Journal of Archaeological Studies

Abstract Marble wares found in excavations in Jirof and Shahr-I Sokhta were analyzed by XRF and XRF and examined based on petrographic tests in order to reveal the structural differences. Samples of Jiroft are mainly yellow in color with scattered yellow veins, while those of the Shahr-I Sokhta are quite different in form and have colorful veins ranging from yellow to brown. The present study aimed mainly to examine the two mentioned marble samples structurally and to analyze them chemically. Analyses and petrographic tests revealed that although the two samples were mainly composed of calcite, they were different structurally; samples of Jiroft were structurally composed of scale calcite and those of the Shahr-I Sokhta of radial or needle-like calcite. The depth in which they were formed influences on structure as well. Moreover, the nature of metamorphism and its speed has affected on the structure of marble stones.

Abstract Zibri plain is located northeast of Ilamabad-e Gharb between Mahidasht and Islamabad. This study intends to identify a logical link between situation of the sites belonging to the village period and the environmental factors in this plain; for this, we identifed those environmental features that influenced the location of and distribution of sites. An inductive approach was applied to identify the distribution pattern of sites and with collecting environmental and archaeological data, “significant” and “correlation” relations between these two type of variables was evaluated using spearman statistical analysis using SPSS software. According to this analysis it was realized that the environmental factors such as water distribution, agricultural lands and distribution of vegetation are major factors influencing site locations. Site catchment analysis indicates a strong dependence on fertile agricultural lands especially in lush places around the plain by the initial villagers (Early Neolithic) It shows an increasing in xploitation of novel sources to nourishing domesticated animals in an innovative subsistence strategy during middle village period.

Abstract One of the interdisciplinary approaches which recently had a key role in resolving of archaeological issues, especially domestication process, was Archaeogenetics. Caprines were domesticated in the early Neolithic period and their domestication was a major part of the process that led to the invention of agriculture. Since goat has had a key role in subsistence economy of human societies in different environments hence it became one of the main aims of archeogentics studies. By use of aDNA of goats and archaeogenetics approaches, this paper extracted and analyzed 10 samples of goat aDNA from Neolithic period of Kashan and Qazvin plains and determined their phylogenetic relations with modern domestic and wild goats to shed more light on the life of late Neolithic society of central plateau of Iran. Results show that these samples have closest genetic relations with haplogroup A of wild goats which now live in southeastern of Turkey. Hence archeogenetic evidences show that by 7500 B.P, Neolithic societies of Iran central plateau used goats which were domesticated about 10000 B.P in southeastern Turkey.

Abstract Seals and clay sealings are the most important cultural material of Sasanian period. There have been a few seals and bullas of various periods retained in the Moghadam Museum of Tehran. These materials have not been introduced so far. Authors of the present paper aim at to study and introduce the sasanian seals and bullas of this museum especially those bearing animal symbolic motifs. We do this through comparing them by the same materials of the different collections such as Qasr-i Abu Nasr and Takht-i Soleiman collections while some of them are introduced here for the first time. The most interesting thing which we foun by this sresearch have been the Mithraism elements which were used by Sasanians as iconographic motifs on their sealing systems.

Abstract It has been proposed that some structures at Persepolis served as calendarical or astronomical mechanisms. Despite a general lack of evidence of such functionality at the site, a stone slab in the Central Palace (the Tripylon Gate) has been claimed as evidence supporting this theory. The chiseled signs on this slab have been interpreted as symbols indicating the precise time of the spring equinox (March 21) marking the beginning of the new year. The suggestion that the Central Palace served as an ancient observatory, however, requires a closer inspection. To properly interpret the intended function of this stone and its mysterious signs, it must be studied in the context of archaeological and architectural investigations.

Abstract Stable isotope analysis, being used in many research areas, has also been applied in archaeology during the last three decades to address questions regarding the paleoclimatology and ancient diet, mobility and migration. Despite the growing number of the application of stable isotope analysis in archaeological studies, there is a very few research in this regard in archaeology of Iran. This research aims to study the human skeleton remains of Iron Age site of Masjed Kabud in Tabriz, using strontium stable isotope analysis. Therefore, tooth and bone samples obtained from skeletons of the mentioned site where studied through strontium isotope ratio (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) and trace element analysis Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca to address the question if the skeletons are local or non-local. Result of ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr revealed that all samples could be considered as local except of 81-8 burial, which belongs to a female individual, as it was out of the local range (local mean ± 2 SD). The result of trace element analysis and measuring the Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca were analyzed statistically suing independent test sample. Results for both sample groups (Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca between teeth and bones) demonstrate that there is no significant difference between the two sample groups. Therefore skeletons could be considered as local. This research in addition to addressing the hypothesis, mentioned above, revealed that the method could be applied in similar research projects and the result of strontium isotope and trace element analysis could be also sued in different studies such as archaeology, geology and other interdisciplinary scientific areas.

Abstract In the past two decades several new approaches have emerged in archeology. New archeology which found its true nature in deep interdisciplinary relations created new approaches involving different sciences such as basic, natural, engineering, laboratory, geographical, social, human, etc. Spatial archaeology is one of these new approaches. It is kind of recycling information of ancient civilizations through studying architectural structures, settlement spaces, and effective systems of inside/ outside the sites. Since this science studies architectural spaces and ancient contexts of different historical periods using different disciplines at different levels, it can be extensively used by experts in prehistoric and contemporary archeology. The present paper describes previous studies and theoretical foundations of such approach and attempts to explain its levels/ methods and answer how spatial archaeology can be used in the study and analysis of architectural spaces, settlements and ancient urban systems.

Abstract The handmade subterranean architectural structure is a special kind of architecture that is in its creation does not require any construction materials but it needs many efforts and hard working to be produced The different types of this kind are visible in the different parts of Iran. A unique collection of this type of architecture is the troglodytic architectural complex of Samen, located about 90 km from the south of Hamadan, 15 km from the south west of Malayer. Accessibility to this complex has been possible first in 2006. This site is composed of about 50 troglodytic architectural spaces in different sizes including corridors, halls and rooms. Four successive research programs (identification, documentation, clearing and archeological excavations) were carried out on this complex from 2008 to 2011 conducted by one of us; Ali Khaksar. Field study of this complex brought to light not only the unknown characteristics of such subterranean architecture but resulted in to discover about 60 human bone fragments. Our comparative analysis on the materials found from the site as well as on the human bone fragments led to conclude the site has been in use during the Parthian period.

Abstract The interactions between southeastern sites of Iranian plateau and western sites in Susa and Mesopotamia in the third millennium B.C is one of the most controversial aspects of the Near Eastern archaeology. It seems that with some structural changes in these sites from the middle of 4^th millennium B.C that led to long distance trade between Mesopotamia and Indus valley, these sites were related to each other more than earlier periods. This paper by regarding the Snake motifs as one of the common motifs on the archaeological material of Iranian plateau and Mesopotamia, attempts to clarify some aspects of this relationship in the prehistoric period. Furthermore, this paper attempts to study the transition of ideology andthoughts with cultural materials in this vast chain of exchanges. As a result, in the third millennium B.C some ideologies, symbols and beliefs weretransferred with exchanged productions and luxury objects from east to west andvice versa.

Abstract The ancient hills are the human’s close and far activities sense. These places may be the transit camp survivors or ruins towns or villages. This paper studies the archaeology of the ancient hill of Meymanabad using micromorphology methods. This hill situated in Robat Kareem_in South-East village called Meymantabad. The result has showed that before the establishment of the site occupations there have been a warm and wetter conditions througout the region.  According to the cubic microscopic structure that is the region natural examples index, a period lack of establishment from point E to point D has occurred.  The point C is the latest cultural point and after this there are no cultural effects. In fact, what makes this civilization wiped out was the river flooding of Shadchay River resulted in the destruction of the site and caused the peoples to abandon their settlement areas.  

Abstract The Topheth (in Ancient Jerusalem), considered as a holly land in Canaanites period, it was the altar of human sacrifice in honor of Baal. The history of the ritual, human sacrifice and the ceremonies accompanied with, among Jewish people returns back to when the land of Canaan in Jordan Valley was occupied by the Israelite people leading by Joshua (ca.1426 B.C.). On these Altars the new born children especially males were consigned to fire! Jeremiah, the prophet in 6th century B.C., in opposition to this ritual called the Topheth region the Valley of Death. In Islamic sources this area has been mentioned as the place of doom. This article is to study the way this ritual, offering of first-born children especially of male children adopted by Jewish people, in specific time span of their history under the Canaanites influence.

Abstract Khole-Kū is located in the south of Takestan and on the border of Qazvin plain. This site was sounding during an archaeological project in the spring of 2011. The pottery materials found by this excavation indicated for the site to have been succesivly occupied from prehistory to Islamic periods. In this article we performed a classification framework based on the typological characteristics of the prehistoric potteries by which four types of ceramics were identified: simple, painted, standard and Cheshmeh Ali types. In order to gain a relative chronology for the different types we compared them with those potteries of Central Plateau in the same horizon. According to the relative chronology and pottery similarities, the prehistoric materials of Khole-Kū can be placed in the Late Transitional Chalcolithic period that is dated at 5200-4600 BC.