Dig it Up: A Reconsideration of Old Excavations at Shahdad

Shahdad is an important Bronze Age city on the western edge of the Dasht-e Lut in Iran. Previous investigations at the site, with its burials containing rich and sophisticated artifacts, fully justified its definition as an advanced early urban center. After half a century of Shahdad excavations, it is time to have a new look at Shahdad and its finds in light of our present knowledge from the archeology of southeastern Iran. Here is an assessment of the Shahdad data obtained from Shahdad 1970s excavations including ceramics, stones, seals, and metal and clay objects. In addition, I will present two seals from Shahdad excavations at area D (known as industrial area) discovered by A. Hakemi which have been remained unpublished. Also, this paper presents a revised chronology for Shahdad in order to determine the syntax of the different parts of the excavated areas. This suggested dating is mostly based on the burial goods of the cemeteries of Shahdad. Here, both already-suggested horizontal and vertical chronology for cemetery of Shahdad is questioned. This comparative research on the various goods from site of Shahdad showed that Dasht-e Lut appeared to be a key region in the interaction sphere of Southwest Asia during the second half of the 3rd millennium BC.