Journal of Archaeological Studies

Abstract Translation was indubitably one of the eminent skills of Muslims. The tendencies of society for acquiring science and craft, great attention of caliphs and fond-of-science families, the very existence of numerous libraries, cheap price of paper and etc., were of the reasons of Muslims’ overall attention to translating skills. Such attention led to the transition of past nations’ legacies to Islamic nations and from there to west. But what consequences has been this transition between the Western and Islamic nations? The purpose of this research is to consider the consequences of the transition of science to Islamic and west lands and nations. For this research, descriptive-analytical research method is followed and study method is library-based and such conclusion was reached: the confrontation of Muslims with the people of defeated lands, translation movement began to start and numerous books of different languages were translated into Arabic. On the other hand, west too, benefited from the advantages of translation and its own and other nations’ cultural transition which smoother the path for the arrival of Cultural Renaissance.

Abstract The site of Sofalin lies in the north Central Iranian Plateau in the north of Pishva city about 35 kilometres south-east of Tehran capital city. The excavations at Tepe Sofalin revealed information on the Proto-writing evidence of the controls on economy, art as well as the cultural and religious life of this period. Cultural sequence of the study period was identified during the some excavations seasons and it was revealed that the site was occupied continuously from first phase of the proto-writhing to the Proto-Elamite time. The seal impressions found from this site are documented, introduced and published here for the first time. The most important questions regarding the seal impressions of Sofalin are: which kinds of animal iconography, function and style were used? Have been seals made by local traditions? For the study of seal collections a comparative approach has been used to compare seal impressions found at Sofalin with its contemporary sites of Susa and those from Mesopotamia. The results of study showed that there have been some similarities between Sofalin and Mesopotamian seals impressions. The Proto-Elamite material showed the internal and external relationships for the peoples inhabiting Proto- Elamite societies; so based on the seal impressions comparisons it is evident that the proto-Elamite period can be attributed to have been in the earliest phase of urban development in the late 4th and early third millennium BC

Abstract

Abstract There are few Wall Paintings remained from the Parthian and Sassanid era in Iran.These limited examples play a major role in the development of the study and our knowledge on pre-Islamic Iranian painting. The present paper examined two of these remains, one a Parthian Wall Painting in Kuh-e Khwaje in Sistan and the other a unique sample of early Sasanians Wall Painting in Firuzabad, Fars province, dating back to two different times in two different sites, they reveal evident similarities in the style. Also considering the vast painted surfaces in both sites and the characteristic specifications of the sites, one can see the high artistic capabilities applied for painting them.Althoughboth paintings demonstrate the application of different methods, they are well adapted with the host structure in functional conception, in a strong harmony with the echo system of the site and acknowledging the cultural diversity of the creating civilization.Studying these wall paintings in terms of subject and style shows the Sasanian Painting despite of the influences of Hellenistic art, also has been affected by Parthian painting style from east of Iran.

Abstract The Sassanid kings, named after the Sassan, great of Pars and the priest of the Anahita Temple in the Estakhr ruled in Iran from the third to the seventh century AD. The most important buildings of Sassanians in Iran are the majestic palaces of the kings. Bisapur is one of the most important cities of the Sassanid era, which is located in Kazerun County. Following an archaeological study on the Sassanid pavement located in the mountainous region of the city of Kotal in the east of Kazerun city, the remains of some stone masses from the Sassanid era came to light on the basis of archaeological investigations and studies by the Cultural Heritage office of Kazerun. It was discovered that these two sites were used as a stone mines. Stone is one of the materials used to build bisapur buildings. Considering that in most cases archaeological investigations are based on material evidence, it is necessary to better understand these data and interpret them by using interdisciplinary sciences. Accordingly, in this research, a field survey and sampling of the stones used in the construction of Bisapur buildings have been carried out and after sampling of the Bishapur buildings, comparison of samples taken from other stone mines (based on laboratory methods) for understanding the source of stones extraction has been addressed. To achieve this, the experimental methods of studying the Thin Sections of the stones, as well as the XRD and XRF analysis were applied and it was determined by the experiments that the mines and buildings stones of the Sassanid era of Bishapur (Valerian Palace, Anahita Temple and Towers) were made of genus compounds with similar structures.

Abstract Archaeogenetics, a nascent and emerging science, is based on a combination of biology and genetics which has a high potential in discovering the untold facts about livelihood and culture of ancient times, such as modern human origins and diets evolutionary trend. This area of biology, also focus on migration and geographical distribution of humans and genetic variation in ancient DNA samples around the world in comparison to modern humans. Highly polymorphic DNA regions like STR found on the male-specific Y chromosome in nucleus and mitochondrial (mt) DNA are used in archaeogenetics to study genetic variation within a target population. mtDNA D-loop region is very polymorphic that consists of two hyper variable regions including HVI and HVII with a large variety in different human populations. Analysis on these regions of mtDNA using ancient excavated human bones will lead to determine the genetic composition of human mtDNA known as haplogroups. mtDNA can be used to identify the ancient ethnic groups, trace descendants of ancestors and their migration trails.This is achieved by comparing mtDNA haplogroups between different ethnic groups all over the world.In this study, we have performed analysis using ancient DNA extracted from 5 excavated human bones. Ancient human bones were obtained from Haft-Tepe. We performed PCR amplifications for HVI and HVII regions of the mtDNA followed by sequencing with ABI. Then comparisons The Cambridge Reference Sequence and the sequences obtained in the current study were done at NCBI site. Hoplogroup residents were R2 and R5. By tracking haplogroups from indo-Iranian , we can conclude that these haplogroups dated to 5000 B.P in Iran, and possibly originated in southwestern Iran and from the Elamite civilization.

Abstract Architects have always built mosques as one of the important elements of the architecture of urban buildings with different designs and climate considerations. Tabas area located south of southern Khorasan province has always played an important role in Iranian history, art and culture, especially during Islamic period. This feature can be found from the many valuable and valuable works left over from the architecture of this area. In the archaeological survey in 1394 in Dastgerdan Tabas, was identified two mosques; "Dastgerdan Old Mosques" and "Hudar" in this area i, which have not been studied of their structure and function. The mosque has a unique geometric plan with two Ivans Khorasan mosques comparable in middle Islamic period. Since this mosque is not studied and archaeological analysis, therefore, the present study is of particular importance. The method used in this research is of fundamental type and its method is descriptive-analytical. The field surveys and studies have collected by library resources through observation and mapping. In this article, we tried to determine the type of masonry and compared through other mosques, cultural and historical context of the situation to be examined. The results show that according to the structure of the Dastgerdan Old Mosque, and the context in which it was formed, Dating construction to the Middle Islamic period, in particular, it is base to the "Ilkhanid era".

Abstract Jundishapur is one of the towns with a rectangular plan, built by Shapur I in the north of the Kuzistan close to the Mansor River and like Bishapur, on one side is limited to the river, but here there is no fort and castle to protect the city. Archaeological studies in Jundishapur were carried out by mapping and aerial photography and systematic archaeological examination and a total of forty one point of occupation were identified. The abstract results of the index samples along with written sources made it clear that the establishment has continued throughout Christian centuries. The water flowed in the city from the Mansoor black harbor through the Jundishapur Bridge. Due to the decrease in water in the summer, a qanat was built in 14 km length from the Dez River to adjust and increase the water level of the Jundishapur River representing the efforts of Sasanians in the water supply system.

Abstract Investigating the accounting systems and their progressive development during the prehistoric period is a critical issue in recognition of human societies, their communication, and formation of inter- and intra-regional trade system which have been transformed to innovation of writing systems. The present study aims at studying the typology and classification of the Chalcolithic period (Bakun) numerical objects discovered in Tal-e Mash Karim in Semirom district located in Esfahan province. The discovered cultural materials consisted of 32 numerical tokens and a clay tallying slab. The numerical tokens are divided into three main categories and seven sub categories. The discovery of a tallying slab beside the artifacts all is proving the existence on an early accounting system.

Abstract The Silakhor Plain is one of the key plains in the eastern part of Central Zagros that its suitable environment made a significant base for human habitants since prehistoric time. This plain is located in the east of Nahavand and Kangavar valleys and it is about 70 km length and 12 km width besides the east of Oshterankooh range between Broujerd and Dorrod cities in Luristan province. In the past decades, over 700 ancient sites from Neolithic to the Islamic era were identified by Parviz (1382-1385). Since then, no detaile anaysis have been done on the settlement patterns of this region. In this study, only settlement patterns of the Bronze Age in this area evaluated based on the fifty-one settelements from Silakhor Plain to undestand effictive parameters on site vriabilities, distributions and types by means of GIS. The initial results outlined some of the key geographic factors affecting settlement variabilities. Among the geographical features, Tireh and Chalanchulan Riveres, springs, tributary streams, fertile lands, degree of land slope, ancient roads and proximity to geological faults were the most effective reasons. Based on those key factors, six kinds of settlement patterns have been identified in the region that will be discussed in this paper.

Abstract Historical sources provide valuable information related to extent, control and maintaining security, stations and its services about Achaemenid Royal Road, but they tell nothing about jobs and officials who worked at traveling services. Fourtunatley, there are 719 texts of travel rations (Q texts) in the Persepolis Fortification Archive, revealing highly important information about offering service to passengers. In this paper, by separating texts belong to each certain job, we try to analyze through comparing them in case of personal names, seal and other information, to familiarity the workers and their commission. Study on travel ration texts shows that mentioned jobs in term are originally Iranian, and many of them such as travel guide, were professional and heirachial job.

Abstract ‌Southern basin of Urmia Lake has faced the significant political, cultural, and artistic evolutions during the first millennium BC. Rising and development of local governments caused progresses in arts especially in the metal working productions. Gargul belt was discovered fragmentarily in 2009 at Gargul village about 35 Km to Hasanlu. The belt was discovered as nine fragmentary pieces of a 95 cm bronze plate. The main centrally decoration of the belt has been worked on the buckle. Although, manufacturer did not focus on details in Gargul belt, apparently the depictions inspired by Assyrian and created out by local artist. At 1st millennium BC, there are local, Assyrian, Urartu, and sometimes Schythian artistic styles at southern basin of Urmia Lake, however, Gargul belt clearly would introduce a local artistic style that is apparent in the findings from Hasanlu, Ziwyeh and Ghalaichi which have been  partially comparable to Mannaean art. The belt of Gargul can be attributed to one of rulers or commanders of Gilzanu at 2nd half of 9th century or later when the Solduz plain was occupied by Urartuians.

Abstract Investigation and evaluation of historical object's properties and their components with respect to structural, technical and pathological point of view through nondestructive testing (NDT), is one of the most important research field in archaeometry. In this paper, the qualitative and quantitative result of chemical composition of glaze (case study: multicolored tile, probably from Safavied era) is presented through X-ray microprobe analysis (XPMA) and without sampling. Results of this analysis demonstrate the possibility of recognition of major, minor and trace elements in glaze and their amounts, through fast, nondestructive, accurate and facile method. The data obtained from this analysis point to that these glazes can classified in lead glaze group and calcium oxide has flux role in the composition. Colorants such as turquoise blue (copper oxide), yellow (with the presence of iron oxide in the vicinity of calcium oxide) and bright green (chromium oxide), indicate that firing atmosphere of glaze was oxidation environment. Also, characterization of mineralogical and chemical composition of this sample was carried out through elemental, phases and thermal analysis (XRF, XRD, and STA) and petrography. The results indicate that firing temperature of tile body has been 800 – 850℃ in oxidation condition.

Abstract Achaemenid art is royal Courtly art which has been influenced by subordinate nations arts. The different nations like Mesopotamian, Egyptian and Anatolian. As it is clear that Achaemenid art as a magnificent court art was a modest imitation of the another nations art But they did not ever blindly imitate others' art,but they transformed what they took from others and changed into Iranian art;and becouse of that, the coordination and harmony that was seen in the Achaemenid style,  was the localization of the artistic element of other nations.This paper trying to discuss, analyze and compare of human proportions of statues and reliefs as one of the most important artificial evidence of Achaemenid dynasty. Proportion also is visible in nature. Anatomical proportion is a mathematical concept which that important in visual arts. The formula of a golden division in Proportion is also visible at the nature and human artifacts such as statues and monuments. In this study, the influences of the Achaemenid art from subordinate nation's arts have been considered as a source of proportions in this period. The results indicate that human proportions in Achaemenid art has been Influenced by art and artistic proportions rules of Mesopotamia, Greece and specially Egypt. It is noted that highest point of Achaemenid art in terms of use principles Proportion in architecture and sculpture is very similar to the Egyptian art.