Document Type : Research Paper

Author

• Seyed Mehdi Mousavinia

Associate Professor, Department of Archeology, Isfahan Art University, Isfahan, Iran.

Abstract

Zoroaster is one of the most prominent and influential figures in the history of ancient Iran. Despite the importance of comprehending Zoroaster’s life history toward abetter understanding of the cultural developmentprocessesof the Iranian society,a variety of proposed dates from the Neolithic period to the Achaemenid period testifies to the difficulty of conducting researchon this issue.The variety of proposed dates that had been derived from classical sources, Pahlavi texts and literature of the Islamic period were later regulated by linguistic studies and archaeological data.In this research,based on linguistic studies, an attempt has been made to examine and evaluate the archaeological data of the second and first millennia B.C.of the Central Asia, with the aim of verifying the feasibility of their connection with the Zoroastrian religion.In this regard, theraised question is: to what extent can we establish a connection between the developments of the second millennium B.C. in the eastern Iranian milieu and the emergence of Zoroaster? Moreover, what information does the archaeological data of the Iron Age of Central Asia provides about Zoroastrianism?In order to answer the proposed questions, the library research method(encompassing archaeological field reports) with a descriptive-analytical approach have been used.The results of this research shows that during the social developments of the late Bactrian-Margiana culture and the beginning of the Iron Age, certain cultural developments were taking place simultaneously, which could be evaluated and interpreted in the context of Zoroastrianism based on linguistic studies and archaeological data.

Keywords

• Zoroaster
• Iron Age
• Central Asia
• Burial Custom
• Fire Temple