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Azadi A. (2021). KR 385: Evidence of Ancient Nomadism from Kouhrang Bakhtiari Region in the Iron Age. Parseh J. Archaeol. Stud.. 5(17), : 4 doi:10.30699/PJAS.5.17.75
URL: http://journal.richt.ir/mbp/article-1-390-en.html

Abstract
Archaeologists have considered Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari region as one of the most im-portant origins of nomadic livelihoods in the past few decades. Meanwhile, Kouhrang region plays a main role as one of the major nomadic territories of the Bakhtiari tribe. The small num-ber of studies conducted in this region have led some researchers to discuss the recent history of this livelihood. In contrast, recent studies indicate that the nomadic way of life in Kouhrang region dates back to at least the 5th millennium BC. Two seasons of rescue excavations in Bir-gan region, which were due to the construction of Kouhrang Dam, have provided a good oppor-tunity to learn more about people’s livelihoods in this region. This paper delves into the results of the excavation of the KR 385 site. The approach adopted to excavate the site for recording the layers and the discovered phenomena was the locus method. The main aim of excavation of the site was to discover the nature of the site and to be familiar with various aspects of ancient nomadic life, and one of our key research questions was to realize the extent of possible cultur-al interactions between this region and the surrounding areas, including the lowlands of Khuzestan and the Central Zagros regions. Our main assumption in this paper is that, in addi-tion to the 5th millennium BC. Kouhrang region has had cultural relations with some parts of central Zagros. Although today the nomads of Bakhtiari region have close relationships with the lowlands of Khuzestan, comparative studies conducted on the forms and motifs of potteries found in this region reveal similarities between these potteries and those found in some areas related to the Bronze and the Iron Age of Central Zagros; The subject that confirms the Iron Age of the site by the C14 absolute dating. In addition to the cultural ties between these two regions, similarities in the forms and motifs of potteries in this region and the above-mentioned sites demonstrate that the pottery traditions of the Bronze Age have continued until the Iron Age.
Keywords: KR 385, Ancient Nomadism, Kouhrang Bakhtiari.

Introduction
Bakhtiari region in the southwestern part of the Iranian plateau has always been of interest to researchers as one of the most notable sources of livelihood based on nomadism. Thus far, Kouhrang region has been a summer residence for nomads since ancient times and is one of the most prominent origins of life based on nomadic livelihood. Needless to say, the reason for this significance is the favorable environmental landscape and biological facilities that have long made this livelihood as the most effective environmental adaptation for the residents of this region. In addition to the evidence of modern life, archaeological evidence, including the iden-tification of a large number of sites with nomadic nature in the archaeological surveys of the region and the results of excavations carried out in some of these sites fully confirm this issue. Studies in the recent decade shows that this livelihood in Kouhrang region dates back to at least the 5th millennium BC.
Due to the construction of Kouhrang Dam and Kouhrang 3 Tunnel and two seasons of res-cue excavations carried out in Birgan region, the way has been paved for us to broaden our knowledge about people’s livelihood in this region. The second season of rescue excavations of Kouhrang Dam began and ended in November and December 2013 after a five-year hiatus. The sites considered for the second season of rescue excavations were all identified in archaeologi-cal surveys in Kouhrang region by Kourosh Roustaei. The extent to which the sites were ex-posed to danger during reservoir impoundment was our selection criterion for excavation them. After assessing the sites, 6 sites of KD 04, KR 415, KR 523, KR 385, KD 022, and KD 030 were selected for excavation (Figure 1). This paper discusses the results of the KR 385 site excava-tion. Awareness of the nature of the site and familiarity with various aspects of ancient nomad-ic life were the main targets of excavation, and one of our chief research questions was to find out the extent of possible cultural interactions between this region and the surrounding areas, including the lowlands of Khuzestan and the Central Zagros regions. Our main assumption in this paper is that, in addition to the 5th millennium BC. Kouhrang region has had cultural rela-tions with some parts of central Zagros. The research method in this paper consists of collect-ing and studying the papers related to the previous studies into this region and presenting the results of KR 385 excavation.

Discussion 
With an altitude of 2260 meters above sea level, the KR 385 site was identified in the third sea-son of archaeological survey of Kouhrang region in 2010. This site includes a small conglom-erate ridge overlooking the Birgan River. This rocky ridge is located approximately 50 meters from the river and is about 20 meters higher than its bed. The primary objective of the excava-tion in this site was to obtain the most accurate information about the nature of this site due to its flooding after the impoundment of Kouhrang Dam. To this end, three trenches (Figure 2) were created and excavated in three different parts of the site, which were thought to provide more information on its nature. Trench I measuring 5 × 5 m, was created on one of the stone depots on the southern slope of the site, assuming that it was a graveyard. Excavations at this trench did not reveal any evidence of cultural remains, and it was determined that this stone depot and similar specimens were the result of the collection of rocks from the site by locals and were gathered to make agriculture easier. Since excavating trench I did not produce any outcome, we decided to test other parts of the site to determine its nature. Trench II was created in a part of the site that seemed to be the remains of a past settlement with the final dimensions of 5×7 m (Figure 3). By the time the trench was excavated, three spaces (Space 1, Space 2, and Space 3) and a platform (?) could be defined and identified. Trench III, measuring 5×7 m, was created on a steep slope in the southern part of the site, in a section where two ancient graves (grave 1 and grave 2) were unlawfully excavated at the same time as the site excavations, and solid evidence could be easily found on the surface (Figure 7).

Conclusion
Excavations at the KR 385 site yielded significant results. Concerning the climatic characteris-tics of the region, its common way of life (nomadism), and similarities between constructs found in Trench II and the current structures used by Bakhtiari nomads, the collection of struc-tures and spaces identified in this trench is considered as a temporary nomadic settlement, in which evidence of daily life such as ashes, remains of food storage jars, grindstones, and stone slabs was found. Due to similarities in the forms and some motifs of the potteries obtained in trench II and trench III, potteries in the settlement part and the cemetery of the site probably indicate a cultural period. Although today the nomads of Bakhtiari region have close ties with the lowlands of Khuzestan, comparative studies conducted on the forms and motifs of potteries found in this site shows similarities between these potteries and those found in some Central Zagros sites such as Babajan, Noshijan, and Godin Tepe dating from the Bronze Age and the Iron Age.