Journal of Archaeological Studies

Abstract This paper discusses the adaptive typology of the motif “the standing god over the animal” in ancient arts of Mesopotamia and Asia Minor. The focus of attention is on Hittite civilization from Asia Minor and Babylonian, Sumerian, and Assyrian civilizations from Mesopotamia. The analysis of the results indicates that the common conformational characteristic of this motif in the aforementioned civilizations include: 1- the eminence of gods depicted as such. 2- Using this motif to generalize the credibility of gods to the wife and children. 3- Showing the symbolic relationship between the god and the animal standing over it.  Furthermore, the dissimilarities of the motif between the civilizations are in this manner: 1) the evolution of this motif was in the Anatolia under the influence of neighboring civilizations, however, in Mesopotamian motifs this evolution was very much dependent on cultural and artistic achievements of that region. 2) While in both civilizations, the sun and storm gods as well as goddesses are depicted as such, the scribal god in Mesopotamia, and protective god in Hittite civilization are depicted as a standing figure over the animal. 3) There are a wide variety of animals selected and existed for this motif in Mesopotamia. 4) In Asia Minor, animals are depicted realistically while in Mesopotamia hybrid animals are used.

Abstract Human, is basically moral inventory, that it has found its ethical aspects in the process of time. Today, with pluralism and social activities, the natural desire of man to another in matters of employment and professional activity, which is manifested as "professional ethics" is mentioned. Professional ethics in all knowledge is an undeniable necessity that its rules have been developed for each academic knowledge, so the lack of it, is the scientific damage. In Archaeological circles of the world, close to three decades, Archaeological researchers based their works on ethics governing on the profession of Archeology in advance. However, Archaeological knowledge of Iran that it has the seventy years of life, professional ethics and practice in education has not been experienced! The purpose of this article in addition to the determination of the ethics position in the world of Archeology is showing the lack of professional ethics in the teaching and practice in Archaeology of Iran. This research reviewed issues such as the importance of ethics, the history of ethics and morality in Archeology, theory and practice of ethics in Archaeology of Iran and concluded that there is no constructive engagement and mutual cooperation between colleagues Archaeologist, Archaeologists and people.

Abstract In this article, the Eastern Iran defines a region where situated between northeastern (equal Khorasan Razavi Province) and southeastern Iran (approximately equal Sistan & Baluchestan, Kerman and Hormozgan Provinces). The eastern Iran coincides with Southern Khorasan province. The archaeological research in Eastern Iran is very poor particularly in prehistory and historical periods. Unfortunately, any historical periods site such as Parthian Dynasty has been excavated and published therefore there are not material properties and characteristics of Parthian period in this region. In this article, Nehbandān castle is introduced as one of the most important evidence of the Parthian period in the Eastern Iran where located suburb of Nehbandān town according to new data. This area is mentioned in history texts as Neh. However others had previously insisted about the importance of the ancient Nehbandān town but they had proposed another ancient archaeological site in the region as ancient Neh. In this paper, based on archaeological excavations and restoration works were carried out which resulted in the recognition of diverse cultural material, Nehbandān castle is suggested as ancient Neh.

Abstract The ancient city of Isfarayen, known as “Bolqays” in literatures, is one of the most important and magnificent cities of Iran during the early Islamic ages. It is located in north eastern cultural part of Iran with remnants regarding to early Islamic centuries. This research considers the existence of ceramic filling furnaces, earthen tripods and hub stoves as an evidence of centrality of Bolqays among hundreds of villages in accordance with ancient literatures, following explaining and categorizing potteries in this cultural area and comparing them with other discovered potteries during the second century to forth Hijri century, by introducing one of the most important cultural material indicators in archeology, which according to these evidences describes that potteries are totally depended on figures. Thereby these potteries are not considered as imported materials in these areas. Other important result deducted about potteries available in these regions is the belief of artists and faith of artifice creators in monotheism thoughts, therefore the underlying unity of actions is actually considered as an explanation for unity of thoughts and monotheism faith which is originated from hearts and souls of handicrafts and it is reflected in figures.

Abstract Nowadays, the isotopic analysis solves many important issues in archeology and anthropology including the reconstruction of past diets, tracing the footsteps of the ancient migrations and recognition of climatic change. Important topics of the past regime and dietary habits of ethnic groups cover many aspects of human life as determination of changes in the dietary systems plays an important role in the mechanisms of survival, social and economic organizations of past societies. Determination of differences in food sources of men and women of past archaeological sites can be used not only for the characterization of the various dietary systems of past humans but to identify the social status of gender as well as underlying family relations. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how isotopic analysis work to determine gender differences in dietary systems. For this through this study we specifically used the results of stable isotope nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) analysis of teeth samples recovered from the people buried in an Iranian Iron Age cemetery.

Abstract The site of Kul Tepe is located near the city of Hadishahr, is an ancient multi-period tell about 6ha in extent and rises 19m above the surrounding land. At this site, the second season of archeological excavation primarily aimed to clarifying the chronology, settlement organization, and respond to some of the fundamental questions such as the transition process from Late Chalcolithic to Early Bronze Age, identifying different cultural horizon including Proto-Kura-Araxes and Kura-Araxes I period and also outlining cultural condition of the region during prehistoric and historic periods. The present paper is intended to expose briefly the main stratigraphic, architectural and material data from the site. Based on the results of the first and second season of excavation, it was distinguished that Kul Tepe possessed cultural material from Late Neolithic/Early Chalcolithic (Dalma), Late Chalcolithic (Pisdeli=LC1; LC­ 2 and 3=Chaff-faced Ware), Proto-Kura-Araxes and Kura-Araxes I, Early, Middle, Late Bronze Age, Iron III, Urartian and Achaemenid periods.

Abstract Based on the historical texts from the Achaemenian Empire, there have been tribes living in Sistan known as Drangiana or Zaranka. According to the texts these tribes assisted Cyrus by sending food and since then they were called Givers (assisters). Archaeological studies in Sistan introduced some places such as (Dahaneh-ye Qolaman (the Slaves’ Valley) and Surkh Dagh) to be as the settlement site of Evergetáe but there have been no reliable evidence for such suggestions. By conducting an archaeological study in Sistan we tried to locate several new Achaemenian areas, by which we explored new data which enable us to identify the actual location of Evergetáes. In this research comparison made on the characteristics of Evergetáes as mentioned in the written sources on one hand and archaeological specifications of the sites across the different parts of Sistan on the other hand we suggest an alternative location for the Achaemenian Evergetáe in the Sistan plain.

Abstract Applications of bronze alloy to produce different decorative and ritual objects have been commonplace during the Iranian Iron Age. A large number of bronze objects from the second and first millennia BC are discovered from archaeological excavations. Many of these objects were found from the Iron Age graveyards and sanctuaries of Luristan region. In this paper, some bronze objects discovered from Baba Jilan Iron Age graveyard, Pish-i Kuh of Luristan, are examined by analytical methods. For this purpose, metallography and SEM-EDS methods are employed to identify alloy composition and microstructure of bronze samples. The results showed that all samples are made of variable tin content bronze alloy. The variable tin content is a common event in Iron Age bronze objects and proves that an uncontrolled alloying method has been used to make bronze alloy. Analysis of different fine phases scattered in the microstructure of samples showed that they are sulphidic inclusions as well as lead globules. On the other hand, metallographic observations revealed that cycles of cold working and annealing are used to shaping and manufacturing the objects.

Abstract To obtain the site location modeling and patterning archaeological data to extract settlement pattern, GIS spatial analysis methods have been chosen for the study of Bastam plain. By using the GIS, predicting the suitable location for archaeological sites in the Bastam plain was created. Aggregation of different data through the archaeological survey and integration of environmental data were evaluated by using a predictive weight. The final results of site probability modelling were obtained based on the environmental factors. The simple, visual evaluation of the results indicates that 70% of the archaeological sites felt within the very high probability, 20% in the high probability and 10% in the medium probability zones in the corresponding predictive map. Based on the current field research and previous archaeological projects, it is argued that during the phase of early village including the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods settlements appeared to have been distributed densely across the area while the Bronze Age sites indicated a sharp decrease in the occupansions resulted in a sparse distributions of settlement areas.

Abstract Taj Amir Cemetery is located in southern side of Dena Mountain and east of Yasouj city in Kohgiluyeh and Boyerahmad Province. The cemetery was discovered in 2009 during the construction of Yasuj medical university. About 7 hectares of cemetery were destroyed and only 3 hectares remained intact. During an excavation project 16 graves were explored in the north of cemetery and geophysical survey to distinguish the extent of graveyards carried out in an about 2 ha. The most important structural features of the graves include, using rabble stone inside the chamber, placing a large stone in the southern parts of the graves as a symbol as well as constructing an entrance to the burial chamber. Pottery, bronze and stone objects were placed near the body might be functioned as burial gifts. According to archaeological evidence it seems probable that Taj Amir Cemetery may be related to the nomadic populations of about 2000 B.C. The present report summarizes the findings during the 1^st season of excavation carried out in this cemetery.

Abstract “Kurgans”, which have recently been explored during an archeological excavation in Iran, contain graves where Eurasian used to bury the corps of their dead people. The Kurgans in Jafarabad (in East Azerbayejan, Iran) were excavated by archeologists in 2011.According to the reports of the first phase of the excavations of Jafarabad, a total of 54 bronze objects were discovered the majority of which were ornamental objects.Most of these objects were explored from Kurgan no. 8 of this archaeological site including two bangles. In this research, SEM-EDS, AAS, X-Ray radiography, and metallography were applied to identify alloying composition and shaping techniques. Results showed that the bangles have been made from tin bronze. Based on microstructure, it can be concluded that an alternating operation has applied for shaping these objects. Radiographic images also confirmed the application of hammering techniques in the production of these objects.

Abstract The Persepolis clay tablets (dating back to Darius the Great) and the Mesopotamian archives from the time of Cyrus the Great as well as the historical reports from the time of Alexander the Great, each mentions a geographical location embracing political, official and trading importance somewhere on the northern coast of Persian gulf. The present paper at the first step aims at representing the most probable geographic situation for locating the mentioned sites by reviewing all existing textual resources. We conclude through this reviw that all actual location of some mentioned sites to a certain extent may be located inside the triangle of Bushehr, Borazjan and Ganaveh districts. Then at the second part by comparing textual sources with archaeological evidence we suggested that the most probable place for the Tamukkan, Tahmakah or Taoke would be located in somewhere in Borazjan plain which has been served as a port in the complex system of marine routes during the Achaemenids connecting the farthest parts of the empire especially the southern side of the Persian Gulf with Makka in the modern Omman.