Journal of Archaeological Studies

Abstract The concept of legitimation in the Sasanian was formed on Khwarrah and provided a spiritual authority for their king. Khwarrah as a Godly force, due to the government communications was sent into the Byzantine and it led to forming a common approach in displaying religious legitimacy. This concept has needed variety of symbols based on religious beliefs that are equal and replaced with each other in artworks. How to organize the message of legitimacy with the help of these symptoms is the aim of this study that was done by semiotics method. According to this method, artworks are based on a code which involves Interactive multilateral as a discursive position. Decoding by positioning in the axis of juxtaposition and succession, specify that message in each representation expresses its content with a cofactor (Anchor) which forms the main structure. The first anchor is Gods and angels as donors’ legitimation and symptoms bringers. They are generally donated a ring instead of the second factor that links visual codes and also plays a main role. So the case study signs are placed in the center of this ring.

Abstract The Sassanid bas- relief so- called as Khān Takhti is located at the Mt. Pīrchāvūsh, the village of Khān Takhti, near to Salmās, W. Azerbaijan; whereon two equestrians and two pedestrians have been carved. The equestrian men are Artaxerxes the Unifier and Shāpūr the great giving tow royal coronas to the pedestrian men. It is notable that results of western and Iranian researchers on the identity of these persons are different; while many of them have presented this bas- relief as the allegiance of Armenian nobles with Artaxerxes the Pāpagān. Yet, the authors have revised such an idea as the triple fallacies of ad nauseam, ad popolum and non importatur causandi reciproci. And they have concluded that this bas- relief, historically, depicts the victory of Artaxerxes (I) at the battle for Azerbaijan and the allegiance of the Arsacid Houses of Sorens and Espahbads with the House of Sassans.

Abstract The figurines are one of the most important objects in Shahr-I-Sukhta, which indicate the parts of the contemporaneous art and the general social condition. An investigation on the human figurines from Bronze Age of Shahr-I-Sukhta suggests the similarities between Iran and other neighboring regions. The figurines show the beliefs and attitudes, environmental effects, and interregional cultural exchanges of Shahr-I-Sukhta with other regions. The analysis of this study is basically based on the chronology and stylistic comparison mad between Shahr-I-Sukhta and other connected regions. One of the most important questions is the contemporaneity or mere stylistic similarity of figurines to which the chronology of neighboring and remote sites, historical relations of the Bronze Age and the similarities of Shahr-I-Sukhta figurines with other areas were investigated. Considering chronology and similarities, however, figurines are functionally different; they suggest reciprocal effects, exchanges, and contemporaneity. As there are many comparison problems in studying per-historic figurines, focusing on chronological communication development is not for sure even if they are satisfactory mainly due to the fact that the environment and beliefs themselves both are the issues that might be differed among the

Abstract Attention to the Architecture of the second and first millennium B.C. in Guilan, province is the subject of the many recent field works and studies, provided information on the situation of the residents of Gilan in this period. In this paper, we try to make a brief introduction about settlement sites such as Pilla Qale, Kaluraz in Roudbar and Sardkhoonipesht in Talish areas. We introduce the characteristics of the architectural remains found from new excavated sites in Guilan, including Oskulak in Roudbar, Kafarestan of Dailaman and Liarsangbon complex in Amlash which are belonged to the second and first millennium B.C. According to comparative studies on pottery and relative chronology presented, these three sites have had evidences of permanent and semi-permanent architecture from the mid second millennium to the late first millennium B.C. The most important properties of settlements and architectural structures of these sites in the second and first millennium B.C. were included as: building with or sometimes without foundation, using stone and sometimes mud in the construction of walls, ordering wall with or sometimes without mud  mortar, the rectangular living spaces with fastening at the angles but far from proportionality geometric, making platforms for establishing the settlements, flooring with trampling or burning method in order to prevent moisture penetration, using wooden beams as columns or roof covering and fitting thermal structures in the interior of residential spaces.

Abstract In the Islamic tradition it has been described that Prophet has gone to Ascension by a fantastic creature called "Buraq". Many Pictures and descriptions of “Boraq” remained in the paintings and literary texts such as: horse, four-legged creatures winged or wingless and so on. In mysticism, “Boraq” has different specific concepts and interpretations. According to descriptions and images, “Boraq” is placed as fabulous creatures "human-animal".The imaginative creatures have a mythological history. Extraordinary examples of fabulous creatures were created on bronze art work in Luristan. There is a problem as what similarity is between the physical structure of “Boraq” and the bronze motifs in Luristan? Some composed art designs such as "human-animal" are embossed in the Luristan bronzes indicating similarities between them and the “Boraq” illustrations. This study aimed to determine the history of mythological motifs matching the “Boraq” appearance in one hand and understanding the concepts of motifs applied on the Luristan boronz working on the other hand to which a comparative was performed and information derived from library data were analysed. Results showed that there has been a similarity between the Prophet's “Boraq” designs and those motifs were seen from Luristan bronze motifs which in turn may have been assumed to be borrowed from the ancient Iranian Mithraism and or other Indo-Iranian beliefs.

Abstract Transformation Processes cover the issues on interactions between tools and structures with natural and cultural environments. These processes provide a profound concept on the archaeological site formations through which the sites were subjected to the various alterations. Understanding of these processes and their context helps archaeologist to interpret archaeological data in an appropriate way. In this research we have tried to use transformation processes for interpreting of cultural material of a rescue excavations carried out at Tepe Bimarestan in Ashkhane town, North Khorasan Province. Tepe Bimarestan Cemetery is located on the natural hill in the southern periphery of Ashkhane town. The aim of the excavations at this site was at the first to rescue cultural data Bulldozer diggings. This mound was used as cemetery during Iron Age and then by Islamic Periods. Because of the latter, many of Iron Age graves were destroyed except just one escaped. By this process there have been a great number typical Iron Age sherds were scattered over the site. Pottery sherds of Tepe Bimarestan show a close similarity to those found from the Northern Central and northwestern Iran as well as to the potteries of Archaic Dehistan Culture from South-West Turkmenistan. A more detailed study of these pottery comparisons clarified two periods of the Iron Age; 1- Early Iron Age and or earlier; and 2- Late Iron Age. The results obtained could help to conclude that the site was firstly used as a cemetery during the early Iron Age but then during the Late Iron Age this place was altered to have been settled temporarily by the nomadic peoples.

Abstract Roodbar plain and the mountainous surrounding areas of the southeast of Iran have long been a great place to establish the human settlements due to their suitable climate. Archaeological surveys of Roudbar plain and the mountainous areas around it in the cultural basin of Halilroud were carried out in an area of over 6000 square kilometers and as a result, 53 sites were identified and contributed to the Chalcolithic period. Permanent river of Halialroud and the fertile plain of the southern Roudbar have been the most important factors influencing the formation of the settlement pattern of the Chalcolithic sites in this area. The main pattern of sites distribution in this period are a cluster pattern near Halialroud and its sub-branches in the bed of Roudbar plain and on foots and slopes of the mountains. Given the available evidence including location, extent, amount and density of surface effects it is possible to attribute these sites to permanent or temporary settlements. By studying the pottery types obtained from these sites and comparing it with Yahya's potteries and tall-e Iblis and Mahtotabad we can observe the sequence and continuity of deployment in different stages of the Chalcolithic period. The relation with the centers such as Bardsir valley (Iblis), Soghun plain (Yahya) and Jiroft plain (Mahtotabad) led to the creation of common cultures and cross-cultural interactions during this period. This article attempts to introduce the Chalcolithic settlements of the southern Roudbarplain using the geographical information system (GIS) to reconstruction and analysis of the settlement pattern of this period.

Abstract The rise of Elamite culture and its state formation on the southwestern Iran, beside historical resources, is an archaeologically problem due to the lower discovered evidences during recent years, which restricted them just to the known materials of Susa and few other sites. But stratigraphic excavations at Tepe Senjar on the Northern Kuzistan from 2007-2009 provided information related to this period such as architectural evidence, pottery assemblage, seal and also samples for radiocarbon dating. The evidences found from trenches A and E of this site represented date on the site formation process, chronological framework of Susiana plain, cultural relations to the ancient Susa and other center of the Mesopotamia and Zagros. Excavated finds show that Tepe Senjar has been occupied from the late fifth millennium B.C, and was continued to proto-Elamite (Susa III) as well as Susa IV A. This site was settled again during Susa IV B and was continued successively until the Shimashki, Sukkal Mah and Middle Elamite periods. 

Abstract The catacomb of Kay Kavus, located on the Darband highlands to the north of the modern city of Sahneh, has a southwest looking Iwan that originally included a pair of free-standing columns. The catacomb consists of two superimposed galleries: one is even with the Iwan’s floor and contains two recesses for coffins; the other lies as a cellar beneath the upper one and has a single, larger coffin recess. Our fieldwork to determine the dimensions, architectural characteristics and other extant features within the catacomb showed that the lower hallway was a later addition to the original upper one, a modification that also triggered changes in the latter. Also, our observations revealed that the upper gallery, which is the earlier part of the complex and initially involved only a single coffin recess, was perhaps constructed in the last years of Xerxes I reign (485-450 B.C.), while the lower was affixed at a later times. Examination of the remains of the beams hewn out of the rock on the Iwan’s ceiling and their virtual reconstruction by the present author proves that the now missing capitals at Sahneh catacomb typologically resembled the distinctive Achaemenian examples.

Abstract 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 climate change. Stable isotope analysis has been applied in archaeology during the last three decades to address questions regarding the paleoclimatology, palaeodietary and palaeomobility. In this research, we focus on the human skeleton remains of Iron Age cemetery of Gohar Tepe, using Strontium stable isotope analysis to reconstruction the aspects of the past mobility. At the same time we tried to identify the geographical origin of people that buried in residential areas or ancient cemeteries. This approach in a geological region could make a substantial contribution to assess various aspects including migration models, cultural changes, colonialism and trade. Also research related to the palaeomigration has long been done by different analytical methods. Gohar Tepe is one of the areas that able to respond multiple questions about social and cultural developments of Iron Age in northern Iran. Tooth samples obtained from skeletons of the mentioned site where studied through Strontium isotope ratio (87Sr/86Sr) were used to address the question of whether the skeletons are local or non-local. Result of 87Sr/86Sr revealed that six of samples could be considered as local and five others to have been c as non-local.

Abstract This article tries to look at the Oxus treasure and to have a survey on this glorious ancient collection, typology of its objects and semiotics of its motifs. Our most important purposes in this article are; first, a survey on techniques of making and decorating and typology of the objects in the collection based on form, material and usage. Second, a survey on the semantic meanings of the motifs and patterns. Researchers believe these handmade artifacts to be native and territorial. In addition, they think that these artifacts had been formed with combination of Persian experiences with the art of adjacent cultures (e.g. Mesopotamia, Urartu, Egypt and India), and the art of immigrant tribes. We gathered the research data through a library and museum study. The surviving objects have at least 22 dissimilar types and usages including model chariots, figurines, stoppers for a flask, vessel handles, horse models, cloth ornaments, an aigrette, earrings, necklaces, pendants, armlets and bracelets, rings, votive plaques, a shield ornament, a sword sheath, a jug, bowls, a fish vessel, a strap fitting, coins, rods and seals. There are five types of artistic decorations and patterns on these handmade artifacts: human motifs (like men and women), animal motifs (like lion, goat, ram, eagle, fish, bull and horse), mythical motifs (like Egyptian god Bes, winged globe, gopat and shirdal), vegetational motifs (like lotus and barsom) and geometric motifs. Semiotic analysis of motifs reveals the ritual and courtier functions and Iranian origin of this treasure.

Abstract Survey and analysis of different distinctive conservation/restoration periods in Persepolis (from 1931 until present time) shows that the conservation approaches were mainly based on  archaeological investigations and after that, the emphasis was made on the Venice Charter. The main aim of this paper is to analyze and evaluate these conservation/restoration approaches as well as decisions made during these phases in Persepolis, considering the significance and status of heritage values in the decision making processes. For this purpose, the history of the historic site was studied from various sociological perspectives. In addition, examinations were made on the conservation/restoration activities using existing documents and conducting field works. This study shows that the conservation decisions were chiefly based on political and social variations and not solely on the authentic values attributed to the monument. Furthermore the physical characteristics of the site have always been the dominant criteria for the actual conservation/restoration activities, while there are more needs for considerable spiritual, value-based approaches to plan effective conservation/restoration projects.

Abstract According to many researches, the beliefs are the Influential factors in the architectural elements and city spaces through which the cities are known as reflection of resident’s beliefs and culture. Yazd city is one of the limited Islamic city that has maintained its old context and historical sectors. In present paper we tried, after the finding of effective Islamic laws and values in the shaping architectural spaces, the variability of using such laws were evaluated in one of the Qajary Quarters of Yazd city (Golchinan Quarter). In compliance theoretical results with the survey of the quarter it is become clear that the architectural and urban spaces (e.g. residential Architecture, Quarters, and network connections) have been highly by the Islamic values and laws. In other words, there is a high conformity between extracted Islamic Laws and whatever has been applied in the Qajary context of Yazd Islamic city.

Abstract Despite the valuable evidences in the northwestern Iran (Ardebil province) archaeology of this region is now remains unknown and its chronological order is located on the basis of the excavations carried out in the Urmia lake basin. Since French archaeologist De Morgan in early 20th century presented a brief report of excavations in pre-historic cemeteries around Namin, no other archaeological researches have been presented on the archaeology of this region and there is no clear understanding of the status of different historic and pre-historic periods. The first part of archaeological surveys of Namin was done in an area of about 1100 square kilometers in the eastern part of the plateau of Azerbaijan in 2015, during which 175 historical sites were identified. The results of fieldwork shows the presence of specific settlement patterns in Bronze and Iron Age by focusing on citadels and existence of vast cemeteries mostly containing burial of megalithic forms. In the study area apart from historical sites a number of Islamic sites also were identified.

Abstract Visual evidences are considered to be the most important documents in history and especially in the history of Iranian architecture. There are different types of painting that they could be used importantly to retrieve many of historical as well as artistic issues. On the basis of Herat Painting School^, which have more realistic representation it is possible to retrieve architectural decoration of Timurid period. Accordingly, to reflect the architecture decoration in Persian miniatures of different miniature painting schools of Iran, Herat Miniature Painting School with an emphasis on Kamal Al-din Bihzad painting were selected and analyzed. Given the importance of this issue the present article tries to concentrate on the most characteristics of Timurid painting school. The main goal of this study is a detailed overview on Timurid architectural decoration portrayed by Behzad through comparing them with those of paintings which have worked on the monumental buildings.