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South Khorasan, as a core part of the historical region known as Quhistān in the east of Iran, has not archeologically been fully recognized and introduced; however, Early to Late Islamic texts repeatedly mention and describe it. The archaeological survey conducted during the last decade have partly compensated the lack of archaeological information on this region. The main goals of these projects were mapping the archaeological sites and monuments, identifying ancient sites and settlements, dating cultural materials, and finally, establishing the cultural sequence of the region. Based on historical texts, the Qāyināt region was probably the most significant area of Quhistān. In the last decade, the Qāyināt region has been surveyed in three phases, based on the political boundaries of the region. This paper presents the findings from the central and Sidih areas of Qāyināt, as well as the Zīrkūh district, which were investigated in the winter of 2015 and 2016. The surveys adopted a stratified random sampling approach with grid-based maps. The results attest to settlements from the Stone Age to the Late Islamic period, distributed across different geographical areas with the same patterns in Qāyināt and Zīrkūh regions. The sites included architectural constructions (castle, ancient mosque, mausoleum, water structure, reservoir, historical building etc.), archaeological sites (from the Stone Age to the Late Islamic period), cemeteries, caves, and petroglyphs. The artefacts found at these sites mainly consist of ceramics, stone tools, and metal objects, which serve as important chronological markers for dating these sites. These findings provide valuable evidence of the region’s prosperity during various historical periods.

Keywords: Archaeological Survey, Quhistān, Qāyin, Sidih, Zīrkūh

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