Journal of Archaeological Studies

Abstract The city of Susa, as one of the oldest urban centers in Iran, faced significant political, economic, and social ups and downs during the Sassanid period. Although written documents mark Shapur II's attack on Susa as the end of the city's life, archaeological data presents a more complex and dynamic picture of Susa's situation during this period. The present study aims to examine, based on the analysis of written sources and archaeological evidence, the factors that led to the rise and fall of the city of Susa during the Sassanid period. The main question of the study is what factors led to the Climax and decline of the status of Susa during the Sassanid period and how material evidence reflects these developments. The research hypothesis is based on the fact that Susa experienced relative prosperity in the early Sassanid centuries, especially during the reign of Shapur I, following the transfer of artisans from Antioch And the urban reconstructions that occurred and its ultimate decline were not the result of a sudden destruction, but rather the result of the centralization policy of the Sasanian state, the development of newly founded cities such as Gondishapur and Iran-Khore shapur, demographic changes, and political-religious restrictions. The research method is historical, descriptive-analytical, and comparative, and the data are analyzed based on written evidence from early Islam, such as travelogues and chronicles, Christian testimonies, and its combination with the findings of archaeological excavations in Susa, including architectural evidence, coins, seals, pottery, wall paintings, metal and glass works. The results of the research show that although Susa faced a serious crisis in the fourth century, archaeological evidence indicates that the city continued to be inhabited, active, and urban in nature until the late Sasanian period And decline is a gradual, structural process, not a sudden collapse.

Abstract We are justlfied in our study of  Iran’s historical period by the invisible and clear vestiges of the mysterious Parthian empire, which has piqued the interest of a lot of historians and intellectuals. Parthian history has been disproved in numerous dimensions such as political dimensions, social dimensions, and cultural dimensions using contemporary research based on Greek, Roman, Armenian,Syriac, Middle Persian, and Islamic sources, as well as archeological evidence. On the basis of ancient historical writings, it is now possible to recreate a portion of the Parthian Empire’s history. Chronicles, written in Syriac, are among the most important historical sources for reconstructing ancient Near Eastern history. These sources are especially vital for refining pre-Islamic Iran’s history, as it would be pointless to write the history of Iran during the Sassanid era without utilizing Syriac resources. With these contexts in mind,the goal of this paper is to follow the Parthian rulers’ history through a variety of sources. When all of the available Syriac chronicles are taken into account, it becomes clear that these sources were mostly neglected by all of the Parthian rulers, and that no names or addresses can be located in them. At first glance, the absence of Parthian kings, history in Syriac sources suggests that there is no need to study these sources in relation to Parthian history; however, the opinion of this essay is that such a void to depict forgetting of the Parthian kings was not accidental in the Syriac sources, but rather was influenced by the tradition of Iranian historiography in the Sassanid (Sassanian)epoch,and since then the historical has been influenced by.

Abstract As it appears from historical texts, the favourable bioclimatic conditions of the Natanz region and its location in the communication network of Iran’s central plateau, have provided the ground for the formation of numerous settlements, as well as diverse and yet valuable architectural works. Presence of pre-Islamic ancient sites (Such as Arisman ancient site, fire temple, castle, karezes) and also monuments from the Islamic era in Natanz (Such as Juma Mosque, Sheikh Abdul Samad Complex and collections of public, commercial and residential monuments), have turned this city into one of the most valuable ancient settlements in the country; highlighting the importance of the region from prehistoric up to the present century. According to published sources, Natanz's socio-political developments in early-Islamic centuries were influenced by the changes that occurred in the cities of Isfahan and Kashan. Also, the brilliant effects of the historical monuments of Kashan and Isfahan cities have caused the neglect of the monuments of the city of Natanz by tourists and historians of different periods. Neglect that has also affected archaeological, urban, architectural and historical research.  The authors have tried to determine the evolution of the city of Natanz, relying on the written sources, in order to identify the factors and events that have influenced the formation and development of this city. Results of the present study revealed that the construction history of this city can be traced back to the Sasanian Empire. Moreover, it became clear that Natanz’s location on the communication network of Iran’s central plateau and It has been one of the centers of caravans crossing and trade and the Central Plateau of Iran, and also its geographical location, environmental conditions and the special defensive function of the natanz city Its importance in different historical periods, especially the Ilkhanid and Safavid periods it has figured

Abstract Qorveh plain is located in the southeast of Kurdistan province and it is considered as one of the highlands of Zagros. This plain is located in the Sanandaj-Sirjan Inclined zone. The most prominent feature of this plain is the difference in the geological structure and environment of its north and south. This factor has made the distribution of settlements in these two parts completely different. Qorveh plain was studied and archaeologically reviewed in 2018. The result of this survey is the identification of 243 sites that indicated the establishment and continuity of human habitation from the Middle Chalcolithic period Age to the present, in this survey, more than 100 sites were identified for the first time, of these, and the Islamic period has a larger share. The present study is based on the archaeological findings of the Islamic period resulting from this study and it is trying to reconstruct the settlements landscape of this period and land use by assessment of historical texts, Satellite imagery and Gis maps and geology. In this study, the identified sites of the Islamic period are divided into three periods: early, middle and late centuries. The aim of this study is to study human relation with the environment in the Islamic period of this region. Some of the questions in this study are: what factors caused the formation of settlements in the Islamic period? What is the settlement pattern of Islamic sites in Qorveh plain? Did Qorveh plain have an urban center in the Islamic period? Among the factors such as water resources and fertile land, roads and mines have played a significant role in the formation of settlement s in Qorveh plain. The north settlements at plain are mostly linear and formed on river terraces. On the other hand, in the south of the plain, factors such as agricultural lands, communication routes and water resources have been very important in the formation of these areas. It seems that role of larger sites in creating small, satellite habitats in the southern part - probably the Central place system - has not been ineffective

Abstract Ziz is one of the important cities that Geographers and Historians have described it in the early centuries and Mid-Islamic period. Ziz was a city of the Arrajan Khore, which is located in the north-east of it. According to historical sources, it was located on the route of Arrajan to Esfahan and this city has pulpit and main (jamea) Mosque. This research is aimed to specify the exact geographical location of Ziz city. The authors of this paper applied descriptive–analytical approach and analysis of field study and documented data (literary sources) attempts to answers regarding question about ancient sites or site including the remains of ziz city? The results of field study and archaeological surveys and analysis of historical texts show that the geographical location of Ziz city is more likely the modern Boyerahmad city located in the Ziz area on the "Ziz Nesah" site.