Mahdi Jahed; Kamaleddin Niknami; Jebraeel Nokandeh; Mostafa Dehpahlavan
Abstract
AbstractThis study examines and classifies Iron Age pottery from Nay Tappeh, a site in the Gorgan Plain, the historically known region of Hyrcania (Varkaneh). Hyrcania, one of the most ...
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AbstractThis study examines and classifies Iron Age pottery from Nay Tappeh, a site in the Gorgan Plain, the historically known region of Hyrcania (Varkaneh). Hyrcania, one of the most significant archaeological regions in the Iranian cultural sphere, has been the research focus for over a century. However, fundamental questions remain, particularly regarding Iron Age pottery’s forms, chronology, and cultural links to the region’s Bronze Age traditions. This article presents a detailed analysis of pottery recovered from rescue excavations at Nay Tappeh, conducted by J. Nokandeh. The study follows a three-stage methodology: classification, analysis, and interpretation. Its primary objective is to explore the relationship between Nay Tappeh’s pottery and Bronze Age Hyrcanian pottery while comparing it with Iron Age pottery from the Gorgan Plain, Dehistan, the Central Plateau, and other Iron Age archaeological regions of Iran. The ceramics from Nay Tappeh have been categorized into 25 main groups, classified under two broad types: open-mouthed and closed-mouthed vessels. These forms exhibit striking similarities with pottery from Archaic Dehistan, North Khorasan, Semnan, Mazandaran, Gilan, and western Iran. Comparative analysis suggests that the pottery of Nay Tappeh dates to the late Iron Age II, Iron Age III, and the early Achaemenid period. Despite gradual changes over time, these pottery forms maintain strong ties to Bronze Age traditions, reflecting a sense of cultural continuity in the region.Keywords: Hyrcania, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Nay Tappeh, Pottery Classification. 1. IntroductionThe region of Varkaneh/Hyrcania (Fig. 1) is one of the most significant archaeological areas within the Iranian cultural sphere. Despite over a century of research, many fundamental questions remain unanswered, particularly regarding the comprehensive classification of Iron Age pottery and its chronological connection to the Bronze Age in the same region.This article focuses on the classification of pottery recovered from rescue excavations at Nay Tappeh in the Gorgan Plain, conducted by J. Nokandeh. The excavation reached the natural soil layers, uncovering artifacts dating to the Iron Age (Fig. 2).In archaeology, the study of pottery assemblages typically involves three stages: classification, analysis, and interpretation. While “classification” and “typology” are often used interchangeably, typology is generally considered a more specific form of classification. This study follows these three stages, giving special attention to the continuity of pottery forms from the first half of the second millennium BCE. This focus is driven by the striking similarities between the pottery of Nay Tappeh and that of Archaic Dehistan, which some scholars associate with earlier pottery traditions in the Gorgan Plain and surrounding regions. Additionally, this research seeks to explore the broader cultural geography of Iron Age pottery in the Gorgan Plain, Archaic Dehistan, and other key areas within the Iranian cultural sphere.The value of this study lies in its potential to bridge gaps in our understanding of cultural transitions in Hyrcania, a region historically positioned at the crossroads of civilizations. By examining pottery forms, we can trace not only technological and artistic developments but also the movement of people and ideas across time and space. 2. Materials and MethodsThis investigation combines a morphological analysis of pottery with the creation of a comparative database. The primary goal is to trace the evolution of Iron Age pottery forms from the Late Bronze Age by comparing them with earlier Hyrcanian pottery. Furthermore, the study compares pottery from Nay Tappeh with Iron Age assemblages from the Gorgan Plain, Dehistan, the Central Plateau, and western and northwestern Iran.The research seeks to address three main questions: What are the formal similarities between Nay Tappeh pottery and Bronze Age Hyrcanian pottery? Based on comparative analysis, where does Nay Tappeh fit within the Iron Age chronology of Iran? How can the similarities and changes in pottery forms be interpreted in the transition from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age in this region? To achieve these objectives, the study employs a comparative approach based on typological analysis. Additionally, comparative studies have been conducted using pottery from sites excavated during the Gorgan Wall excavation projects. This integrated methodology provides a more comprehensive understanding of the pottery’s cultural and chronological context. 3. DataPottery constitutes the majority of artifacts found at Nay Tappeh and has been classified into 25 main groups based on morphology. These groups are divided into two primary categories: open-mouthed and close-mouthed vessels, with an additional category for kitchenware. These categories are then compared with Bronze Age pottery from Hyrcania and Iron Age pottery from northern Iran (Plates 1-3, Table 1).The pottery forms from Nay Tappeh show remarkable similarities to those from ancient Dehistan and align closely with examples documented by scholars such as Arne (1945), Deshayes (1969), Olson and Thornton (2019), Schmidt (1937), Salzman (2014), Abbasi (2011), Mahforozi and Piller (2009), Ghasemi (2017), and Khlopin (1983, 2002). These scholars have identified similar forms in Late Bronze Age sites such as Shah Tappeh IIa, Turang Tappeh IIIc, Hesar IIIc, Narges Tappeh, and Gohar Tappeh. Notably, some forms resemble those attributed by Deshayes (1969) to the IIIb period of Tureng Tappeh, including dishes, simple and carinated bowls, bowls with obliquely cut rims, spouted bowls, deep bowls, lids, various pots, teapots, and kitchenware.The pottery forms from Nay Tappeh also exhibit strong parallels with contemporaneous assemblages from Dehistan, North Khorasan, Semnan, Mazandaran, Gilan, the Central Plateau, and western and northwestern Iran. Additionally, two distinctive forms tripods and bowls with horizontal handles appear in the Nay Tappeh assemblage. These forms first emerged in the mid-second millennium BCE at sites such as Pardis and Seram on the Central Plateau.The presence of these unique forms suggests a degree of regional specialization, possibly linked to specific functional or cultural practices. For example, tripods may have been used for cooking over open flames, while bowls with horizontal handles could have served ceremonial purposes. However, such interpretations require further contextual evidence to confirm.Based on comparative analysis, the pottery from Nay Tappeh can be dated to the late Iron Age II, Iron Age III, and the early Achaemenid period (Table 1). At the same time, these forms demonstrate clear continuity with Bronze Age traditions despite undergoing evolutionary changes. If we rely solely on published pottery evidence and absolute dates, it appears that between approximately 2100 and 1600 BCE, Bronze Age cultures in the region maintained earlier pottery traditions while introducing new forms. However, this period also marked a transitional phase, often characterized as a decline, which eventually led to the emergence of Iron Age I. Following this transition, a gap of approximately 100 to 200 years is observed before the onset of Iron Age II and III cultures, which left a distinct archaeological footprint across the region. 4. DiscussionThis study demonstrates that, despite gradual changes, the pottery forms from Nay Tappeh maintain a strong connection to Bronze Age traditions, reflecting cultural continuity in the region. The findings underscore the significance of Nay Tappeh as a key site for understanding the transition from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age in Hyrcania and its broader cultural connections within the Iranian sphere.The pottery from Nay Tappeh provides valuable insights into the cultural and chronological developments in Hyrcania during this transition. The classification of 25 main groups of pottery, divided into open-mouthed and closed-mouthed vessels, reveals significant similarities with contemporaneous assemblages from Dehistan, North Khorasan, Semnan, Mazandaran, Gilan, and western Iran. The presence of distinctive forms, such as tripods and bowls with horizontal handles, further highlights the cultural interactions between the Gorgan Plain and the Central Plateau during the second millennium BCE.One of the most intriguing aspects of this study is the evidence of cultural resilience in Hyrcania. Despite external influences and internal changes, the region’s pottery traditions exhibit a remarkable degree of continuity. This resilience may be attributed to the region’s geographical isolation, which allowed it to preserve its cultural identity while selectively adopting external innovations. 5. ConclusionThe dating of Nay Tappeh pottery to the late Iron Age II, Iron Age III, and early Achaemenid period, alongside its continuity with Bronze Age traditions, underscores the region’s cultural resilience and adaptability. This study not only contributes to the understanding of Iron Age pottery in Hyrcania but also emphasizes the need for further research to address unresolved questions regarding the region’s archaeological chronology and cultural geography.Future research should focus on expanding the comparative database to include more sites from neighboring regions. Such approaches could provide deeper insights into the functional and symbolic roles of pottery in ancient Hyrcanian society.
