Journal of Archaeological Studies

Abstract The Abharroud basin is an important region in the archeological studies of northwestern outskirts of the central plateau, and west and northwest of Iran. Considering its environmental capabilities and geographical location, studying the region can leads us to a better understanding of regional relations and also inter-regional interaction between the mentioned cultural-geographical regions. However, archeological studies in the region have not been taken into consideration satisfactorily and we know very little about the early settlements and their nature in the region. The archeological survey in the Abharroud basin was carried out in two seasons in 2003 and 2005. During the survey 257 archeological sites and monuments were discovered, dating from lower Paleolithic to recent ages. Of these, 34 sites contained prehistoric remains. The study results indicate that most of the prehistoric settlements belong to the Chalcolithic period and, in contrary, the least show the Paleolithic and Neolithic evidence. Most of the identified sites are the remains of villages scattered in different areas of the basin, on the plain and also impassable heights. A preliminary study on the surface finds of these settlements suggests a close cultural relation between these settlements and the prehistoric cultures of the central plateau, west and northwest of Iran, from Neolithic to Bronze Age.        

Abstract The present study relies on determination of diet by adapting analysis on carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes extracted from dental collagen of twelve human skeletons buried in Iron Age grave situated in Gohar Tapeh archaic settlement at eastern region of Mazandaran Province, locating on southern coast of Caspian Sea.
The geographical and geometric evidences indicate that Gohar Tapeh zone is situated on a sedimentary plain. On the other hand, discovery of animal’s archaeological data such as ovine species as well as plants’ archeological evidences like barley and the signs relating to farming activities in this zone obtained by using lamella that forms 70% of total stone-made tools, suggesting that animal husbandry and agriculture were among the major activities done by inhabitants in this region.
The results came from analysis on isotopes of carbon (13) and nitrogen (15) also confirmed that the inhabitants had consumed land mammals in their diet in this area. Concentration levels of isotope of carbon 13 which are approximately -20.2 through -19.9 per thousand units signify that there is no sign of consuming plant (C4) in diet of inhabitant people in this region and like today, plants (C3) had been consuming as the dominant flora throughout this zone. The resulting levels of isotopes of nitrogen -15 are about 8.79-11.3 per thousand units so this indicates the presence of land herbivorous animals (Ovine Species) and plants- C3 (wheat and barley) in the given diet. Thus, results of isotopic analysis done for Gohar Tapeh zone show a diet based on plant- C3 ecology in this land. Comparison between results of analysis on samples taken from Gohar Tapeh zone and results of analysis on three other zones (outside Iran) also verifies this point.