The Study of Mining and Metallurgy in the Central Part of Bam County Based on Archaeological Surveys and Historical Sources

Khojasteh Behzadi, Nazanin; Mafi, Farzad; Emami, Seyed Mohammadamin

doi:10.22059/jarcs.2023.358920.143203

The Study of Mining and Metallurgy in the Central Part of Bam County Based on Archaeological Surveys and Historical Sources

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Nazanin Khojasteh behzadi ¹

Farzad Mafi ²

Seyed mohammadamin Emami ³

¹ Ph.D. Candidate in Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Humanities, Abhar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Anhar, Iran.

² Assistant Professor in Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Humanities, Abhar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Anhar, Iran

³ Associate Professor in Department of Restoration and Archaeology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan,Iran

https://doi.org/10.22059/jarcs.2023.358920.143203

Abstract

The Kerman region stands out as one of the most significant mining areas globally, owing to its extensive and abundant mineral resources. Bam County, situated in the southeastern part of Kerman, has historically served as a crucial hub connecting the southeast of Iran with Sistan and Afghanistan, attributed to its distinctive geological and geomorphological characteristics. Enjoying considerable commercial and military importance since the Sassanid era, Bam County has garnered attention in archaeological research as a strategically vital region. The exploration of Bam's archaeological sites becomes imperative for historical governments, highlighting the need to investigate and comprehend ancient centers engaged in metal smelting and mining activities. Consequently, an archaeological survey of the central part of Bam County was initiated in 2018-2019 with the specific objective of identifying metal smelting workshops and ancient mines. This article presents the outcomes of a field survey conducted in the central part of Bam County, shedding light on evidence of metal smelting centers, furnaces, and historical mining activities. The primary research inquiries center around the chronology of mining evidence in the central part of Bam County, the types of metals extracted, and the processes involved in metal mining and metallurgy within this region. Employing field and documentary methods, the research adopts a descriptive-analytical approach. The study identified and examined eight sites showcasing evidence of smelting and slag, one ancient mine, and two active mines. These sites have been associated with the extraction and processing of metals and elements such as tin, zinc, lead, silver, iron, and, to a lesser extent, gold. Notably, the substantial volume of zinc and zinc oxide processing in seven sites holds significance. Although cultural materials for chronological dating were absent in the investigated sites, historical sources indicate that the extraction and smelting of these metals in the region date back to at least the 3rd century AH (9th century AD) and persisted until the Qajar period

Keywords

Southeast Iran

Metallurgy

Central Bam County

Smelting

Ancient Mines

Subjects

Click subject name to see related articles.

Aghanabati, A. 2004. Geology of Iran. Tehran: Geological Organization of Iran. [in Persian].

Aghili Alavi Khorasani Shirazi, M. 2003. Al-Adoweeh Repository. Tehran, Ardahal White Publishing. [in Persian].

Ale Taha, B. 1996. Tutia and its preparation industry in Kuhbanan. Kerman Quarterly 20- 21: 56-57.

Asadpour Behzadi, B. 2002. Pearl of the Ancient Sea. Tehran, Amirreza Publications. [in Persian].

Caldwell, J.R. 1967. Investigations at Tal-i-Iblis. Illinois state Museum preliminary reports.

Craddock, P.T. 2018. Brass, zinc and the beginnings of chemical industry. Indian Journal of History of Science 53(2): 148.

Emami, M., A. Parvaresh. 2016. Mineralogish, Petrochemische Untersuchungen an Kupferschlacken aus „SHEIKH-ALI“ Ophiolithkupferlagerstaetten, Kerman, Iran, Archäometrie und Denkmalpflege.

Eskandari, N., S.M. Emami, 2022, Re-tracing Copper Metallurgy in the Shahdad Region (3rd Millennium BCE). Journal of Archaeological Studies 14(2):1-17.

Farmanfarma, F.M. 1981. Travelogue of Kerman and Baluchistan, edited by M. Ettehadieh (Nezam Mafi). Isfahan: Babak. [in Persian].

Garajian, A. 2008. A descriptive report on excavations at Tel-i Atashi and one of its related sites, Daristan Bam. Tehran, Organization of Cultural Heritage of the country (unpublished). [in Persian].

Ghorbani, M. 2000. Lead and zinc miines in Iran. Tehran, Geological Organization of Iran. [in Persian].

Ibn Hoqal, M. 1987. Surah al-Arz. Translated by J. Shoār. Tehran, Amir Kabir. [in Persian].

Istakhri, A. 1968. Al-Masalek and Al-Mamalek. Edited by I. Afshar. Tehran, Translation and Publishing Company. [in Persian].

Kashani, A. 1966. Arais Al-Jawaher and Nafais Al-Ataib. Tehran, Iraj Afshar Publications. [in Arabic].

Momenzadeh, M., M.F. Bastani. 1990. A review of ancient mining works in the Kerman region. In: the collection of Kermanology articles. Kerman, Kermanology Center Publications. [in Persian].

Moqdasi, A. 1983. Ahsan altaghasim. Translated by A. Monzavi. Tehran, Publisher of Iran Authors and Translators Company. [in Persian].

Mostowfi Qazvini, H. 2002. Nozhah Al-Qolub, the first part of the third article of M.D. Siaghi. Qazvin, Today’s Hadith Publications. [in Persian].

Syeks, S.P. 1984. Ten thousand miles in Iran. Translated by H. Saādat Noori. Tehran, Loheh Publication. [in Persian].

Thornton, C.P., C.C. Lamberg-Karlovsky. 2004. A new look at the prehistoric metallurgy of southeastern Iran. Iran 42(1): 47-59.

Vaziri, A. 2007. Geography of Bluchistan. Translated by M. Nasiri. Tehran: Publisher of the Iranian Works and Maghreb Association. [in Persian].

Zare, S., M. Atai. 2015. Castles of Bam: a preliminary look at the defense-security model in the cultural landscape of Bam. Iranology of Archaeology 9(7): 99-104. [in Persian].