Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Professor in Department of Archaeology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.
2 Ph.D. Graduated Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.
3 Associate Professor, Department of Archaeometry and Archaeology, Tabriz Islamic Art University, Tabriz, Iran
4 Ph.D. Candidate in Department of Archaeology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Analyzing administrative documents holds significant importance within the realms of archaeology and sociology, akin to the study of other archaeological evidence. These examinations play a pivotal role in reconstructing various systems, encompassing management, social dynamics, economic structures, and political frameworks. Delving into administrative management within prehistoric societies unveils the intricate social intricacies and the supervision exercised by a designated leader or head over a subordinate group, representing an internal control mechanism. Notably, seals, impressions on seals, and diverse accounting artifacts serve as pivotal administrative documents. However, the exploration and investigation of such cultural data in northwestern Iran remain relatively scarce. Therefore, the current study endeavors to present, evaluate, and scrutinize the administrative records of Chalcolithic societies in northwestern Iran, employing a descriptive-analytical approach. Numerous inquiries persist without resolution regarding the administrative records and evidence pertaining to the later prehistory of northwest Iran. Ambiguity surrounds the quantification of Chalcolithic administrative documents within this region. Furthermore, the methodology for analyzing and evaluating the ownership and managerial evidence from the later prehistoric era in this area remains unclear. Addressing these uncertainties can establish a definitive framework and a solid foundation for investigating these matters in northwest Iran. Leveraging administrative data obtained from various sites including Tepe Chay Khoy, Chakhmaqluq, Tepe Kulyeri (Tepe Caravanserai), Sohachay Tepe, and others, the authors conduct an assessment of managerial evidence in the northwestern region of Iran. Furthermore, utilizing extant cultural artifacts and drawing upon the outcomes of prior studies facilitates an exploration into phenomena such as long-distance trade, economic endeavors, social intricacies, and cultural exchanges with neighboring areas
Keywords
- Northwest Iran (Azerbaijan)
- Administrative documents
- Chalcolithic
- Economic-commercial interactions
- Neighboring areas
Main Subjects
Abedi, A. (2016). Preliminary Reports of the Second Season of Excavation at Kul Tepe Hadishahr, North West Iran. Journal of Archaeological Studies, 8(1), 91-111. doi: 10.22059/jarcs.2016.59497.
Abedi, A. Khatib Shahid. H. Chataigner. C. Eskandari. N, Kazempour. M. Pirmohammadi. A. Hosseinzadeh. J. Ebrahimi. G. 2014. Excavation at Kul Tepe (Hadishahr), North-Western Iran, 2010: First Preliminary Report, ANES, Vol. 51, Pp: 33-167.
Abedi, A. (2016). New Evidence from Neolithic to Achaemenid Periods in North-Western Iran: Excavations at Kul Tepe (Hadishahr), Second Preliminary Report (2013). Iranian Journal of Archaeological Studies, 6(1), 59-82.
Abedi, A. 2017. Iranian Azerbaijan pathway from the Zagros to the Caucasus, Anatolia and northern Mesopotamia: DavaGoz, a new Neolithic and Chalcolithic site in NW iran. Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry, Vol.17/1: 69-87.
Abedi, Akbar. 2017. The First Evidence of Stamp and Cylindrical Seals in the Kura-Araxes Culture (3000 BC), Kul Tepe and the First Evidence of Property and Ownership, Journal of Historical Sociology 9 (1), 77-96.
Abedi, A., 2022., Seal and sealing in the Kura- Araxes culture: New findings from northwestern Iran, In Paradise Lost: The Phenomenon of the Kura-Araxes Tradition along the Fertile Crescent. Collection of papers honouring Ruben S. Badalyan on the occasion of his 65th birthday (Aramazd: Armenian Journal of Near Eastern Studies, vol. XVI, issues 1-2, 2022): 3-28, Oxford: Archaeopress.
Alibeigi, S, Niknami, K, Khosravi, Sh, Chermchian, M, Hemti, M. 2012. “A piece of pottery with a new found seal impression from the Chalcolithic and Neolithic period in the southern elevations of the Abhar Rood basin, Zanjan”. Bastan Pajoh, 14th year, Vol. 19, pp: 11-19. [in Persian].
Alibeigi, S, Khosravi, Sh, Nikzad, M, Heydari Dastnani, M, Thaghafi Yazdi, N, Akbari, M, Jafarzadeh, Zahra. 2014. “A report on the excavation of the stratigraphy of Kulyeri tepe (Karvansar) in the eastern highlands of Zanjan province”. Gozareshhay e sizdahomin gerdhamayi bastanshenasi, Tehran: Organization of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism. Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and Tourism. [in Persian].
Alibaigi, S, Khosravi, Sh, Aali. A. 2012. Early villages and prehistoric sites in the Abharroud Basin, northwest of the Iranian Central Plateau, Documenta Praehistorica XXXIX, pp: 459-472.
Alizadeh, K, Azarnoush, Masoud. 2012. “Methodological survey of Tape Baruj: sampling method and results of statistical studies”. Bastanshenasi va tarikh, year 17, issue 1, pp: 3-16. [in Persian].
Alizadeh, Karim, Azarnoush, M. 2012. “Methodical study of Tapeh Baruj: cultural relations between the two sides of Aras”. Bastanshenasi va tarikh, year 17, issue 2, pp: 2-22. [in Persian].
Alizadeh, K. 2005. “Exploration of Nader Tapesi, Aslanduz Dasht e Moghan”. Proceedings of the 9th Annual Meeting of Iranian Archaeology, Tehran, Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and Tourism. [in Persian].
Alizadeh, K. 2008. “Dashte Moghan in the Sassanid Period”. Motaleat e Bastanshenasi, Vol.1, No. 1, pp: 109-117. [in Persian].
Alizadeh, K. Ur. J.R. 2007. Formation and destruction of pastoral and irrigation landscapes on the Mughan steppe, north-western Iran, Antiquity, Vol. 81, pp: 1-13.
Alizadeh, K, Samei, S, Mohammadkhani, K, Heidari, R, Tykot, R. H. 2018. Craft production at Köhne Shahar, a Kura-Araxes settlement in Iranian Azerbaijan, Journal of Anthropological Archaeology, Vol 51, pp: 127-143.
Amiet, P. 1997. Zur Ikonographie der Siegel und ihrer Interpretation. In Klengel-Brandt(ed), Das Siegel in Wirtschaft und Kunst des Alten Orients. Mit Sieben Siegel versehen. Mainz. 82-91.
Avşarova, I. & Pirquliyeva, Q. 2010. “Qafqaz Arxeologiyasi”. Baki, baki universiteti nesriati.
Bakhshaliev, V, Maro, C. 2015. “Archeology of Nakhchivan”. Translated by Karimikiya, Ali, Mirzaei, Mohammad, Tehran: Kamal Andisheh, first edition. [in Persian].
Brown, B. 1951. Excavation in Azarbaijan, 1948, London.
Burney, C. A. 1962. “The Excavations at Yanik Tepe, Azerbaijan, 1961 Second Preliminary Report,” Iraq 24, No.2: 134–152.
Burney C.A. 1964. "The Excavations at yanik tepe, Azerbaijan", 1962: Third Preliminary Report, Iraq 26, pp 54-61.
Burney, C. A. 1973. “Excavation at Haftavan Tepe 1971: Third Preliminary Report,” Iran 11: 153–172.
Chaychi Amirkhiz, A. 2007. “Stratigraphic report for the trenching of Deirman/Dagirman Tepe Bostan Abad (winter of 2017), East Azerbaijan”. Archives of the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism of Tabriz, unpublished. [in Persian].
Dyson, Jr., R.H. 1965. Problems of Protohistoric Iran as seen from Hasanlu, JNES 24, 1965, pp. 193-217.
Dyson, R. H., Jr, Young, T. C., Jr. 1960. “The Solduz Valley, Iran: Pisdelitepe,” Antiquity 40, pp: 19–27.
Ebrahimi, Q. 2017. “Excavation report to trace and excavate the tomb buildings of Odulu village cemetery, Bileh Savar city, Ardabil”. The archive of the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism of Ardabil, unpublished. [in Persian].
Garavand, A., Javanmardzadeh, A., Abedi, A., & Malekpur, F. (2022). Tepe Chay Khoy, New Evidence from the Chalcolithic Period Northwest of Lake Urmia: Regional and Transregional Interactions with Lake Urmia, Caucasus and Eastern Anatolia. Journal of Archaeological Studies, 14(3), 141-167.
Gambashidze, I, Gogochuri, G, tkhva n I, N, Bidzina M, Kakha, K. 2018. the late chalcolithic settlement in orchosani (S o u t h -We s t e r n G e o r g i a), Rescue Archaeology in Georgia the south Caucasus pipeline expansion (SCPX) project, Tbilisi 2018 Tbilisi.
Hesari, M, Akbari, H. 2004. “Report of the sounding at Idir tepe of Aslanduz”. Gozareshhay e Bastanshenasi 4, Tehran, Research Institute of Archeology. [in Persian].
Hesari, M. 2018. “Analysis and investigation of changes in tradition of copper pottery and stone of Idir tepe, Mughan plain, Ardabil province”. Pajoheshhay e Bastanshenasi Iran, Vol. 9, No. 21, pp: 23-40. [in Persian].
Hesari, M, Aliyari, A. 2013. “Study and typology of stone and mound graves (Kurgan) of Ardabil province”. Motaleat e Bastanshenasi, No. 1, Vol. 4, pp. 113-130. [in Persian].
Hejbari Nobari, A, Pourfaraj, A. 2005. “Explanation of the Neolithic and Chalcolithic of Ardabil region based on the archaeological data of Qusha Tapeh Shahriri”. Majalleye Daneshkadeye Adabyat va Oium e Ensani Daneshgah e Tehran, University of Tehran, No. 2, pp. 1-26. [in Persian].
Heydarian, M. 2007. “Archaeological evidence of the catchment area of Ahmed Biglo Dam, Meshkin Shahr”. Pajoheshhay e Bastanshenasi Iran, Vol. 7, No. 13, pp. 7-24. [in Persian].
HejabriNobari, A. Binandeh. A. Neyestani. J &Vahdati Nasab. H. 2012. Excavation at Lavin Tepe in north west Iran, Ancient Near Eastern Studies 49:95-117.
Hamlin,C. 1975. "Dalmatepe", Iran, Vol: 13, Pp 111-127.
Helwing, B. 2011. The Small Finds from Arisman, in Vatandoost, A., Parzinger, H., and B. Helwing (eds.), Early Mining and Metallurgy on the western Central Iranian Plateau: The First Five years of Work, Mainz: Verlag Philipp von Zabern, pp: 254- 327.
Нариманов И.Г., Ахундов Т.И., Алиев Н.Г. 2007. Лейлатепе. Баку.
Kambakhshfard, S. 1967. “Parthian Pithos-Burials”, Tehran, Markaz e Nashr e Daneshgahi. [in Persian].
Kearton, R. R. B. 1969. “Survey in Azerbaijan,” In “Survey of Excavations in Iran, 1967–8,” Iran 7:186–187.
Kearton, R. R. B. 1970. A Study of Settlement in The Salmas Valley, West Azerbaijan, Iran. Manuscript in The Files of the Hasanlu Project. Philadelphia: University Museum, University of Pennsylvania.
Khazaee, M., Glascock, M. D., Masjedi, P., Abedi, A., & Nadooshan, F. K. (2011). The origins of obsidian tools from Kul Tepe, Iran. Int. Assoc. Obsidian Stud. Bull, 45, 14-7.
Khosravi, Sh, Khatib Shahidi, H, Vahdati Nasab, H, Alibeigi, S, Aali, A. 2013. “Early Village and Ancient Prehistoric Settlements in the Abhar Rood watershed, East of Zanjan Province”. Motaleat e Bastanshenasi, Number 1, Vol. 4, pp: 131-154. [in Persian].
Khosravi, Sh. 2014. “East of Zanjan province during Chalcolithic period: A study of the region’s prehistory based on the excavation evidence from Tepe Caravanserai / Kulyeri”. Ph.D. thesis, Tarbiat Modares University, unpublished. [in Persian].
Khosravi, Sh, Khatib Shahidi, H, Alibeigi, S. 2018. “Abhar Rood basin watershed in the Chalcolithic and Neolithic period: a review of the Dalmaian settlements in the northwestern margin of the central Iranian plateau”. Payam e bastanshenas, 6th year, 12th issue, Fall and Winter, pp: 37-52. [in Persian].
Khosravi, Sh, Niknami, K. 2021. New Evidence of the Ancient Metallographical Activities in the Margin of the Iranian Central Plateau, Iranian Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2021, Vol. 11, No. 2, pp: 57-65.
Kleiss, W. 1969. Beridt uberzwei er kundun gsfahrten in nordwest-Iran, Archologische Mitteilungen aus Iran 2: 7-110.
Kleiss, W. & Kroll, S. 1992. "Survey in Ost Azarbaidjan 1991", Archäologische Mitteilungen aus Iran 25: 1–46.
Kroll, S. 1990. "Der Kultepe bei Marand eine Chalkolithische siedlung in İranisch- Azarbaidjan" Archäologische Mitteilungen aus Iran 23: 59–71.
Lippert, A. 1979. “Die Österreichischenausgrabungen Am Kordlartepe in Persisch- West
Aserbaidschan (1971-1978)”. Archäologischemitteilungenaus Iran Bd 12, 25-51.
Aserbaidschan (1971-1978)”. Archäologischemitteilungenaus Iran Bd 12, 25-51.
Lyonnet, B. & Quliyev, F. 2010. “Bati Azerbaycanda Neolitik ve Kalkolitik donemeait yeni bulgular”. TUBA-AR 13. pp: 219-228.
Malekzadeh Bayani, B. 1973. “Seals, identification tools of ancient times (a summarized history of seals in Iran - patterns of seals and carvings: the reason for the emergence of seals)”, Art and People, vol. 133: 50-44. [in Persian].
Maziar, S. 2010. Excavation at KohnepasgahTepesi, Araxes valley, Northwest Iran: First Preliminary Report, Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Vol.47, pp. 165-193.
Mohammadi, S. R. 2016. “Archeology Report of Speculation and Determining the Boundary of Barzand Qalasi, Garmi Moghan City, Ardabil”, Archive of the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism of Ardabil, unpublished. [in Persian].
Mohammadifar, Y, Heydari Baba Kamal, Y, Dolati, M. 2013. “Parthian Seals: An Attitude on Artistic Style and Functionality”. Pajoheshhay e Iranshenasi ,, No 2. pp: 93-112. [in Persian].
Motarjem, A. 1996. “Study and investigation of the explored seals in the north and northwest of Iran and their comparison with the seals of the Central Plateau in the Iron Age”. A master’s thesis from Tarbiat Modares University, unpublished. [in Persian].
Motarjem, A. 2013. “A report of the second chapter of the rescue excavation of Tepe Qeshlaq Talwar, archive of documents of the Cultural Heritage Research Institute”, unpublished. [in Persian].
Motarjem, A, Sharifi, M. 2013. “An analysis of the function and nature of the symbols of tokens and clay figurines in the Chalcolithic and Neolithic period of Tepe Qeshlaq e Talwar, Kurdistan”, Vol. 4, No. 7, pp: 27-46. [in Persian].
Muscarella, O.W. 1968a. "Excavation at Dinkhatepe 1966", Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin 27/3:96-187.
Muscarella, O.W. 1968b. Qalatgah: "An Urartian Site in Northwestern Iran", Expedition 13/3-4:44-49.
Muscarella, O.W. 1969. "The Tumuli at Se Gridan: A Preliminary Report", Metropolitan Museum Journal 2:5-25.
Muscarella, O.W. 1973. "Excavation at Agrabtepe", Metropolitan Museum Journal 8:47-76.
Muscarella, O.W. 1974. "The Iron Age At Dinkhatepe,Iran", Metropolitan Museum Journal 9:35-90.
Muscarella, O.W. 2003. "The Chrnology and Culture of Se Gridan: Phase III. Ancient Civilizations from Scythia to Siberia", Metropolitan Museum Journal 9:31-117.
Museyibli, N. 2009. leyla təpə mədəniyyətı Abidələrindən tapılmış gildən əmək alətlərı və müxtəlıf əşyalar, Azərbaycan arxeologiyası və etnoqrafiyası, No 2, pp: 5-18.
Museibli, N. 2019."The Galayeri settlement: Chalcolithic traditions of eastern Anatolia and the Caucasus, ", TUBA-AR 25: 63-76.
Maziar, S. 2010. Excavation at KohnepasgahTepesi, Araxes valley, Northwest Iran: First Preliminary Report, Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Vol.47, Pp. 165-193.
Naseri, H. .2013. “Investigation and analysis of settlement patterns in Bostan Abad city during the Chalcolithic and Neolithic Age. A Master’s thesis, supervised by Kamaluddin Niknami, University of Tehran, Faculty of Literature and Humanities. [in Persian].
Omrani, B. 1993. “Archaeological Landscape of the East of Urmia Lake from the Neolithic Period to the Iron Age”. A Master’s Thesis, University of Tehran, Faculty of Literature and Humanities. [in Persian].
Pecorella P. E., Salvini M. (eds.). 1984. Tra lo Zagros e L’Urmia. Ricerche storiche ed archeologiche nell’Azerbaigian iraniano. Ed. dell’Atene. Rome.
Rahimi Sorkhani, R. 2017. “Relative and absolute chronology of the prehistoric site of Sohachay Tepe in Zanjan province”. A master’s thesis in archaeology, University of Tehran, unpublished. [in Persian].
Salmanpour, R, Abtahi Forushani, S. Z. 2012. “The final report of archaeological investigation and identification of Horand city, East Azerbaijan”. Archives of the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism of Tabriz, unpublished. [in Persian].
Saedmocheshi, A. 2012. “The catchment area of the Qezel Ozan River in the Chalcolithic and Neolithic period: based on the archaeological investigations of Bijar city”. Pajoheshhay e Bastanshenasi Iran, Vol. 5, pp: 25-50. [in Persian].
Sharifi, M. 2019. “The first chapter of the archaeological excavation of Gerdashwan in Zab Kuchak Basin (Late Chalcolithic, Hasanlu VIII)”. A body of short articles of the 18th annual meeting of archeology of Iran, compiled and edited by Ruhollah Shirazi, Tehran: Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and Tourism. [in Persian].
Sharifi, M. 2019. “Archaeological excavations of Tepe Qeshlaq e Bijar (Eastern Domain of Central Zagros)”. Tehran: Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and Tourism. [in Persian].
Shanshashvili, N. Sherazadishvili, Z. 2013. Samkhret kavkasiis udzvelesi sabechdavebi. Goris muzeumis arkeologiuri matsne, NI, pp: 7-25. Tbilisi.
Talaei, H. A. 2011. “Eight thousand years of Iranian pottery”. Tehran: Samt. [in Persian].
Talaei, H. 1983. Pottery Evidence from Ahranjantepe, A Neolithic Site in The Salmas Plain (Azerbaijan, Iran). AMI., Band 16, Pp.7-18.
T.İ.Axundov. 2021. Alxantəpə yaşayış yeri – Bakı.
Voigt, M. 1983. Hajji Firuz Tepe, Iran. The Neolithic Settlement. Hasanlu Excavation Reports, pp. 165-167.
Vandenberg, L. 2000. “Archeology of Ancient Iran”. Translated by Isa Behnam, Tehran: Tehran University Press, third edition. [in Persian].
Velayati, R. 2013. “A report on the archeology survey of Bostan Abad region (the second phase) in cooperation with the Cultural Heritage Organization of Handicrafts and Tourism of East Azarbaijan Province and the Institute of Archeology of Tehran University, East Azarbaijan”. Archives of the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism of Tabriz, Unpublished. [in Persian].
Velayati, R. 2016. “A report on the archeology survey of Bostan Abad region (the first phase) in collaboration with the Cultural Heritage Organization of Handicrafts and Tourism of East Azarbaijan Province and the Institute of Archeology of Tehran University, East Azarbaijan”. Archives of the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism of Tabriz, Unpublished. [in Persian].
Valipour, H, Mustafapour, I, Behdadfar, R, Kaka, G. 2018. “The preliminary report of the first season of excavation in site No. 11 of Talwar Dam, Bijar, Kurdistan”. Payam e Bastanshenas, Vol. 13, pp: 42-72. [in Persian].
Wright, T. H., Johnson. G 1975. Population, Exchange and Early State Formation in
South-western Iran. American Anthropology, Vol. 77: 267-289.
South-western Iran. American Anthropology, Vol. 77: 267-289.
Zettler, R. L. 1987. Sealings as Artifacts of Institutional Administration in Ancient Mesopotamia. Journal of Cuneiform Studies 39 (2): 197-240.
)