors as one of most important evidences in the Neolithic Near East Societies, which possibly attributed to early domestic activities and food production. The evidences show some highland societies of Eastern Zagros developed by regional isolation with interactive relations that appeared on the painted pottery styles during Neolithic period. Eventually these societies transformed to more complex with cultural integration as Dalma tradition on the whole of Zagros. As a result, the data of archaeological excavations at Tappeh QelaGap explains some backgrounds of transitional process from Neolithic to Chalcolithic periods on the Eastern Central Zagros.

This paper is trying to focus on and analyze the role of natural, geographical, and environmental factors in the appearance of human settlements in Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Bronze, and Iron ages of Sonqor Plain. Getting that, the results of two seasons of intensive survey in Sonqor have used; the collected data include 105 sites two of which attributed to Neolithic period, 32 sites to Chalcolithic period, 25 sites to Bronze Age, and finally 46 sites to Iron Age. Then, these sites have chosen as our studying materials and studying population. Achieving given goals the Geographical Information System (GIS) have applied for study and analysis the Data; establishing a data bank for the study, which is in the form of GIS, we carried out an analysis on spatial distribution of the sites in each given periods. Thus, natural factors like height, slope, landform, climate, flowing waters, rivers, and Pastures was the main focus to understand the role and efficiency of each factor in the appearance of the sites. Doing the study, it’s became clear that the ancient settlement patterns of Sonqor was highly affected by natural factors mainly flora, water sources, slope, and height. This area is high and has a cool climate and these factors have created special and different conditions, forming human settlements similar to other areas in Iranian Central Zagros. Moreover, it is clear that the ancient settlement patterns of Sonqor were highly affected by natural factors such as height and distance to the river as well.

Different Monuments from the Sassanid period have been identified; most of which are known as “Palace”. The main purpose of current article is to identify the quality of life in the Sassanid court and understand the architecture of such life-style. Getting this, the maps of existing palaces have analyzed from one hand, and the historical documents have investigated from the other hand. The analysis method is historical- interpretative and adaptive analysis of the architecture decoration. The main questions are on the influence of the religious and official ceremonies on the Sassanid architecture, identifying their domestic sections, quality of life inside Places, and understand the main features and decoration of architecture of palaces and Manor Houses. Aiming to get that, the religious ceremony of Sassanians has analyzed firstly to know the relation in between given issues. Then, will have a glance on the domestic sections to know a bit about the daily life and common people. Having better and more correct understand of the features of the Sassanid architecture, we need to know the quality of the previous architectures, so the architecture of some palaces backed to Achamenid and Parthian era have studied and compared and the results prepared as a chart. Finally, at the main part of the article, some Sassanid monuments with high possibility of being palace have studied aiming to recognize their main architectural characteristics and then compare them together. At the end, it is cleared that the main characteristic to understand the palaces are asymmetric geometric structure, division of interior and exterior sections, frequency spatial diversity, special praying rooms and the special role of Eyvān in the spatial organization of the complex. Moreover, the important result of current research is the identification of 3 types of function in the Sassanid palaces, showing the Ceremonial, Private and Religious life.