Journal of Archaeological Studies

Torpedo Jars of Iran: Context of Archaeological Discovery and Origin of the Bitumen Coating

Jacques Connan; Mohammad Esmaeil Esmaeili Jelodar; Michael. H. Engel; Alex Zumberge; Mehdi Azarian; Jebrael Nokandeh

Volume 16, Issue 2 , September 2024, , Pages 269-307

https://doi.org/10.22059/jarcs.2025.380179.143282

Abstract

One of the most important potteries used in Persian Gulf (Middle East) maritime trade with a large part of the ancient world, including the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, the Indian ... Read More One of the most important potteries used in Persian Gulf (Middle East) maritime trade with a large part of the ancient world, including the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka, and finally the country of Thailand. (Suriname ship cargo) earthenware jar called Torpedo-jar or storage jar. Although this type of pottery was dated by most researchers to Sassanian era, this type was used in trade and burial from the Parthian period to early Islamic era or 3rd century BC to 9th century AD (Kennet, 2004: 85). The most important feature of these types of jars is the coating of bitumen on its inner surface. So far, archaeologists have not succeeded in finding a kiln for the production of this type of pottery, so it is very important to know the place of pottery production and the bitumen mine used in them. In this article, using the method of geochemical laboratory studies and a comparative study, the bitumen samples taken from the torpedo jars from the south and southwest of Iran were investigated. In this research, 15 pieces of pottery with tar coating belonging to the archaeological excavations of Siraf and Mahruban ports on the coast of the Persian Gulf (south of Iran), related to the Sassanid and Islamic period, and samples from Shush and Shushtra region from the Parthian and Sassanid periods were selected.The sample of the Susa area is from the Iran National Museum and belongs to the archaeological excavations of Susa region, the sample of Ivan-i Karkheh is related to the Dezful region, and the sample of the Dastova area is also related to the Shushtar region in Khuzestan province, southwest of Iran. All bitumen samples were analyzed geochemically with the aim of determining the origin of bitumen in its specialized laboratories in Europe and America. The main result of the research shows the use of bitumen from the bitumen springs of Khuzestan, Lorestan, Ilam and Kermanshah provinces in the studied pottery (Fig.1).

A suggestion on the location of the islamic Torshiz city based on interdisciplinary studies (GIS, Written texts and archaeological data)

Mohammad Esmaeil Esmaeili Jelodar; Reza Heydari

Volume 12, Issue 2 , September 2020, , Pages 1-21

https://doi.org/10.22059/jarcs.2020.249157.142520

Abstract

One of the most important reasons for the formation of cities is their geographic location. Sometimes these particular geographic conditions themselves cause the city to be displaced ... Read More

New Findings of prehistoric Evidence from a Rescue / Urban Archaeological Excavation in the Region of Molavi, City of Tehran

Mohammad Esmaeil Esmaeili Jelodar; Mahsa VAHABI

Volume 11, Issue 2 , October 2019, , Pages 1-18

https://doi.org/10.22059/jarcs.2019.73096

Abstract

In autumn 2014, sewer construction works in one of the busiest parts of Tehran yielded Islamic pottery sherds from the Safavid to Qajar periods. Following a visit by archaeologists ... Read More

An Archaeological View on the Industrialization of Tehran and Transformation of its Manufacturing Structures in the Late Qajar and Early Pahlavi Periods

Mohammad Esmaeil Esmaeili Jelodar; Ashkan Avvali Pooryan

Volume 10, Issue 1 , August 2018, , Pages 1-20

https://doi.org/10.22059/jarcs.2018.214183.142323

Abstract

Economic transformation is one of the most important parts of cultural system and has vital role in transformation of any social entity. For this reason, study of archaeological evolution ... Read More

New Findings on the Bead Making During the 3rd Millennium B.C. in the Rig Saray, Gav Khouni Basin, Central Iran

Mohamad Esmail Ismaeili; Zahra Kamerani; Saeed Zolghadr

Volume 7, Issue 1 , March 2015, , Pages 1-16

https://doi.org/10.22059/jarcs.2015.56648

Abstract

In February and March 2005, the archaeological survey of Righ Saray desert in the northern part of Varzaneh was conducted. Ancient Rigsray is an area which has been buried by the sandy ... Read More

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Author = محمد اسماعیل اسمعیلی جلودار

Torpedo Jars of Iran: Context of Archaeological Discovery and Origin of the Bitumen Coating

Abstract

A suggestion on the location of the islamic Torshiz city based on interdisciplinary studies (GIS, Written texts and archaeological data)

Abstract

New Findings of prehistoric Evidence from a Rescue / Urban Archaeological Excavation in the Region of Molavi, City of Tehran

Abstract

An Archaeological View on the Industrialization of Tehran and Transformation of its Manufacturing Structures in the Late Qajar and Early Pahlavi Periods

Abstract

New Findings on the Bead Making During the 3rd Millennium B.C. in the Rig Saray, Gav Khouni Basin, Central Iran

Abstract