Journal of Archaeological Studies

Archaeological Evidence of the Rise of the Dari Persian Language in Khorasan

Ali Hozhabri; Ahmadali Asadi

Volume 15, Issue 1 , April 2023, , Pages 261-292

https://doi.org/10.22059/jarcs.2022.343747.143121

Abstract

At the time of the invasion of Iran by the Arabs, the Dari Persian language flourished in the Greater Khorasan region. During the first two decades of the Arab invasion, Dari Persian, ... Read More

Local and Regional Styles of Parthian – Sassanian Pottery in the East of Iran Based on the Pottery Sherds from the Nehbandan County (Khorasan-e Jonoubi Province)

Meysam Labbaf-Khaniki; mohammad farjami; Ahmad Heidari

Volume 13, Issue 3 , September 2021, , Pages 287-314

https://doi.org/10.22059/jarcs.2020.301702.142871

Abstract

From the archaeological point of view, pottery contains valuable information about living conditions and economic, social and cultural interactions between peoples who live in a region ... Read More From the archaeological point of view, pottery contains valuable information about living conditions and economic, social and cultural interactions between peoples who live in a region or beyond in past. Identifying the pottery characteristics and its common styles in the region are the first steps for extracting and analyzing this information. Parthian-Sassanian pottery in the east of Iran consists of prominent features that show transregional interactions along with the persistence of local traditions. The collection of pottery sherds newly found in the Neh plain and the Chaharfarsakh Valley of the Nehbandan county provide indicative properties of the traditional pottery styles in eastern Iran during the Parthian and Sassanian periods. Comparative study of the diagnostic Parthian-Sasanian potteries of Sisatn and southern Khorasan demonstrates a close relationship between the pottery traditions of these two regions. Accordingly, the materials wich used as temper and the style of decorations bear an equal resemblance. This resemblance can be detected also in the form of the ceramics from Nehbandan with those from the historical sites of Sistan. Moreover, almost all of the potteries were manufactured using the wheel and only the sherds belonged to the handles, lids, or spouts are handmade. The study of potteries from the Nehbandan county shows that the historical processes in the Parthian and Sassanian periods and passing important roads such as the ancient Khorasan–Sistan route through the region have had a profound impact on the making and processing methods in the manufacturing of the potteries. This study shows that some styles in the Nehbandan region have indigenous and local traits, following the common pottery patterns in the east of Iran. A considerable number of studied cases are influenced by the prevalent designs in Iran which are comparable to the Parthian–Sassanian cultural centres. This is understandable in the context of historical events and cultural trends during the Parthian–Sassanian period

Tas Tape: A Parthian Site in Khorasan Based on Field Evidence and Preliminary Results

Azita Mirzaye

Volume 13, Issue 3 , September 2021, , Pages 315-340

https://doi.org/10.22059/jarcs.2021.276241.142682

Abstract

Iran's eastern borders have been constantly affected by various events, especially the arrival of different ethnic groups in Central Asia in the form of migration or invasion. However, ... Read More Iran's eastern borders have been constantly affected by various events, especially the arrival of different ethnic groups in Central Asia in the form of migration or invasion. However, ancient sources provide researchers with little knowledge of such events, and this little information is specific to incidents that were widely considered a threat to the central government of Iran. Therefore, written sources do not answer the questions of archaeologists on political, military, various urban planning, and cultural interactions of Iran with its eastern neighbors. On the other hand, extensive and continuous field research that purposefully answers such questions has been limited and scattered. One of these researches is the purposeful activities that have been carried out in the middle part of the Kopet Dag -Aladagh corridor in the north of Khorasan in the last decade; and this has become the basis for the formation of other research by other researchers in this geographical area (albeit limited). "Tas Tape" is one of the sites in the northeast of Iran. Its location is in the middle part of the Kopet Dag -Aladagh corridor and the east of Quchan city. According to the results of two seasons of field research, this site is one of the important sites of the Parthian period that has been settled until the Sassanid period. Around Tas Tape, a large settlement site was identified during additional studies after archeological surveys in Quchan city. The existence of questions about the synchronicity of the settlement with the fort hill, how the two parts are related to each other, and the continuation of life until the Sassanid period led to the definition of a long-term research project to answer the questions and better understand this ancient monument. This article is based on the research conducted in the first season of this site, which includes reviewing the area of the site, geomagnetic surveys, and sounding for delimitation of the Tas Tape site. The results of this season include the identification of a site from the Parthian period with an area of 80 hectares, which consists of two parts: a) Fort mound b) Unenclosed settlement. According to preliminary results, the settlement probably was only in the Parthian period, but the fort hill was used until the Sassanid period. The Clinky pottery is the most significant cultural find on this site in terms of chronology and distribution of this type of pottery. The location of this site is also very remarkable because it is the link of the north of Kopet Dag sites, including Nisa, into the Iranian plateau.

Hunting in the Forest Steppe: An Examination of the Painted Panel at Takke Rock-Shelter, Bojnord, Northeastern Iran

Ali Akbar Vahdati

Volume 12, Issue 4 , May 2021, , Pages 233-250

Abstract

< p dir="ltr">The mountainous region of Northern Khorasan, north-eastern Iran is rich in rock art complexes including several petroglyphic and rock-painting sites. The rock paintings ... Read More

Kashafrud River (Mashhad plain)from the Neolithic to the Middle Bronze Age

Mohammad Sadegh Davari; Hassan Basafa; mahmood toghraei

Volume 12, Issue 3 , December 2020, , Pages 41-63

https://doi.org/10.22059/jarcs.2020.290461.142792

Abstract

The Kashafrud area has always been considered by many researchers due to the existence of works from the ancient Paleolithic period, as the oldest cultural area in Iran. ... Read More The Kashafrud area has always been considered by many researchers due to the existence of works from the ancient Paleolithic period, as the oldest cultural area in Iran. For this reason, this cultural field is known in the archeology of the Iranian plateau and the Middle East and is a very important subject. Due to the heterogeneous and limited distribution of archaeological excavations in the territory of Khorasan, our knowledge of the prehistoric cultures of this region in all areas is unknown (Basafa & Rezaei 2014; Vahdati, 2016). In this study, by studying and analyzing the pottery traditions of Kashafrud basin, the relative chronology of settlements have been determined. And the dominant cultural styles of the region have been studied. In this regard, relative dating and compiling a chronological table is one of the archaeological necessities of this period. Assessment of prehistoric pottery cultures and evaluation of intra- and extra-regional interactions are research questions. So far, only two prehistoric review and identification projects have been carried out in the city of Mashhad, which include the study of the Kashafrud River by a joint Iranian-French delegation headed by Ali Ariaei and Claude Thibaut (Ariai and Thibault, 1977), and the survey of Mashhad city by Mahmoud Bakhtiari in 1998 (Labaf Khaniki, 1391). However, there are a few other scattered studies whose results have been published in several articles. However, several scattered studies have been conducted in this area that their results have been published in the form of several articles. Absolute and relative chronologies of the cultural regions of northeastern Iran and southern Turkmenistan have been used in the relative dating of cultural periods of the Kashafrud basin. However, generalizing these dates to surface materials without any stratigraphic study would be challenging. At present, the dates presented in the present study are based on a combination of chronologies presented in the northeastern regions of Iran and Turkmenistan, and its basis may be changed by future archaeological excavations in the Kashafrud basin. The basis of the statistical population of this study is the cultural materials of the Pottery Bank of the Greater Khorasan Museum, which were randomly sampled based on registered reports. An important point in the deployments of Kashafrud River is the relocation and collection of surface samples in the non-academic process. The city of Mashhad as a main part of Khorasan Razavi province and is located between two mountain ranges. Its northern mountain range is a Hezar-Masjed and its southern mountain range is Binalood. A river called Kashafrud passes through this plain. This area is located in the geographical coordinates of 22-57 to 10-61 east longitude and 39-35 to 04-37 north latitude (Figure 1). In total, and based on the studies conducted so far, about 14 prehistoric settlements have been identified within the city of Mashhad and in the Kashafrud basin (Figure 2), that four settlements of them have emerged for the first time in the Iron Age, which is out of this subject research. In the other 10 settlements, they have cultural sequence from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age and in some continuities to the Iron Age. Of these 10 settlements, three settlements of Qaderabad, Qare Tappeh and Abarghandaray have a sequence from the Neolithic period (6500 BC according to the initial phase of Jaitun and not Sange-e Chakhmagh) to the end of the Bronze Age. In this research, the bronze period means only two phases, old and middle (equal to the date 2900-2100 BC according to the sequence of Namazgah Depe and up to 1700 BC according to the BMAC culture). According to material cultures, two Sites of Morghanoo and Naderi have appeared for the first time in the transition period from Neolithic to Chalcolithic (5000-4800 or 4500 BC according to southwest Turkmenistan chronology) and have a cultural sequence up to the Middle Bronze Age. Based on the available evidence and cultural materials from among these settlements, the Toup Derakht site has appeared for the first time in the Late Chalcolithic or Namazgah III (3500-3000 or 2900 BC depending on the sequence of the Namazgah). The establishment of the Toup Derakht has a cultural sequence until the Iron Age. The 4 Sites of Devin, Qalurkhaneh, Gash and Junow have appeared for the first time in the Bronze Age, only in which the Devin Tape and Gash Tape have a cultural sequence up to the Iron Age. Based on the study, classification and typology of evidence of the studied area, it was found that the three settlements of Tape Qaderabad, Qara Tape and Abarghandaray Ancient Site have Neolithic surface materials that stone tools (Figure 3) and pottery with appearance characteristics and technically belongs to the Neolithic period (figure 4). The most important cultural materials belonging to the Neolithic period include buff and red ware with geometric designs. They are handmade and have chaff temper. In addition, those samples in terms of form, pattern and technique are comparable with Sang-e Chakhmagh, Jaitun and Neolithic of the Central Plateau of Iran (Table 2). Finally, according to the relative chronology, the date before 6500 BC to 5000 BC can be considered for the Neolithic period of Kashafrud basin. Based on the study of surface materials, the studied settlements of the transition period from Neolithic to Chalcolithic to the relative date of 5000-4500 or 5200-4800 BC have continued in three settlements of Tape Qaderabad, Qara Tape and Abarghandaray were formed for the first time in this period. The existence of cultural materials of the Chalcolithic period in the three settlements of Qaderabad, Abarghandaray and Qara Tape, equal to the date 4800-2900 BC, indicates the continuity of the establishment and cultural sequence from Late Neolithic period to the Chalcolithic. Also, the presence of surface cultural materials on the settlements of Tape Naderi and Morghanoo, which have appeared in the transition period from Neolithic to Chalcolithic period, has a sequence and continuity, and in addition, the Toup Derakht site also appears in the Late Chalcolithic Period. In addition to these cultural materials, the Early and Middle Bronze Ages have sequences in all the mentioned settlements, including Qaderabad, Abarghandaray, Qara Tape, Naderi, Morghanoo, Toup Derakht Sites, and in addition, Gash Tape, Qalurkhaneh Ancient Site, Tape Junow and they also settle in the Early Bronze phase for the first time. As a result, Kashafrud River, as a vital and effective factor in creating a fertile ecosystem, has provided a suitable platform for spatial and regional Choices of human societies from the Paleolithic period to the present, which in both material and immaterial dimensions with culture, Prehistoric regions of Northeast Iran, especially Shahroud and Damghan, Gorgan plain, Dargaz and Atrak basins, as well as prehistoric cultures of southern Turkmenistan, including the Neolithic period of Jaitun and Anu IA, culture Namazgah I - VI period It is an overlap and perhaps the Kashafrud basin can be considered as the link between the prehistoric cultures of southern Turkmenistan and the Iranian plateau, especially the northeastern region of Iran.

Explanation of Early Pottery Features in Kashafrud River Basin: Based on the typology of Pottery,s Esmail- Abad site in Mashhad

moh davari; fatemeh mousivand; hassan basafa

Volume 10, Issue 1 , August 2018, , Pages 75-94

https://doi.org/10.22059/jarcs.2018.239481.142460

Abstract

The parthian period in Iran is less known than other historical periods. The information that presents historical and historical geography can be the source of the Parthians in Northeast ... Read More

Archaeological Survey of Qohestan Castles

Firouz Mahjour; Sattar Khaledian

Volume 4, Issue 2 , February 2013, , Pages 141-158

https://doi.org/10.22059/jarcs.2013.32124

Abstract

Qoheston is a region in the southeastern Khorasan which includes Kashmar, Tabas, Ferdos, Birjand, Qaen, Torbate Haidarie, Khaf and Taibad cities. This region is surrounded by Sabzevar ... Read More

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Keywords = Khorasan

Archaeological Evidence of the Rise of the Dari Persian Language in Khorasan

Abstract

Local and Regional Styles of Parthian – Sassanian Pottery in the East of Iran Based on the Pottery Sherds from the Nehbandan County (Khorasan-e Jonoubi Province)

Abstract

Tas Tape: A Parthian Site in Khorasan Based on Field Evidence and Preliminary Results

Abstract

Hunting in the Forest Steppe: An Examination of the Painted Panel at Takke Rock-Shelter, Bojnord, Northeastern Iran

Abstract

Kashafrud River (Mashhad plain)from the Neolithic to the Middle Bronze Age

Abstract

Explanation of Early Pottery Features in Kashafrud River Basin: Based on the typology of Pottery,s Esmail- Abad site in Mashhad

Abstract

Archaeological Survey of Qohestan Castles

Abstract