نشریه جستارهای باستان شناسی ایران پیش از اسلام
سال چهارم شماره 1 (پیاپی 7، بهار و تابستان 1398)

The beveled rim bowl one of the main pottery of the Uruk is period has a special place in the history of pottery and archaeology of the Near East. This feature is not due to the simplicity and harshness of this bowl, but more because of the awesome quantity of its widespread dispersal. These wars are appearance in the late Ubaid and early Uruk for the first time in the south of the Mesopotamia, about 3900BC. Then not far away in the north, east, and west of the Mesopotamia and around 3600BC became almost everywhere. Khuzestan as one of the neighborhoods of the Mesopotamia, and Chaharmahall-Bakhtiari due to its proximity to Khuzestan province, have many sites with the evidence of this culture. This system was formed through the use of rich, but less developed mountainous areas. The research, by using the analysis of so-called beveled rim bowl, tries to studying the migration of these communities into the Iranian plateau and southeastern Iran and the establishment of Uruk settlements. For this purpose, five sites from Khuzestan and five sites from Chaharmahall-Bakhtiari have been selected and from each of these sites, 3 pieces of pottery for this period were selected. The research method is based on library-analysis studies and for reasons like that; identification and examination of the soil type used in the cultivating of the two regions beveled rim bowl, determine the manufacturing technology and quality of their firings and eventually review and compare the desired pottery and determine whether they are imported or native. the results are shown that although the province of Khuzestan due to in close proximity to the Mesopotamia and its weather conditions, has a lot of sites from Uruk period, and the expansion and the influence of this pottery is from Khuzestan to neighboring areas, but this penetration and expansion, it was not a mass transfer of pottery to other areas, but also in the form of knowledge and techniques of making this type of pottery by the potter in this area. Finally, one can conclude all samples from Chaharmahall-Bakhtiari province are originated from local production.

The Bronze Period is one of the least known periods in the prehistoric era of Iranian Plateau because of the presence of different cultures and the lack of systematic archeological research. One of the cultures attributed to this period is the Yanik Culture which was expanded in a vast area ranging from the northwest, west, and central parts of Iranian Plateau in the late 4th millennium BC to the late 3rd millennium BC. However, no detailed reports have been presented for this culture and its rise and fall inside the Iranian Plateau yet. Archeological investigations have confirmed the existence of such a culture in the central and western areas of the Iranian Plateau and the Central Zagros. During the archeological investigation from 2007 to 2008 in the west part of Markazi Province, nine large settlement areas related to the Yanik Culture were identified in the Qara-Chai Riverside. The vast area and high elevation of them (particularly the Aq Tappeh and the Sarsakhti Hill) can indicate the existence of settlement layers and dense architecture of this period. On the other hand, the investigation of the settlement areas’ location shows that, out of nine studied areas, three hills are located along the Qara-Chai River, at an altitude of 1700 m above sea level, and the other six along the catchments area of Qara-Chai, at an altitude of 2,100 m above sea level. The present study aims to explain the status of the Yanik Culture in the west part of Markazi Province as one of the connecting points of cultures at the center of Iranian Plateau with those in Central Zagros as well as investigating and analyzing the significance of settlements related to this period.

Valiran is a Parthian archaeological site situated near Valiran village in the central region of Damavand city. In this site, stratum structure remained of Sassanian time has been discovered. This village is in 1.5 km south of Damavand city in east of Tehran. This archaeological site was discovered accidentally and then excavated by Nemati in 2006 summer. Sitting on throne, Parthian governed on the north east of Iran at least a century. They gradually overthrew Seleucid and extended their territory to the center and the west of Iran. They occupied Raga which was an important Parthian city possibly for military purposes. Several buried skeleton and residue of cereal have been reported by the excavator. Seven silver coins were found from Mithradate II and Senatruces, Mithradate III, Orodes II and Gotarzes I, Parthian kings. The animal bone and teeth was been extracted from Sassanian strata Lead and Cadmium are among the heavy metals that are rare in soil, water, plants, animal and human. These heavy metals are absorbed to humans and animals' bodies through eating, inhalation, and skin contact. Lead is a biogeochemical analog role and is only present as a contamination in the body. Lead and Cadmium are of high importance because of their long half-life in humans and animals' body and their toxicity. In this study, dental specimens of 10 human skeletons of the historical site of Valiran in Damavand belonging to the Parthian era were tested to determine their level of lead and cadmium by means of Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy Faculty of Medical Sciences Tarbiat Modares University. At first, we washed teeth samples which are taken from archaeological Site by soft brush and water drops to remove dust from that. Then we placed them into distillated water to erase organic materials of samples surface. After that we placed samples about 12 hours at 80 0C temperature to dry them completely. Finally, we sent them to be tested by the Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy Faculty of Medical Sciences Tarbiat Modares University of Tehran. This study showed high levels of lead and cadmium in the specimens. The level of lead in the specimens varied from 148 to 380 ppm and the level of cadmium in them ranged from 20 to 103 ppm. Since lead and cadmium are an indication of pollution in archeological studies, these high levels of lead and cadmium may have been absorbed to body as a result of factors, such as nutrition and the type of drinking water, the conduct of metalworking activities, and diseases. Considering the variety of factors that have possible led to the contamination of specimens with lead and cadmium, it seems that feeding diet and use of spring water have been the main factors in the high levels of lead and cadmium in ancient specimens. In addition, the presence of soil in the vicinity of the site can be another factor that has led to the increased levels of lead and cadmium in the soil and human skeletons over time.

Iranians’ knowledge of mines and minerals has a long history and, based on numerous pieces of evidence that show extensive search for and smelting of minerals since nine thousand years ago in all parts of Iran, Iranians’ position as pioneers in the ancient industry of mining and metallurgy has been confirmed. Iran is rich in terms of mineral deposits and mineral resources, including copper, which is thought to be the first metal used by prehistoric artisans. The abundance of copper deposits in Iran is one of the causes of the enormous growth of the metal smelting industry in antiquity. Unfortunately, in archaeological studies in Iran, ancient metallurgy processes have not been investigated in detail. Ancient metalworking is a cycle that was initiated by the mining and extraction of minerals, followed by melting of stones and extraction of metal from them, and ending in the production stage and distribution of the products. Each of the activities of this cycle has created pieces of archaeological evidence that by identifying and studying them an understanding of metalworking potential in the area and the capability of its residents in utilizing the facilities and ecological capacities, such as water resources, vegetation, and mineral deposits can be provided. Accumulation of the minerals rich in various metals in Khorasan and rich history in the production of metal works from prehistoric to Islamic times led to an emphasis on the dynamics of metalworking in eastern Iran by ancient writings. Southern Khorasan province includes a wide area of eastern Iran which, due to geological features and higher content of mines and metals, has been predominately considered as an important area for mining and metalworking studies. This study introduces ancient metalworking sites and compares the chemical compositions of slags found in the northeastern parts of South Khorasan (Zirkooh district) using XRF spectrometry and petrography studies.

Persepolis has two sets of east and north staircases embossed on the east staircase of 23 deputations. The Median board of trade in the West of the Iranian Plateau is one of those that has the most people. The board carries an amphora, a pair of bowl, a dagger and two pairs of rings on the day of Nowruz, which are led by a senior officer to the post. In this study, we have compared the commodities of this board with the metal species found in domestic and foreign museums through library studies, field survey and museum reviews, and visiting websites of the museums. The findings of the study show that the amphorae and bowls of this board were used in ceremonial and court parties that they are open-plan form. the Achaemenid artists made such metal containers of gold, Silver and sometimes bronze and have been used hammering, engraving and molding methods. they have used animal, plant, geometric and combinatorial designs to decorate some of their metal species. The dagger brought by the group, although it is part of the combat tool and has a military function, is used as a ceremonial and formal ritual on the day of Nowruz. Handle of metal species of this dagger are decorated with real animal’s head like lion and cow. Achaemenid artists were interested in such decorations and used rivets and molding to make this dagger. In addition to containers and daggers, the Median board also carries rings that have formal and ceremonial use. These rings are made of gold and silver, which adorn some of their metallic species, which are also found in indoor and outdoor museums, using real animals such as lions and deer and griffin as a mythical animal. It should be noted that these rings are made so that both animals are facing each other and are symmetrical. The rings are made by molding, etching and riveting methods. Since the art of the Achaemenid period was courtly and the artist had no practical freedom, so the metal species of goods such as amphorae, bowls, daggers and rings that are nowadays in major museums of the world, had belonged to the affluent class of Iranian society at that time and they have used combinatorial motifs in the decoration of these goods. Most of the animal designs in the metal species of the goods in the museums (amphorae, cups, daggers and rings) relate to lion and cow that they are symbol of power and wealth in Achaemenid art

Kassite was an Iranian ethnic group who lived in Zagros Mountains. Many scholars believe Kassites were inhabitants in Zagros Mountains in Luristan. Probably they were the same Kassites of Babylonia who ruled on Babylonia from the ??th century B.C. to ??th century B.C. The majority of our historical and archaeological knowledge from Kassites back to prehistory. Unfortunately, there is no comprehensive information of this ethnic group in the historical period, especially from ??? to??? BC. Therefore, the lack of written resources from Zagros inhabitants is the main problem for identifying their role during Alexander conquest and Seleucid period. Greek and Roman Sources is all what we have that scanty referred to Cossaeans (Kassites). The aim of this paper is to identify the Cossaeans in Central Zagros Mountains from the Alexander campaign to the Seleucid period and their role in the area during the historical events. Two main questions in this paper will be: According to Greek and Roman sources are Cossaeans the same Kassites in Central Zagros Mountains in prehistory? And what was the role of Cossaeans during wars and historical events? This research is a historical-analytic study; based on Greek and Roman sources and library studies attempt to gather and analysis the information. Probably Kassites in Assyrian and Akkadian documents are Cissians in Greek sources and Cossaeans in Alexander’s historians’ sources. All were famous for their ability to war. They lived in Central Zagros chains. It can be said that Kassites (??th century B.C) in Assyrian documents, Cissia (?th century B.C) in Herodotus writings and Cossaeans (?-?th centuries B.C) in the historians’ texts in the time of Alexander are as several different variants of one and the same name. In addition, Cossaeans were famous for their ability to war. They fought in the side of Achaemenid Empire on the occasion of the battles of Thermopylae and Gaugamela in participate in the battles. Later, they joint to Alexander and Seleucid army as mercenaries, as well.

The body of the individual is like a small realm within the world that belongs only to that individual. Only through a physical vessel can a man be present in the universe. Our embodiment or physical and mental experience of existence is the modality through which we connect to the world around us. But when we speak about a king (in this case, Shapur I), we must know that the body of the king cannot be regarded the same as the body of other people, because kings have two bodies, the physical body and the symbolic one. The king's physical body disappears after his death and falls to the ground, but his symbolic body will continue to live upon the death of his physical body. It is possible to understand this through a reading of the King's images using an embodiment perspective lense. There are two ways to study archaeological evidence from the perspective of embodiment. First, to look at bodies as a theatrical scene in which social concepts and power relations are depicted. Secondly, to interpret the body as an object and part of the material world using a phenomenological approach. In this study, we will define and interpret the two bodies of the king and explore the question of how the second body of a king is created through the empodiment approach to the depiction of Shapur I's in reliefs and a reading of his behaviors in them. Secondly, to interpret the body as an object and part of the material world using a phenomenological approach. In this study, we will define and interpret the two bodies of the king and explore the question of how the second body of a king is created through the empodiment approach to the depiction of Shapur I's in reliefs and a reading of his behaviors in them.

The ancient Sistan was a vast and prosperous territory considered as one of the most important Iranian states since the ancient times. This land is extended from the north of the Indus and Arghandab Rivers to Zahedan Mountains and its main part is a wide and flat plain including Sistan and Nehbandan in the Iranian territory and Nimruz, Farah and Helmand states in the Afghan boundaries. Throughout this region, remnants of ancient cities and towns have been remained as a collection of continuous ruins, mounds and embankments that each represents different features both in terms of time and location and also function and architectural structure. One of these important sites is Qala-i Sam. This castle, located in the center of Sistan, is one of the most significant and largest sites of the historical eras in the eastern Iran that to this date, despite its great importance, no scientific studies and research have been performed on this site as it deserves and questions such as the settlement period or periods, architectural structure, real identity, and position of this site in the political and social system of its time have still remained unanswered. Accordingly, a research plan based on a comprehensive and general survey was implemented on this site. In this research plan, while studying the architectural evidence, sampling was carried out based on collecting the significant surface samples for relative chronology on the basis of typological comparison so that all the features and characteristics of this place could be identified and recorded; and finally, by comparing the material evidence with the historical sources based on a historical approach, the real identity of this site was investigated. Based on the performed typology, the surface pottery samples existing on this site were categorized into three periods. The first category includes Seleucid pottery which is analogous with the Seleucid pottery of the sites such as Susa, Charsada, Laodicea and Kangavar. The second category includes some Parthian pottery which is comparable to the Parthian pottery of the sites such as Qala-i Kulak, Kuh-e Khajeh, , Kok-e Kohzad, Tape-i Gouri, Qumis, Bistun, Qala-i Yazdgerd, Qorveh, and Kelardasht, Nush-i Jan, Bardsir, Qeshm and MahNeshan. And the third category is consisted of Sasanian pottery that can be compared with Parthian pottery of sites like Bandian, Kush, Atashkuhe, Kaferun, Ramshahrestan, Qala-i Kulak and Mahneshan. The obtained results indicate that Qala-i Sam site has been constructed during the Seleucid period and its extensive settlement continued until the early Sassanid era. It is likely that, this site has been the remains of a city known as Agriaspi mentioned in historical texts which has been the seating place of the royal families during the Seleucid and Parthian periods as the central city of Sistan. According to the performed studies, it can be argued that Qala-i Sam is remains of a historical castle-city with an enclosed space which has more than 11 hectares area with a peripheral connection extended beyond a few dozen hectares. This site with a regular and trapezoid-shape structure has a hypodam plan and the remains of the buildings and constructions existing in it imply an orderly, regular, and coordinated architecture that attests to the principles of a hypodam architecture urbanism. Most likely, this site is the remains of a Seleucid-Parthian city known as Agriaspi, mentioned in the Greek texts, that during the Seleucid eras and afterwards, during the Parthian periods, was considered as the governmental seat of the Sistan Plain and has played a central role compared to its contemporary sites; and eventually, in the early Sassanian era, this site has lost its political position due to some reasons.

This study was carried out on the basis of a review of historical sites of the Dehgolan and the Qorveh Plains (Kurdistan province). Considering the role of environmental factors in the formation of the thirty three Sassanid lands, the the current study is an attempt to identify and analyze the pattern of dispersal of Sassanid lands in these two plains. To this end, digitized environmental information of this area, which was collected using geographic information system (GIS), is combined with the data from the survey. Then, to show the relationships between the aforementioned natural factors and the habitats of the Sassanid period, compilation maps and interpretation of these maps were provided. Accordingly, the present paper investigates some of the most important factors in the formation of the Sassanid settlements in the Dehgolan and the Qorveh Plains, including altitude, slope, slope direction, distance from water sources, and distance from roads. The objectives of this study are to draw a settlement map for the Sassanid period of the Dehgolan and the Qorveh Plains and to determine the influence of the environmental factors on the distribution of these sites.This study was carried out on the basis of a review of historical sites of the Dehgolan and the Qorveh Plains (Kurdistan province). Considering the role of environmental factors in the formation of the eleven Sassanid lands, the the current study is an attempt to identify and analyze the pattern of dispersal of Sassanid lands in these two plains. To this end, digitized environmental information of this area, which was collected using geographic information system (GIS), is combined with the data from the survey. Then, to show the relationships between the aforementioned natural factors and the habitats of the Sassanid period, compilation maps and interpretation of these maps were provided.

Many historic Chartaqs in Fars province, sometimes isolated individually and sometimes with accompanying structures, are known as Sassanid fire temples. This shows use of these buildings as temples of sacred fire, as well as Their dating back to the Sassanian era. Most archaeological investigations on Chartaqs are based on indicators such as plan, the presence of the corridors around the main fireplace, the remains of the fireplaces and the presence of side platforms in the rooms. In the case of the dating of these structures, the presence of Sassanid stuccos, the presence of clay pottery pieces along with the finding of coins of this period can be considered as an indicator for the determination of the Chartaqs date. In the present study, using the XRD- X-ray diffraction analysis method-, samples of twelve Chartaqs mortar of the "Firouzabad-Farashband-Kazeroun" region in the south of Fars province was analyzed. According to the results and the statistical clustering method obtained, some former archaeological investigation results was not approved. The analysis of "Tole jangi" Chartaq mortar, known as one of the "Mehr Narseh" fire temples, as well as "Gonbade Atashkadeh" Chartaq, which is considered to be the site of the fire of "Adorian", does not support the texture of time and type of use. The research has shown that the instrumental analyzing of mortar of historical structures can be an approach to help the scientific archaeological investigations of such historical structures. The research has shown that the instrumental analyzing of mortar of historical structures can be an approach to help the scientific archaeological investigations of such historical structures.

Two season of Excavation on the southern area of Persepolis Terrace (carrid out in 2012 and 2014), provided substantial data about the extension and architecture system of waterways in an area located southeast of Persepolis Terrace The aim of the season 2012 was to urgently open, an egress amongst the deposited mass of previous excavations south of the Persepolis terrace, to allow drainage of annual rainfall through the underground canals and out of the Platform.The build up of annual precipitation had lead to huge volumes of groundwater trapped in the underground waterways had begun to damage both the original waterways and surface structures. As a result of this operation, several structures including a few waterways were identified within the limits of the trench. These were parts of several waterways which were numbered from 1 to 4 based on their location in the Trench from north to south. In addition to the outlet zone of waterways, discussed above, general area of waterways of the Treasury building, was also explored and excavated in the summer of 2014 during which new details and facts about the overall form of Persepolis waterways, were discovered. In between especially discovering, a new outlet on the southern wall of the terrace, related to the first phase of treasury building was the most important. Moreover, remarkable points concerning architectural episodes of the southern wall of Terrace, as well as the condition of its southern area were revealed which together with the results of the 2012 excavation season, culminated in providing some clear evidence for existing an Achaemenid era pond south of the terrace.

With the beginning of the Parthian rule , a new style of Iranian architecture gradually emerged that, despite being influenced by Greek , Central Asian, and Iranian’s local traditions, had an independent and unique identity. One of the features of this style is the use of dome coatings on a quadrilateral field using a construction filling technique that later became a fundamental element in the Sassanidan and then Islamic architecture. Although this method has been invented by architects of the Parthian era , so far, the dome and the domed buildings in this period's architecture have not been thoroughly addressed , and little evidence has been obtained. Therefore, the necessity of studying the existing architectural evidence from the Parthian period and other sources to the better understanding of the dome element and its evolution in Iranian architecture is undeniable. The current paper is a descriptive and analytical study. Using field surveys and library research , it explores the well-known buildings, artworks, and literary pieces associated with this period to obtain and review evidence regarding the domes, domed building, their evolutionary path , and stylistic changes in different architectural elements during the Parthian’s rule) . Despite all the ambiguities , the existing pieces of evidence seem to be clear enough to guide our understanding about this architectural element and the reasons behind its usage in the Parthian architecture as well as demonstrating the relatively significant role that dome construction had in the Parthian period and shaping the architecture of subsequent periods.