Journal of Archaeological Studies

Abstract The revival of Chalcolithic sites have a particular importance in tracing the settlement patterns of the region, in the aegis of special biological features and replacing in environmental elements. By depicting the special features, the characteristics of plain of Hamedan and its strength in Northern plain (Kaboodarhang) must be hinted. This plain is determined as a joint fund between Central Zagros Region and Central Plateau of Iran, because of the situation and its replacement in an individual climate. Approach to the research, Based on surface survey data analysis purposes GIS and then combine them with data from environmental assessments. Which finally leads to the Analysis Catchment sites.

Abstract Some researchers believe that because of the severe earthquake and tsunami in the fourth century H., a large part of Siraf submerged by the Persian Gulf water fluctuations. Based on the available evidence and also by the archaeological survey of the Siraf coastal surrounding areas, the author argues that despite the devastating earthquake occurred to destroy much of the coastal architectural structures of the city the main destruction has been made by the steady sea water waves striking the coastal wall through time. The earthquake, however, has caused erosion in the historic port but the gentle slopes and shallow beach of city shows that there has been no possible reversal of the port structures into the deep water. This result is obtained by the observation made by the study of intact pottery kiln and the beach wall found through the excavations and by the underwater archaeology carried out in the sea sides of the ancient Siraf city.

Abstract Although Ilkhanids (1256-1353 CE) initially selected Maraghe and then Tabriz as their capital, the thought of founding a new city as a symbol of their kingdom encouraged them to establish Soltanieh. Ghazan Khan’s goal of constructing the newly-built capital was accomplished during Uljayto’s kingdom; a project that lasted for about 10 years (704-713 AH). Although Soltanieh’s fast development made it as one of the most important cities of the world within a short period, the procedure of its destruction began after the invasion of Timur Gurkani (1389 AH), so far that no considerable trace remained of that massive capital except few. There are many questions about formation, operation, spatial organization, social structure of inhabitants of this Ilkhanid metropolis. The main aim of the present research is to find a reasonable answer to such questions based on the archeological evidences. Processes of establishment, development and destruction of this ancient mega city and a list of its destructive factors are offered at the conclusion of present paper.

Abstract This paper presents the petrographic examination results on the thirteen pottery sherds from the first season of excavation of Tepe Gratziani in Sistan plain. In order to specify whether the pottery were local or imported, conducted experiments have been performed by polarizing microscope of Jame Swift Model in the petrographic lab of the Institute of Cultural Heritage which based on the review of test results and geological map of the area. It became clear that the source of all the pottery is local and also the remained structure of kilns demonstrates the local production of Tepe Gratziani’s pottery. Sections of examining pottery sherds show that the baking temperature has not been more than 800 centigrade due to the presence of Meekers “tiny calcite crystals” with less than 4 microns in size as well as the presence of Asparay “coarse calcite crystal” in the pottery sections.

Abstract The higher mountainous region of the Central Zagros is regarded as one of the important regions for the early human settlements. Although archaeological studies have been initiated from the early 20s but there has been little precise information on the absolute chronology and also transitional processes of cultural sequences especially on the eastern parts of the region including eastern Luristan. Archaeological excavation of Tappeh Qela-Gap carried out in 2009 in the Azna district. The previous study including four seasons of surveying identified 280 archaeological sites; one of which is Tappeh Qela-Gap is selected for excavation because of its different cultural sequences. The main aim of the excavation project firstly was to evaluate the regional chronology of the region as a whole and then to see the local variations of the site to establish a chronological framework for Azna plain. Two small soundings and also a wide trench dug out on the site provided some evidences corresponding to the early village life, pastoralism and cultural transformations of the region during the late Neolithic through the late Islamic phases.

Abstract As the chief communication channel between eastern and western civilizations, the  Silk Road has played the significant role in the history of northeastern Iran. The  Silk Road has provided a communicative way for commercial exchanges in one hand, and was in used by invader nomads in order to plunder of northeastern Iran during many decades in other hand. The contacts have led to interaction between various cultures and caused the populations expansions along the  Silk Road. Some metropolises such as Nishapur shows very well the significant role of the  Silk Road in the formation process of human settlements. Nishapur has continuously developed in the steady interaction with the Silk Road and has caused to flourish the road during the millennia. We can find some aspects of the process through studying historical documents and archaeological analysis.

Abstract Based on the historical data, Marhashi has been one of the eventful regions of Iran during the second and third millennium B. C. It has been also one of the important confederates of ancient Elam during the most of its life time. The Mesopotamia texts cited to its name beside the name of ancient Elam. The goal of this research is to determine the position of Marhashi region through study and examining the historical resources and archaeologist evidence indicated that Marhashi may has been located on the Pusht-i Kuh region of Elam province. During an archaeological survey carried out on the Pusht-i Kuh region of Elam, many sites of ancient Elam have been determined; one of which is named Kool Khazine. According to its archaeological findings we assumed Kool Khazine to have been most likely as the same of ancient Marhashi or a place that was connected with Marhashi.

Abstract Tappeh Bazgir is located 76km northeast of Torang Tappeh at the eastern fringes of the Gorgan plain. The metal hoard was discovered in 2001 and excavated in 2010. The hoard is composed of a diverse assemblage and date back to the Late Bronze Age / Hissar IIIC). We investigated six artifacts for studies using different methods such as metallographic studies, SEM-EDS, XRD, and some chemical analyses in order to better understand the composition, the manufacturing techniques utilized, the corrosion products, and impact of the long term burial on the stability of artifacts. The artifacts are of arsenical copper composition and have been manufactured by casting. The composition of the artifacts and the nature of their burial environment have affected the composition and structure of patina formed on the objects. The compositions of the surrounding soil, the positional arrangement of the objects, and the environmental conditions have decreased the rate of corrosion on the artifacts despite the long term burial time. These have consequently caused a rather good physical condition of the metal objects.

Abstract The goal of this article is to study the Shimashki potteries in the Saymarreh valley. Archaeological surveys conducted in the Saymarreh valley shows that the painted pottery tradition of Godin III has become prevalent in the valley during the Bronze Age and only once, development of this pottery tradition had cracked. This event took place in the phase of Godin III4, which we relate it to the influence of pottery traditions penetrating from Susiana plain to the Saymarreh valley. Contemporary with phase of Godin III4, there have been no potteries of such tradition, but the ceramics by the Shimashki styles appeared in Saymarreh valley. Diagnostic ceramics of Shimashki phase has been gathered in the archaeological surveys of Saymarreh valley at Ghale Zinal and Gharatmalghah. It seems that development of Shimashki period pottery as far as the Saymarreh valley, took place because of Ur III conflicts with polities at northern regions of Susiana plain. Saymarreh valley again joined to the distribution area of painted pottery tradition of Godin III and after the Shimashki period, diagnostic ceramics of Godin III2 phase have been wide-spread in the Saymarreh valley. Development process of painted pottery tradition of Godin III at Saymarreh valley support the view that Shimashki may was located in the highlands, somewhere in the northern parts of Susiana plain, although we cannot prove this in the absence of non textual data.

Abstract Ghorban Tower as an architectural monument is one of the outstanding resting- place of Islamic era in Hamadan city which has not been studied properly. Previous studies on the Tower concerning its architectural features or its historical background showed that the Tower may be a place where a dignified religious man named Khajeh Hafez Abol'ala Hamadani berried inside in Saljuk era and afterward the Dome itself was built on his grave by Ilkhanids. Our comparative study indicated that the Tower is only work survived from a large complex including school, monastery, library, tomb etc. It has been built by the power of Ilkhanids probably due to guard the name and memory of a religious leader in one of the regions of Hamadan called Sarbarzeh and Bab-Al-Asad which was referred to in the historical texts of the Islamic middle age.