Troglodytic complex of Samen is located under the same city’s urban area, southeast of Hamadan, 15 Km to southwest of Malayer, 34° 12’ 34.62’’ longitude and 48° 42’ 12.96’’ latitude and at 1869 m altitude above sea. Being of Malayer suburbs, Samen is located at route among Malayer, Brujerd, and Nahavand where is counted climatically mountainous. Water sources of the region are seasonal rivers, springs, and several Qantas. Local people knew of such under-ground structure; however, for developments and urbanization there was no possibility for lo-cals to access to these spaces until recent earthen works, which accidentally uncovered parts of the structure in 2004. Four seasons of investigation including recognition, clearance, documen-tation, and excavation conducted during 2007, 2008, 2011, and 2012 under Ali Khaksari super-vision. The complex is consisted of underground architectural spaces where is structured Trog-lodytic ally under urban areas at granite rocks. Considering the complex structure that is differ-ent from the other archaeological site, resulted in distinct excavating method. Through excavat-ing, recovered data must be documented carefully; excavators should not dig for architecture or feature just the same as historical mounds. Topography was highly considered through con-struction activities, where vaulted ceilings were raised and storied. There have been 50 recov-ered architectural spaces at eight underground workshops within four archaeological excavation seasons. At 2m-8m depth, the spaces were made troglodytic ally that consisted of chambers and halls interconnected by openings, thresholds, and corridors. Dimensionally varied, they have various features including artificial floors, carved floors in rocks, thresholds, platforms, niches, and holes that were used for oil lamps. Regarding Samen structure and its differences with the other historic and ancient sites, excavating method should be different from the other sites ex-cavating methods. However, excavators do not follow structural remains or special architectur-al features in historic strata and regard significantly thorough documentation of findings from excavation. After recognizing underground workshops and spaces, every chamber was cleared and findings were recorded. At the same time, it was completely documented and planned con-sidering spatial features. Archaeological excavations started after identification, clearance, and documentation of underground spaces. One of the most valuable archaeological data, pottery is regarded culturally significant; because of numerous amounts of manufacturing and durability susceptible to various innovations and transformations through times. Underground troglodytic architecture complex at Samen, Malayer, regarding cultural data especially recovered potteries, is of the characteristic and unique sites with varieties of Islamic potteries (in present paper the authors only discussed to the Islamic pottery of Samen complex).The authors involve in inves-tigating various types of recovered potsherds through four seasons of archaeological research-es, then analyzing them for technics, forms, and decorations. Methodologically, the research is based on data from archaeological excavations and bibliographical investigations. Main goal of this research are introduction, survey and analysis pottery of this complex include technic, type and decorated. In this paper, authors try to identify import or local pottery making, survey con-nection with other produce center and chronology of potteries. Based on result, the potteries of this site are two group glaze and without glazes. The without glaze are eight and glaze pottery include a glaze pottery, glaze pottery whit add motif; inlaid potteries; Sgraffito ceramics; painting on glaze (Minai); painting under glaze (Ghalam Meshki); anthropomorphic and zoo-morphic Stylistic designs; blue and white; and lusterware which can be dated to middle and late Islamic centuries and imported potteries. The pottery of this site compare with pottery of other Islamic site while this issue probably results of vast connection other Islamic land in medieval Islamic period.

Troglodytic architecture in terms of its use has such types as residential, sheltering, infrastructural, and religious. Religious type which has a long history of this kind of architecture is used in religious buildings scattered in various regions of Iran and have been used in various historical periods. The continuity of use of this type of architecture in the religious relics, along with other factors, can be evaluated according to its specific characteristics, in terms of its responsiveness to the needs of the users. Because of the favorable temperature conditions created by these spaces, they have still been used by the users before the emergence of cooling/heating equipments. The mosque of Ghadamgah in the city of Azar Shahr, Imamzadeh Masoum Vargui in Maragheh and the sanctuary of the village of Abazar in the city of Nir are from well-known samples of troglodytic areas in the northwestern Iran. In the central region of Iran, six building around the geographical area of the historical city of Naein include the mosques of Ali Abad and Mosalla in the city of Bafran, the underground sections of the mosque of Sarkucheh Mohammadie and the underground space in the Jame’ mosques of the cities of Naein, Bafran and Neiestanak are examples of worthwhile and valuable in this type of architecture in the country. According to the studies, less research has been done so far, studying and revising these works. Therefore, the present research was done for the first time aiming to comparative analysis and also the presentation of the similarities and differentiations of the architectural forms used in these spatial spaces belonging to two different geographic regions. The study and the comparisons among three relics in Northwestern Iran and six troglodytic relics in central part of Iran (Naein County) showed that a particular form of architectural pattern can be considered in the comparative works. An underground troglodytic architecture, a linear spatial pattern along a longitudinal axis, a motorized movement consistent with the main axis, and an emphasis on the importance of the space in the spatial layout of the physical hierarchy, are among the characteristics of this common form. The spatial arrangement of these works is along with longitudinal axis, in a row in succession and repeat. The motion in this form corresponds to the main axis of the building and follows a linear pattern, along with its length, has organized a string of spaces which are distinguished in terms of size and function. Emphasising on the importance of space in this form of architecture is at the end of the spatial-hierarchical layout. In Naein Jame’ mosque, the Nistanak mosque and the Imamzadeh Masoum Vrajoy have made this emphasis on space with the lowest degree of permeability. In the examples of Abazar Nayer and Ali Abad mosque, by the end of the complex, at Ghadamghah of Aazrshahr and Masjid Mosalla with a few steps at the junction of the middle hall with the ending hall, and in the mosque of Sarkucheh with lower vaults, the emphasis is on the role and importance of the end space. The distinguishing feature of these works is their internal form. The three northwestern manuments have a circular plan and dome-shaped curved lines, while those of the central part of the Iran used in the rectangular plan with flat and right-angled form and space. Performing archaeological excavations, as well as studying on the data obtained, will acquire new information from these works which will lead to a more comprehensive and comprehensive recognition of their various dimensions.The present research, in the absence of reliable and sufficient archaeological data in these works, was attempted by comparative analysis of the two regions to explain their architecture and spatial structure, in order to gain a better understanding of these valuable cultural memorials, as well as their correct conservation.

The processes of mining, metal melting, and the creation of metal artifacts represent a significant intersection of industry and art that has captivated researchers throughout history. The Iranian Plateau has historically been a pivotal area for these activities and continues to be influential in the field. Excavations in southeastern Iran, particularly at sites such as Tape Yahya, Tel Iblis, and Shahr-i Sokhta, indicate that the production and trade of metal objects have thrived since the 4th millennium BCE. Notably, during the third millennium BCE, the Hirmand civilization, with Shahr-i Sokhta as its focal point, emerged as a prominent center for the production of copper and bronze artifacts. Archaeological investigations have successfully pinpointed various manufacturing locations. To educate archaeology students at Zabul University, the author conducted excavations at Tappe Graziani over three seasons. The objective was to gain insights into the social, economic, and cultural attributes of the region during the Bronze Age. The excavations yielded evidence of industrial production. This article endeavors to examine the archaeometallurgical techniques prevalent in southeastern Iran, drawing upon the findings from this excavation. In line with this objective, the article poses the following questions: What was the significance of Tappeh Graziani in the metallurgical sphere of Bronze Age? Additionally, at what scale—industrial, semi-industrial, or domestic—was metallurgy practiced at this site? Throughout the excavation, a variety of metal artifacts and slags were uncovered. Given that metal slags are typically associated with production facilities and are not intended for trade, the slags found at this site can be interpreted as indicators of metal production. It appears that while metal extraction occurred in a different location, the actual fabrication of metal objects took place at Graziani.

One of the important sites of the Seleucid period in Iran is Laodicea in Hamadan province. This site was subjected to systematic survey and archaeological excavations during the years 2004, 2010 and 2021; A part of the cultural data of the excavation determined that the site was reused in the later especially the Islamic periods. In this article, Islamic glazed pottery obtained from three seasons of archaeological excavations has been carefully studied and a comprehensive classification has been prepared. Considering that the importance of the site was more in the historical period, conducting this research can help in clarifying the status of the site in the Islamic period as well as the position of Hamedan in the production of medieval Islamic period. The present research has been done by field studies (description, photography, design, classification and typology) and library studies (comparative studies and relative chronology). The results of the research show that this region was of special importance in the medieval Islamic period due to its location on the highway from Baghdad to Khorasan, and this factor caused the creation of many cultural connections with other regions, the evidence of which has appeared in the characteristic pottery of this region.

Due to exciting discovery of major Bronze Age urban centers in southeastern Iran، such as Shahre Sukhte، Shahdad and Konar Sandal (Jiroft) in Kerman province، most scholarly attention has been given to the 3rd millennium BC. As a result، the cultures preceding the Bronze Age in particular the 4th millennium BC have been often neglected. In early 2011، the Iranian Center of Heritage، Handicraft and Tourism Organization (ICHHTO) of Kerman Province conducted a rescue excavation at Khaje Askar cemetery near the city of Bam، in which several graves and complete funerary vessels were discovered (about 15 graves had been bulldozed previously). Khaje askar cemetery is located on the east bank of Chelleh Khane River in the Bam plain. From the construction activities 14 complete potteries and some bone fragments were found which proved the existence of a cemetery so the construction activities were postponed and a rescue excavation was conducted by a team of archaeologists of ICHITO under the supervision of Nader Alidadi Soleimani. As a result of the excavations 9 graves and 53 funerary goods were uncovered; the burial goods included ceramics، stone and clay beads، stone vessels، shells and a unique metal arrowhead. In addition to the damages of construction activities، existence of a channel (70 cm wide and 1 m deep) through the eastern part of the hill had caused so many damages to the cemetery especially grave 105 which was barely recognizable. In khaje askar cemetery 7 trenches named A-G were opened which covered 460 square meters of the hill. 9 graves were uncovered from the trenches of eastern part of the hill. They were labelled from 101 to 109. The aim of the rescue excavations at Khaje Askar was to identify the intact graves and to liberate the parts of natural hill on which the cemetery was located. according to the landlords during the construction activities 15 graves had been bulldozed in the west side of the natural hill. All the graves found through excavations were in the eastern part of the hill. The interesting point is that no graves were discovered in the southern part of the site. According to the comparative chronology done based on the ceramics of the excavated settlement sites of southeastern Iran and Pakistan such as Tall e Iblis، Mahtootabad، Mehrgareh and Shahi tumb، Khaje Askar cemetery belongs to the Aliabad culture (Iblis IV) and goes back to 4th millennium BC. The comparative analysis of the ceramic assemblage and other items as well of khaje Askar cemetery، suggest the date of 4th millennium BC (Aliabad culture) and shows that the cemetery was a single period site. There are many third millennium excavated cemeteries in southeastern Iran such as Shahr-e Sukhte (tosi، Sajjadi)، Shahdad (Hakemi 1977)، Mahtoot abad (Majidzade 2008)، Kenaroo Esfandaghe (Rahbar 1376)، khoorab (Stein 1937)، Rameshk (Choobak 1383)، which prove that using of cemeteries was frequent in this period and give us some information about the burial patterns. But not until the excavations of Khaje Askar no cemetery belonging to 4th millennium had been found in southeastern Iran. So we suggest that the culture of using cemeteries dates back to the 4th millennium BC in southeast of Iran. In this article، we state the results of excavations at Khaje Askar cemetery and describe the burials and funerary goods and according to a comparative analysis based on the ceramics of other excavated settlement sites of southeastern Iran and Pakistan such as Tal- e Iblis، Mahtot abad، Meh rgarh and Shahi Tump، we argue that Khaje Askar cemetery belongs to the Aliabad culture (Iblis IV) and dates to the 4th millennium BC.

Historical site known as Tepe Hegmataneh is located in eastern edge of Central Zagros, Hamadan Province, Iran (34°48’15.61”N, 48°31’3.25”E). There are always some questions about the Site: 1- when and by the order of whom, the Standard Architectural Pattern (SAP) were built? 2- what was the function of SAP?Charles fosses directed the frist excavation in Tepe Hegmateneh, he worked for six mounth in 1913. Eric schmidt took some aerial photo from Hamadan between 1935 to 1937. Because of the first world war, the archaeological excavations were stopped. The first Iranian expedition worked in Tepe Hegmataneh for 11 successive seasons under supervision of M.R.Sarraf from 1983 to 2000, these excavations led to discovering some parts of an enclosure and SAP in central, southern and western workshops. However Sarraf could not find reliable answers for the already mentioned questions. Second round of excavation (12th to 15th seasons) was undertaken by M. Azarnoush for four seasons from 2004 to 2008, the aim was “to clarify the dating and stratigraphical sequence of the site” .In the 14th season, the excavated tranches were distributed all over the site in order to exam the yeilded results of Trench AR-AS40. Three workshops AV68, AY47 and AS39 were the most important excavated tranches in this season. Tranch AS39 is located in the north of Trench AR-AS40, and SAP remains was discovered in the last phase of this trench as same as remains in Trench AR-AS40. Excavation in Trench AV68 led to determinate a small part of SAP; second determined cultural period in this tranch includes some deposit in which potsherds with Parthian charactristics such as clinky were found. Tranch AY47 comprises cultural deposit and adobe stracture (SAP) which cannot be dated earlier than Parthian period. In addition, a great layer of soil was excavated Below the Standard Architectural Pattern (BSAP), also were detected in the 12th season of excavation in Tranch AR-AS40. The existence of this layer, raise the hypothesis that before building SAP, the ups and downs of the bedrock were filled by soil. The first absolute dating is related to 9th seasons of excavation. However Sarraf did not accept the result of TL dating as valid done. After that fifteen samples of 14th season were taken for TL dating, two of which dated to Sassanid, two dated to Early Islamic and the others dated to Parthian period. In the 14th season, nine samples of charcoals and bones from Trench AY47, AV68 and AS39 sent to Laboratory of Oxford University for 14C dating. From seven samples of Tranch AY47, three verified as invalid, and four dated to Middle of Parthian period. Regarding the TL dating and sequence of layers, two other samples from Trench AV68 and AS39 for 14C dating (no.8 and 9), surly cannot be valid; because the no.9 in 14C dating, was taken from the lower layer of no.12 and 14 tested with TL, suggested dating is TL yr BP (e.g. ‘1805±45 BP’), but for no.9 is 14C yr BP (e.g. ‘1494±28 BP’). The no.8 in 14C dating was derived from the lower layer of no.15 and 16; result of TL dating for these two samples is TL yr BP (e.g. ‘1690±45 BP’). But the result of 14C dating for no.8 is 14C yr BP (e.g. ‘1451±25 BP’). Therefore only no.1, no.3, no.4, no.5 are valid samples.The result of 14C and TL dating (19 samples from 24) indicates that Standard Architectural Pattern (SAP) was built in the Middle of Parthian to Early of Sassanid period (180 BC to 350 AD). Regarding the 50 hectare expanse of the site, which will be extened to 100 hectare, it is likely to discover Median and Achaemenian capital in Hamadan; but this cannot be contray that the SAP dates to Parthian period.

The city of Soltanieh as a political center, the capital of the Mongol sultans, was built in 703 to 716 AH, 30 km southeast of Zanjan. The historical value of Soltanieh, in addition to the capital and its political issues, shows the tremendous progress of architecture in the Islamic era, in which various buildings, both public and private, have been built. Noor hill, one of the largest ancient hills in Soltanieh plain, is located 1500 meters south of Soltanieh dome. According to research conducted in different parts of Soltanieh, Noor Hill is one of the most important places and contains information related to the Mongol Ilkhanate period. The excavation was carried out in September 2009 on Noor Markazi hill and focused on displaying architectural works. The excavation results led to the identification of a tomb tower related to the patriarchal period. In the present study, the attempt to present the results of the excavation is to discuss the analysis of architectural structure and its chronology. Data collection was done based on field and library methods. Excavations in this area led to the identification of a tomb tower from the Ilkhanate period. This stone structure has a cruciform plan from the inside and a twelve-sided plan from the outside. First, the inside of the dome was made of stone carcasses and hemispherical gypsum mortar in the shape of a cross, with a vestibule-like entrance and a dome stem that is not currently available. In terms of architecture and decorations, this area is built with the tombs of the Green Dome Garden of Qom (Khajeh Ali Safi, North Dome and the tomb of Khajeh Asiluddin) and the tomb tower of Azerbaijan (three domes of Urmia, Kaboud Maragheh Dome), Baba Hossein Malayer Tomb Tower, tower He compared the tomb of Imam Zadeh Hood in Jazin, Hamedan, etc

Shahrizor is a vast plain in the eastern part of Iraqi Kurdistan, located near the western borders of Iran, which had a good deal of importance during the Sassanian period because of its location in the middle of the road from the Sassanian capital of Ctesiphon to the famous fire temple of Azar Goshnasb in Shiz) present-day Takht-e Soleiman). The name of this place has been mentioned in the Sassanid contemporary sources, including the important inscription of Narseh in Paikuli, as well as the book of Karnameh-ye Ardeshir-e Babakan and Syriac texts. According to the bilingual inscription (Pahlavi and Parthian) of the Paikuli Tower, this place was called “Syārazūr” during the Sassanid period and was one of the areas whose inhabitants were present at the celebration of the Narseh victory in Paikuli. Despite the importance of this region in the studies of the Sassanid period, so far little attention has been paid to it, especially by Iranian researchers. This research, based on library studies, has studied Shahrizor in the Sassanid period based on historical sources and the results of the archaeological excavations. For this purpose, assuming that the Shahrizor plain was important during the Sassanian period due to various political, economic and religious aspects, we answer the questions about the reasons for the importance of this place, its appearance in the Sassanian period, and the location of its main settlement based on the historical texts and archaeological results of surveys and excavations. Some of the natural and geographical features of the Shahrizor plain are its average height (about 500-600 m above sea level), fertile soil and access to important water-rich rivers such as Tanjero, Little Zab and Sirwan, as well as numerous permanent springs. Based on the results of the archeological surveys and excavations, Bestansur, Gerd-i Kazhaw and Gird-I Qalrakh are the important sites of the Shahrizor plain which have an archaeological layer of Sasanian settlement. In addition, the site of Yasin tepe has been introduced as the main candidate for the Sassanid and early Islamic city of Shahrizor due to its large size. However, the site of Gird-I Qalrakh, which, according to the results of the excavations, has significant data from this period, can also be one of the proposed options for the main settlement of Shahrizor.

The location of Fardaghan historical village is in the northwest of Farahan Ccounty, in Markazi province. In this village, there are architectural remains of a castle and a four- Arches dome. Some texts have discussed some historical events related to this monument. In these sources, the castle and fire temple of Fardaghan, the transfer of the golden door of the fire temple to the Kaaba during the time of Hajjaj Ibn Yusuf, and its capture and destruction by the commander of Qom in 288 A.H. are mentioned. This research is based on the study of historical texts and archaeological excavation in the form of one season of trenching and one season of excavation. In this research, by examining and studying historical texts and architectural remains in the context of archaeological data, we attempted to determine whether the remains of the building obtained from the excavations of Fardaghan are the same fire temple of the Sassanid era that is mentioned in historical sources or not? During the field research conducted by the author, in addition to determining the area and proposing the boundaries of the square dome building and the castle, the main building (four-Arches dome) has also been pursued and explored. The architectural data indicates the existence of a square four-roomed building with a side of 17 meters with four Turkish brick columns, of which two columns of the southern half have been obtained so far. The resulting quadrangle has a circular corridor with stone walls 1.5 meters thick, which is plastered from the inside. The building has one entrance in the center of the east and west sides and three entrances in the south side. The wall on the north side of the building is currently buried under the clay texture from the Qajar period. A comparative study of historical texts and field research shows that this building is the same fire temple that is mentioned in these sources. Following the above research, a complete excavation and the identification of the general structure of the building, as well as more archaeological data, will determine the additional typological studies of this building with the other four-arch domes of the Sassanid period.

Excavations at the Gheshlagh have the potential to shed indispensable light on the prehistoric cultures of the region. The absolute lack of earlier excavations with particular emphasis on the Chalcolithic period in the region further highlights the significance of the recent digging works at Tepe Gheshlagh. The main objective of these excavations is to establish the cultural sequence of the site. Other aims include dating the most important settlement attested at the site, and pinpointing the subsistence system of the Chalcolithic community that occupied it. Excavations at Tepe Gheshlagh have furnished invaluable information regarding the Dalma culture in eastern Kurdistan, thus enabling a more comprehensive analysis of the cultural accomplishments of the period here as compared to any other of the relevant sites. Tepe Gheshlagh lies between the natural corridor covered in a thick red or Ocherous slip and a type with applied decorations in the form of animal horns and tab handles may somehow relate the site to the Hassuna site of Umm Dabaghiyah, particularly as the deposit contained what seem to be sherds from husking trays. Results from the excavations suggest that a settlement that had continued uninterruptedly since the early Chalcolithic period was abruptly abandonment sometime at the end of the late phase of the same period, which corresponds with Godin Period VII. In the wake of this clear hiatus that coincided with the replacement in the region of the Yanik culture, a transient settlement again formed on the southern slope of the mound in the mid- or late Bronze period and later occupations at the site would continue into the Iron III. Therefore, settlements at Tepe Geshlagh span several periods. Though there is as yet no conclusive evidence to account for this fluctuating settlement history, it may partially be attributed to the environmental pollution prompted by local tin, copper and plaster (tophus) mines, the strains caused by famine, and the less-fertile nature of regional soil. In general, though a sequence from the Chalcolithic through the Iron III has been documented at Tepe Gheshlagh, the settlements did not continue incessantly as there are clear evidence for a prolonged gap at the end of the late Chalcolithic era which would simply be interrupted in the mid-or late Bronze Age with a transient occupation of a transhumant group on parts of the southern slope of the mound. And, it was only in the late Iron Age, in about the eighth or seventh century B.C., that another major settlement was developed on the eastern slope of the mound. Infertile soil, rather high elevation and, consequently, the relatively colder climate compared with the surrounding regions as Considering that in the cultural materials of this exploration there are signs of the traditions of the Late Neolithic period, therefore, the main purpose of this article is to examine the process of the transition of cultural traditions from Late Neolithic Period to Early chalcolithic period, which has so far been dealt with, given that There is evidence in the Gheshlagh that the way this process is explained. These studies can illustrate the cultural relations of the ancient rural communities in the eastern part of the central Zagros with neighboring regions such as northwest Iran and Mesopotamia. On the other hand, the origin and form of the formation of the first rural cultures and the transition to the complex livelihoods, economic and social systems, that’s important.