Journal of Archaeological Studies

Archaeological activities during the past two decades at Bishapour have revealed architectural structures, plaster-molding, seals and other objects from this valuable site. This city, ... Read More

Research Paper

Investigation of the Chronological Statue of the Bronze Age in East of Lorestan (Based on the Excavation of the Gariran Tepe)

Mehdi Heydari; abbas Motarjam; Morteza Hesari

Volume 14, Issue 3 , October 2022, Pages 21-43

https://doi.org/10.22059/jarcs.2021.276778.142688

Abstract

Eastern Lorestan is one of the regions of the Central Zagros region where the fewest number of chronological studies related to the Bronze Age have been conducted. Chronological studies ... Read More Eastern Lorestan is one of the regions of the Central Zagros region where the fewest number of chronological studies related to the Bronze Age have been conducted. Chronological studies of the Central Zagros are more concentrated than other areas in the Gamasiab river areas in Nahavand and Kangavar. The chronological framework of Lorestan and Gamasiab valley face many problems concerning the Bronze Age. At present, the chronology of Gamasiab and Kangavar region is related to the 1970 and 1980s and so far, the volume and quality of archaeological findings has changed in this areas. In order to clarrify of the chronological status of East of Lorestan, stratigraphic excavation have been carried out at the mound of Gariran in Aleshtar. Excavations in this area have shown that the common pottery of the Bronze Age after the beginning of the Elamite period is a well-made painted pottery style called Godin III. Meanwhile, in the Gamasiab river basin, the Early Bronze Age is known by the Yaniq style. Based on the excavations at Gariran Tepe, it seems that the common cultures in the Bronze Age of Lorestan were mostly related to the western and southern regions of Lorestan. Yaniq pottery has not been obseved widely in this area. In this study, according to the findings obtained from the excavations at Gariran Tepe, the chronology has been adjusted according to the cultural and regional realities. According to this, the Early Bronze Age (early-to-mid third millennium BCE) has contined without any interruption at Gariran Tepe after the begining of the Elamite period. In this period of pottery, which is common to the old phases of old Godin III (which in Godin’s chronology belongs to the middle period of the Bronze Age) ancient Bronze polychrome pottery. In this study, we have attempted to answer the following questions: What is the chronology of eastern Lorestan during the Bronze Age, and, how can the exploration of Gariran Tepe’s stratigraphy be corrected given the chronological defects of eastern of Lorestan.

Research Paper

Decorated Bricks from Iron Age of Iran: Typology and Function

Asieh Dehghani; Hassan Fazeli nashli

Volume 14, Issue 3 , October 2022, Pages 45-67

https://doi.org/10.22059/jarcs.2020.282522.142726

Abstract

The study of architecture and architectural decorations is one of the most basic archaeological tools for the recognition of ancient cultures and societies. However, despite its importance ... Read More

Research Paper

Rereading the Stucco Paintings of Hall in Bandian Fire Temple and a Response to Recent Criticisms

Mahdi Rahbar

Volume 14, Issue 3 , October 2022, Pages 69-92

https://doi.org/10.22059/jarcs.2021.331938.143058

Abstract

During the last half of the 4th century CE, we recognize the presence of a desert-dwelling tribe called the Huns or the Hephthalites, who invaded the northeastern borders of Iran, killing ... Read More During the last half of the 4th century CE, we recognize the presence of a desert-dwelling tribe called the Huns or the Hephthalites, who invaded the northeastern borders of Iran, killing and looting. These people, who had flowed from western China to Central Asia, invaded northern Khorasan from time to time. The presence of such a great enemy forced several Sassanid kings to sally to the east to defend this important border, among them was Yazdgerd I, whose campaign to repel these invaders lasted seven years. The Dastgerd of Yazd Shaporan and the Bandian fire temple have been mentioned as Yazdgerd’s place of residence. Like Yazdgerd, Bahram V was also aware of the potential danger of nomads from the north and his presence on the front caused a heavy defeat for the Hephthalites. This is memorialized in the Bandian Dargaz, one of the fire temples of the Sassanid period. In the hall of this fire temple, the events of the war between Bahram V and the Hephthalite king are painted on stucco. In these stuccos, various scenes of Bahram V's departure from Ctesiphon to fight with the king of the Hephthalites has been shown in the form of successive motifs. The mentioned stuccos have been researched based on historical texts. In addition to the plaster motifs, the Sasanian Pahlavi inscriptions inscribed on the wall of the altar of the fire temple also provide additional context for some of these motifs. This fire temple, which was built during the time of Yazdgerd I, was developed further during the time of Bahram V, especially concerning the elaboration of stucco motifs. This fire temple was destroyed by the Hephthalites during the time of the Sasanian king Pirouz. Therefore, only a part of the lower part of the stucco remains. The present author's comments about some of the characters in this stucco have been criticized. We believe that this criticism, while welcome, has not been careful in matching motifs with some historical events.

Research Paper

New Findings of Medieval Islamic Metals in Troglodyte Tahyagh in Khomein

Esmael Sharahi; Hossein Sedighian

Volume 14, Issue 3 , October 2022, Pages 93-118

https://doi.org/10.22059/jarcs.2020.287667.142768

Abstract

Troglodyte Tahyagh is one of the important sites of the medieval Islamic period in Iran. During the first season of archaeological excavations at this site, in addition to identifying ... Read More

Research Paper

Preliminary Study and Introduction of Discovered Seals from the Parthian Cemetery of Westmin, Kiasar, Sari, Based on Three Seasons of Excavations in 2015-2018

abdolmotaleb sharifi; Bahman Firouzmandi Shirah Jini; kamal aldin niknami

Volume 14, Issue 3 , October 2022, Pages 119-140

https://doi.org/10.22059/jarcs.2022.343035.143152

Abstract

In 2014, the contractor company operating the Damghan-Neka gas transmission line demolished and exposed two Parthian burial mounds in the village of Vestemin. Vestemin is located 80 ... Read More

Research Paper

Tepe Chay Khoy, New Evidence from the Chalcolithic Period Northwest of Lake Urmia: Regional and Transregional Interactions with Lake Urmia, Caucasus and Eastern Anatolia

Afrasiab Garavand; Ardeshir Javanmardzadeh; Akbar Abedi; Fatemeh Malekpur

Volume 14, Issue 3 , October 2022, Pages 141-167

Abstract

Tepe "Chay" (1181 m asl) is a small site with an area of less than one hectare in and a height of 1 meter above the surrounding fertile lands, which is located 2.5 km southwest of Dizajdiz ... Read More Tepe "Chay" (1181 m asl) is a small site with an area of less than one hectare in and a height of 1 meter above the surrounding fertile lands, which is located 2.5 km southwest of Dizajdiz town and 10 km southeast of Khoy. The first season of excavation at the site was carried out in July and August of 2021 in order to delimit the site, to ascertain its exact extent as well as conduct soundings of the stratigraphy of the site to better understand its phasing, periodization and chronology. In this regard, nine test trenches were excavated in different parts of the site; of these, only three test trenches were located within the site’s limits and the rest were off-site. Based on the delimiting soundings the exact extent of the site was 7468 square meters. A stratigraphic trench (TR.10) was also excavated in the southwestern part of Tepe Chay and in total, 7.4 m of architectural, layers and cultural deposits were identified; virgin soil was reached at a depth of 8 meters. According to the typology of pottery obtained from the layers and their comparison with other sites of northwestern Iran, the a relative chronology of the site consists of four settlement phases belonging to 1) the Early Chalcolithic (Dalma culture) (Tepe Chay I); 2) Late Chalcolithic 1 (Pisdeli) (Tepe Chay II); 3) Late Chalcolithic 2 (Chaff-Faced Ware) (Tepe Chay III); and 4) Late Chalcolithic 3 (Chaff-Tempered with comb-design and perforated manqals). Futhermore a Kura-Araxes I (Tepe Chay IV) component is suggested for the sequence of the site. During the excavation, no cultural interruption or gap was observed between Late Chalcolithic and Kura-Araxes layers, and the evidence indicates a continuity and transition between these two periods. It is therefore possible that the Kura-Araxesian, like the Kul Tepe Hadishahr, originates from Late Chalcolithic society of Tepe Chay. Therefore, according to the results of the excavations of Tepe Chay as well as the excavations of Kul Tepe, Dozdaghi Khoy, Tepe Gijlar and Geoy Tepe, perhaps northwestern Iran can be introduced as one of the core centers for the formation of early stages of the Kura-Araxes culture. Evidence from the excavation also suggests a function of trade with neighboring areas, especially the prehistoric obsidian and salt trade for Tepe Chay.

Research Paper

The Continuity and Relationship between Meaning and Example in the Tombstone of the Islamic Age of Iran (Case Study of Ram and Stone Lion)

Esmaeel Maroufi Aghdam; Karim Hajizadeh; Reza Rezaloo; Behrouz Afkhami

Volume 14, Issue 3 , October 2022, Pages 169-194

https://doi.org/10.22059/jarcs.2020.286487.142760

Abstract

Tombstones in cemeteries are perhaps one of the most semantically complex human works of art. Tombstones deal with the most important and most painful event in human life, namely death ... Read More

Research Paper

Position of the Jubara Qquarter in Historical Changes and its Influence on the Zone of Isfaha

Shahbaz Nouri Fesharaki; Mohsen Javeri; Mohammad Mortezayi

Volume 14, Issue 3 , October 2022, Pages 195-218

https://doi.org/10.22059/jarcs.2020.284264.142737

Abstract

Esfahan is one of the cities that, despite its ups and downs, retains part of its historic texture and is relatively healthy. Two factors have contributed to the maintenance of the ... Read More

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Volume & Issue: Volume 14, Issue 3 - Serial Number 31, October 2022, Pages 1-220

Newly Found Stucco with Human Figures from Bishapour

Abstract

Investigation of the Chronological Statue of the Bronze Age in East of Lorestan (Based on the Excavation of the Gariran Tepe)

Abstract

Decorated Bricks from Iron Age of Iran: Typology and Function

Abstract

Rereading the Stucco Paintings of Hall in Bandian Fire Temple and a Response to Recent Criticisms

Abstract

New Findings of Medieval Islamic Metals in Troglodyte Tahyagh in Khomein

Abstract

Preliminary Study and Introduction of Discovered Seals from the Parthian Cemetery of Westmin, Kiasar, Sari, Based on Three Seasons of Excavations in 2015-2018

Abstract

Tepe Chay Khoy, New Evidence from the Chalcolithic Period Northwest of Lake Urmia: Regional and Transregional Interactions with Lake Urmia, Caucasus and Eastern Anatolia

Abstract

The Continuity and Relationship between Meaning and Example in the Tombstone of the Islamic Age of Iran (Case Study of Ram and Stone Lion)

Abstract

Position of the Jubara Qquarter in Historical Changes and its Influence on the Zone of Isfaha

Abstract