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).

Re-Identifying the Location of Ancient Port of Mahruban on the Persian Gulf Based on Excavation and Written Evidence

Mohammad Esmaeil Esmaeili Jelodar; Mohammad Mortezayi

Volume 4, Issue 2 , February 2013, , Pages 13-31

https://doi.org/10.22059/jarcs.2013.32117

Abstract

Archaeological evidence from Islamic era reflects trade contacts and flourishing commerce in the Persian Gulf. Indeed, some regional infrastructures surviving from Sassanian times could ... Read More

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Keywords = Mahruban

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

Abstract

Re-Identifying the Location of Ancient Port of Mahruban on the Persian Gulf Based on Excavation and Written Evidence

Abstract