Explanation and Analysis of Bronze Pottery Making in Khorassan Case Study: Shahrak-e Firouze Site in the Neyshabur Plain

Basafa, Hassan

doi:10.22059/jarcs.2021.296601.142842

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Hassan Basafa

Associate Professor of Archeology, Neyshabur University, Neyshabur, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22059/jarcs.2021.296601.142842

Abstract

The study of pottery production and organization in the Bronze Age helps us to know the cultural and technical characteristics. Knowing this issue is done by relying on production technology and recognizing the traditions used in pottery production, as well as by examining the possibility of exchange or trade and internal and external regional actions. Accordingly, it is necessary to know about the explanation and analysis of the Bronze Age pottery-making in the prehistoric settlement, especially in the Bronze Age. In Khorasan, we don’t have enough archaeological pieces of information about the Bronze Age and this area consists of many plains such as Neyshabur plain that this plain is one of the most important. The location and suitable environment of Neyshabur plain are the most important reasons for the development of human societies. The basis of this research is the construction of furnaces, production techniques, topology, and distribution of pottery pieces, which have been obtained during the 5 seasons of Shahrak-e Firouze archaeological excavations. Based on this, the process of producing pottery has been done outside the residential zone and has been formed centrally, such as large-scale industrial centers on the outskirts or adjacent to the settlement. Their production technology has also been selected and designed with the aim of mass production. The forms are simple and varied and are dated in a comparative approach in the Middle and Late Bronze Ages, while in their development, the influences of the Bactria Margiana Archaeological complex (Oxus Civilization) are seen as the most important known culture of Central Asia in the Bronze Age. The similarities between the pottery traditions and, in a way, the specialized pottery production organization between the Neyshabour plain and Central Asia show similar traditions on a trans-regional scale. The results of this study show that the pottery making of Neyshabour in the Bronze Age has been associated with Central Asia more than the interior of the Iranian plate.

Keywords

References

Abedi, N., 2004. A note on the pottery organization of production and distribution, Bastan Pazhohi, 21-32[In Persian].

Askarov, A.A. 1981. Southern Uzbekistan in the Second Millennium B.C, in KOHL P.L., the Bronze Age Civilization of Central Asia Recent Soviet Discoveries, New-York, M.E.Sharpe: 256-279.

Basafa, H. 2012. Preliminary Report of the first season of archaeological excavations in Shahrak Firuzeh, Neyshabur.[2009]. Unpublished manuscript, Archive of Iran Cultural Heritage, Handcrafts and Tourism Organization[In Persian].

Basafa, H., Agha-Aligol, D. & Masjedi Khak, P. 2021. Investigation of elemental composition of ancient metal objects found in Khorasan-e Razavi Province of Iran using micro-PIXE technique. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 13: 1-14.

Basafa H, Davari M S. 2020. Landscape Archaeological Approach to Explain the Settlement and Cultural Pattern of Kashfarud Basin (Mashhad Plain) from Neolithic to Middle Bronze, Journal of Research Archaeometry, 6 (2) :141-155[In Persian].

Basafa, H., Hozhabre, A., Khatib, H., Neystani, J. 2015. Impact of Hydrology on the Formation Process of Shahrak Firoze Prehistoric Settlement in the Neyshabur Plain. Environmental Researches, 5(9), 73-78[In Persian].

Basafa, H., Davari, M. 2019. Khorasan Intercultural Relations with the Southeast of Iran and Western Central Asia during the Bronze Age Case Study: The Silver Artifact of Shahrak Firouze in Neyshabour, pazhoheshha-ye Bastan shenasi Iran, 9(21), 79-96[In Persian].

Basafa, H., Davari, M. 2021. Preliminary analysis of the developments and settlement pattern of Kashfarud Basin (Mashhad plain) in the Late Bronze Age, pazhoheshha-ye Bastan shenasi Iran, 11(30), 55-72[In Persian].

Basafa, H., & Rahmati, M. 2012. Preliminary Report on the Excavation at Shahrak-e Firouzeh. Neyshabur (Eds. J. Kianfar/P. Estakhri Mazdaknameh), 5, 613-523. (In Persian).

Deshayes, J. 1965. Rapport preliminaire sur les troisieme et quatrieme campagnes de fouille a Tureng Tepe, Iranica Antiqua, Vol. V: 83- 92.

Francfort, H.P. 2005. L`art De La Civilazation DE L`Oxus a l`age du Bronze (2300-1700), Et ses relations aves les regions voisines, 102-127.

Francfort, H. P. 1989. Fouilles de Shortughaï: recherches sur l'Asie centrale protohistorique, Diffusion de Boccard, Paris.

Francfort, H. P. 2005. La civilisation de l'Oxus et les Indo-Iraniens et Indo-Aryens en Asie centrale, Aryas, Ariens et Iraniens en Asie central, 253-328.

Hakemi, A. 1999. Shahdad: Archaeological Excavations of a Bronze Age Center in Iran, Rome, IsMEO.

Hiebert, F.T. 1994. Origins of the Bronze Age Oasis Civilization in Central Asia, Harvard University Press.

Hiebert, F. T. and Dyson, R. H. 2002. Prehistoric Nishapur and the frontier between Central Asia and Iran, Iranica Antiqua, 113-149.

Hiebert and Lamberg-Karlovsky 1992. Central Asia and the Indo—Iranian Borderlands, Iran, Vol. XXX, 1-15.

Karimi Mansoob, M, and Mohammadifar Y. 2019. Experimental Archaeology; Investigating and Reconstructing Gray Pottery Firing Techniques during the Third Millennium B.C. Until the First B.C. in the Eastern Regions of Central Zagros. Parseh Journal of Archaeological Studies, 3 (9):39-58[In Persian].

Khlopina, I. N. 2002. Bronze Age of South-West Turkmenistan, Saint Petersburg.

Kohl, P.L. 1984. Central Asia: Paleolithic beginnings to the Iron age, Paris, White Lotus.

Madjidzadeh, Y. 1992. Pottery and Archaeologist, Bastanshenasi va Tarikh, 4-14[In Persian].

Masimov, I.S. 1981. The Study of the Bronze Age sites in the Lower Murghab, in KOHL P.L., The Bronze Age Civilization of Central Asia. Recent Soviet Discoveries, New York, M.E. Sharpe: 194-220.

Masson, V.M. 1959. Drevnezemledel’cheskaja kul’tura Margiany, M.I.A, vol.73, Moscou, Nauka.

Masson, V. M. 1981. Altyn-depe, Leningrad, Nauka.

Oudbashi, O., Mehofer, M., Basafa, H. et al. 2020. Arsenical copper and bronze metallurgy during Late Bronze Age of north-eastern Iran: evidences from Shahrak-e Firouzeh archaeological site. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 12: 1-20.

Pumpelly, R. 1908. Xplorations in Turkestan; expedition of 1904: Prehistoric civilizations of Anan. Vol. 1, Carnegie Institution (Washington).

Rice, P. M., 1987. Pottery Analysis: A source Book, University of Chicago Press

Rezaei, M. H, H. Basafa, 2018. The Production Process of Lithic in Late Bronze Age at Shahrake Firouzeh Site in Neyshabur, North East of Iran, Ancient Asia, 1-8.

Rezaei, M. H, H, Basafa, 2019. The Impact of Geological Processes on the Location of Shahrake Firouzeh, a Prehistoric Site from NE Iran, Ancient Asia, 1-8.

Rezaei, M. H, H, Basafa, P. M Khak, M. Azar, 2018. Study on Late Bronze Age Potteries of Shahrak-e Firouzeh, Neyshabur, Iran by XRD and XRF, Interdisciplinaria archaeological, 21-30.

Sarianidi, V.I. 1998. Margiana and Protozoroastrism, Athènes.

Sarianidi, V.I. 2002. The Palace and Necropolis of Gonur, in ROSSI-OSMIDA G., Margiana Gonur-depe Necropolis. 10 years of excavations by Ligabue Study and Research Centre, Padoue, Il Punto Edizioni: 16-49.

Sarianidi, V.I. 2005. Gonur depe. City of Kings and Gods, Ashkhabad, Miras.

Sarianidi, V.I. 2007. Necropolis of Gonur, Athens, Kapon Editions.

Sarianidi, V.I. 2008. The Palace-Temple Complex of North Gonur, Anthropology & Archaeology of Eurasia, 47 (1): 8-35.

Schmidt, E.F. 1937. Excavations at Tepe Hissar (Damghan), Philadelphia, the University Museum.

Shepard, A. O 1980. Ceramics for the archaeologist, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington.

Stein, A. 1937. Archaeological Reconnaissance in Northeastern India and Southeastern Iran, London.

Tahmasebi Zave, H., and F., Iravani Ghadim, 2016. Dāmḡān Tepe Hissar and Bactria-Margiana Culture, Journal of Greater Khorasan, 5(21), 106-97[In Persian].

Udemuradov, B., 2002. Ceramic material from Gonur-Depe Necropolis, in ROSSI-OSMIDA G., Margiana Gonur-depe Necropolis, Venise, II Punto Edizioni: 133-143.

Vahdati. A.A, Biscione. R, Tengberg. M, and Mashkour. M, 2019. Preliminary report on the excavations at Tepe Chalow. New GKC (BMAC) finds in the plain of Jajarm, Bastanshenasi, 1-13 [In Persian].

Explanation and Analysis of Bronze Pottery Making in Khorassan Case Study: Shahrak-e Firouze Site in the Neyshabur Plain

References

References

Volume 13, Issue 4 - Serial Number 28September 2022Pages 21-37

Volume 13, Issue 4 - Serial Number 28
September 2022
Pages 21-37