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Showing 3 results for Khosravi

Leila Khosravi,
year 5, Issue 17 (12-2021)
Abstract

Abstract
Jahangir site, which located in the western part of Sasanian Empire, had been excavated, since 2016 unitl 2019 during the constructing of Kangir Dam in Ilam province. Three architecture phases and plan of a huge building contained 11 spaces had been revealed during three seasons of excavations, and S.XI also revealed in the fourth season of archaeological excavations. Following the research problems of the previous seasons, the most important aim of this season of excavation, is to obtain the connection between the constructions and spaces with the main hall, and also to distinguish the availability and the entrance of the main hall. Maybe a religious function could be imagined for this structure Or it can be a structure for fermenting materials for beer and wine production and portable finds, led us to the new dimensions of Sasanian art, with the indigenous identity. The first stage of the settlements goes back to the pre-historic in the northern part. This site had been used also in Parthian period. A complex of buildings had been constructed in Sasanian era in the central part of the site. The results of dating experiments approve the date of Sasanian for Jahangir site, while the discovery of a Derakhma from Shapour II, shows that the site had been used continuously from the middle Sasanian period until Early Islamic. Gathering the data of this study is based on field study, library and laboratory studies, and descriptive-analytical method. The results of the excvations in this site, concludes the realization of social process of the high-ranked level of Sasanian society in the region according to the royal-local architecture methods.
Keywords: Jahangir, Architecture, Sasanian, Kangir Dam, Ilam.

Introduction
The Jahangir Building is located 25 km southeast of the Eyvan township in Ilam Province within an inter mountain valley next to Sartang village. In Jahangir 17-hectare site, several large monuments and two cemeteries are visible. After four seasons of excavations in central mound, the plan of some parts of an enormous building including 11 spaces, an area in 832 m2 have been revealed. Jahangir building include hall, Eyvan, rooms and courtyard. The walls, arcades, arcs and stuccos exist in this building, and the mortars are rubbles and semi-baked and semi-impressed plaster. These materials are quick and pressure and stretching persistent. The height of the walls are different, those made by floating the slabs in mortars and covered them with a plaster/gypsum layer.
The S.II, S.III, S.V, S.VII, S.IX, S.XI were one of the most important architectural spaces revealed in S.XI. This space in the size of 15.5×12.5 meters, in fact is the continue of the S.I, in order to revealing the connection between central mound and rectangular halls. The Western gate of rectangular and a round-shaped construction made by slabs and plaster in 2.45 meters distant from the West of the entrance have been found. In order to forming the round-shaped space, especially in outer part, the molded stuccos with a curve into the inside. The diameter of this construction is between 2.30 to 2.45 meters and depth of 64 cm(s). 
In the Northeast of the floor, there is a round curved part, which is a closed space and have not any pores, and covered by plaster/gypsum. In the absence of any cultural materials related to this structure, it is hard to recognize the function. There were even no traces of debris inside inner part and intentionally filled with a soft brown clay, and there were no trashes or ruin. This structure related to the second settlement plaster floor. In other words, the round-shaped structure with 45 cm(s) height from the first settlement floor, had been built in later periods. Maybe a religious function could be imagined for this structure or it can be a structure for fermenting materials for beer and wine production. The only similar and comparable specie is in Kish palace, which are round-shaped lavers with covered floor besides the vaulted room jahangir, which will describe in detail.
The fourth season of excavations at the site was carried out to explore the relation between different structures and spaces discovered in previous seasons. Excavations began in the main hall of the building, clearing the path between the two parts, and opening the entrance to the main hall. In addition to exposing the main entrance in the middle of the west wall of the building, we also found the remains of a stair way, a round gypsum construct and a feature attached to the southeastern corner of the main hall, as well as valuable portable finds. 
In this Season, a cut was made at the layers exposed in the north side of space XI in order to study the stratigraphy of the building, finding two clay and gypsum floors some 4-7 and 3-5 cm thick. This observation supports other finds from the building that there are two construction phases. The lower floor is an stamped layer of brownish soil-252 cm deep dating to Parthian period on which the Jahangir Building was constructed in the Sasanian period. 
In this season of excavations we came across a number of noteworthy facts. First, the site came into attention in Parthian period, but it was in the Sasanian period that a set of building were constructed here, especially in its central part. Dating of finds from previous seasons all point to a date in late Sasanian period, but the discovery of a silver coin of Shapour II in this season, suggests that this building may have been built in middle Sasanian period and continued to be used through early centuries AH It was then used by nomadic people. Three construction phases casn be discerned in the building phase 1 using cobbles and gypsum mortar a building was erected on the earher Parthian remains; phase 2 additional stone structures have been added to the building and repairs have been made, and phase 3 when the building was abandoned and used by nomads.

Conclusion
The pottery found in this season is similar to what we have found in previous seasons. The only difference is that we found some typical clinky ware on Feature no. 87, i.e , the last feature excavated in this season, supporting our hypothesis that the Sasanian building was erected on top of a Parthian settlement. We also found some gypsum stuccos with floral and geometric decoration, as well as examples with reverse motifs within different geometric frames reminiscent of the previous season’s finds. Finds include the aforementioned silver coin, in addition to glass, bone implements, and floral remains.

Rouholah Khosravi Nejad, Soheila Torabi Farsani, Esmaeil Sangari,
year 5, Issue 18 (3-2022)
Abstract

Abstract
The expanded territories of the ancient Iranian empires raise a question for the audience, at first glance, despite a display of authority and domination of the kings, that how the central governments extended their domination over these regions and defended it against foreign threats. In the wide Sasanian Empire, one policy of the emperors of the dynasty was to establish new cities and renew old ones to expand their dominance over the country. As a result of these efforts in which required the founding and reconstruction of intercity pathways for moving goods and troops, a vast network of cities and routes were gradually formed. In this network, cities had the role of nodes for controlling and providing the essential resources and supplies for the central government. Thus, it can assume that the network of cities, moreover expanding the dominance of the Sasanian government, also had affected their fall. This study aimed to find appropriate answers for this question, using library resources through a descriptive-analytical methodology that what role the communication network of Sasanian cities has played in the Arabs conquests. The result findings indicate that the vast communication network of the Sasanian cities has not only facilitated the Arabs troops’ movement and campaign, but they were also able to weaken the defensive power of cities through Blocking support routes. Moreover, The Arabs had been able to consolidate their occupancy and dominance by capturing the cities as network’s connection points.
Keywords: Sasanian, Arabs, Sasanian cities, Conquest, Communication network. 

Introduction
The concept of the realm can be defined by some individual domains played a source role for a central government interconnected via some access roads, and being protected from improvised border posts; however, each domain is surrounded by some enclosed areas not being purposed for settlement (Smith,2007:28-29). The ancient governments were modeled as some access networks to resources like cities, trade bases, or natural mines for their developed dominance based on the management of those charged operators in the controlled trades, taxes, infrastructures, law enforcement, and military proceedings (Smith,2005:835-836). In this way, the empire owns actually a communication network for transported goods and cities could be interlinked (Liverani,1988:86-92). Based on this model, the governors initially establish their authority over the most critical chosen resources, and subsequently, control the corridors and essential routes connecting the relevant domain to the imperial network system; so it is possible to construct some links as roads or canals from the new domain into other parts. Therefore, they can manage those realms with a high transformed economic and social data shown with their widespread control over the essential resources (Smith,2007:32-33). Facilitating the communication among various empiric sections, the Sasanian communication network plus their cities were widespread under the imposed state surveillance (Miri,2012:104). In the late period, monitoring the main network routes was assigned into the quadratic generalissimo (Spahbodān) of the Sasanian empire (Howard-Johnston,2012:125). It suggested a political and military significance of the network maintenance for the Sasanians, and according to Smith, after the intercity network of interaction finished, it was possible to collapse the states (Smith, 2005: 838). Given that the role of every Sasanian city was based upon certain matters and essentials, it is necessary to compare and analyze their effects in the fall of the Sasanian empire. The study findings are beneficial for those investigators of the historical urban background and the condition of traditional ancient Iran.
Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the collapse of the Sasanian state and the Arab conquests based on the perspective of the network interconnection of Sasanian cities. The raised study question is that based on their status and place in the widespread network of Sasanian cities, what roles and effects had every Sasanian city placed along the routes of Arab conquests in this event? Library resources were used for data gathering in this descriptive-analytical study.

Network of Sasanian Cities and Roles in Arab Conquests
The Sasanians established their dominance policy based on the city developments and the necessity of their interconnection. Accordingly, surveillance of urban connection routes became essential for the state because of both military logistics and support and trade and revenue. That was highly important, especially in border regions and even some cities were established to support other cities in the frontlines (Liverani,1988:92). Besides the development of cities and communication routes, the states were considered the source access network with some defined regions and borders to be defended (Smith,2005:835). The potential danger of the Arabs made the Sasanians construct a defensive line of small military forts for surveilling important points in the communication network of the Mesopotamian plain (Howard-Johnston,2012:97-98). The Arabs used to violate the state frontiers. After the succession of Yazdgerd III, their motives increased for capture more areas after their progressive onrush into Iran’s territories (Tabari,2004:1587-1588). Intercity routes with a previous role for widespread Sasanian authority in Iranshahr cities were traversed by the Arabs and their troops to progress into the Persian central plateau (Tabari,2004:1959). Eastern Iran disconnected from the central cities after Rey’s capture (Frye,1977:12) as a critical route from the western cities to Khorasan (Nicolle,1996:12). Also, Zarang’s capture led to the disconnected Sistan-Khorasan due to the defeated highway of Zarang-Kirkuk-Herat (Ibn Huql,1987:158), and subsequently, Yazdgerd III was trapped in Khorasan (Farrokh,2013:92). Yazdgerd went to Marv city with special military strength and position in order to take back the monarchy, but Neishabour capture, the support military base, happened earlier by the Arabs (Bruner,2014:174). After the weakened defenses, the death of Yazdgerd III, and the peace of governor with the Arabs occurred in Marv city, the fall of the Sasanian dynasty was realized there.

Conclusion
The Sasanians expanded their authority through the developed urban centers and roads over their empire and then established strategic base points for land maintenance and protection. Due to the policy, cities like Neishabour in Khorasan or Mesopotamian Anbar were higher political and economic prominence over others being responsible for providing military and economic support to the surrounding cities. However, cities like Isfahan or Qazvin alongside Oboleh functioned as connection points and crossroads in the urban network, and sometimes, their removal meant simultaneous disconnection of several state routes from the control of the central government. Therefore, the Sasanians invested variously in building walls and ditches for cities’ protection, but political turmoil, civil wars in the late Sasanian period, and destructive effects of the long Byzantine wars overall weakened the defensive shield. Apparently, after invading Iran’s cities, the Arabs could use the joined Iranians to their armies, or the Iranian settled Arabs and identified well the routes and connection points of the cities, blocked the supply and support routes, and facilitated Iranshahr capture.

Mlilad Baghsheikhi, Mohammad Esmail Esmaeli Jelodar, Leila Khosravi, Alireza Khosrowzadeh,
year 8, Issue 29 (12-2024)
Abstract

Abstract
Gorieh site located in Zarneh section of Ivan Gharb city is one of the important Sassanid and early Islamic sites in archeological studies of the west of the country which has been excavated in 2015. During a season of excavation in this ancient site, a variety of cultural artifacts were found, including pottery, and due to the importance of pottery and its role in archaeological studies, this cultural material was studied in this article. Therefore, for this study, 127 pieces of pottery from the Sassanid era, from 1500 pieces of pottery obtained from excavation, were selected for study. Initially, these pottery were classified typologically based on their technical characteristics and shape or form. This research has a fundamental nature with a descriptive-analytical approach and the method of this research has two parts: library and field studies (pottery). The main purpose of this article is to study the quantity and quality of Sassanid pottery in Gorieh area, then their typology, classification and relative chronology. Chronology has been done comparatively and cultural relations with adjacent areas have been explained based on comparative studies of pottery. The results showed that among the identified forms among the pottery of Gorieh area, including Ewer, jug, bowl, cup and plate and the most common decorative patterns of pottery are carved patterns. Pottery is often suitable for baking and a sign of oven temperature control for baking pottery, and the quality of their construction is generally average. Also, a comparative comparison showed that in terms of relative chronology, Sassanid Gorieh pottery is relatively similar to the areas of the late period. Therefore, while having some local characteristics, the pottery of this area with areas such as, Qasr-e-Bonsar, Hajiabad, Sassanian sites identified in the survey of the Mahneshan of Zanjan, North Khuzestan, Mianab Shushtar, Bushehr, Ras al-Khaimah and Tal-e mahuz sites, Abu Sharifa in Iraq They are comparable and in addition to the influences of regional style, it is most similar to the cultural sphere of southwestern Iran.
Keywords: Typology, Classification, Sasanian Potteries, Gorieh Site, Ilam.

Introduction
Gorieh area is located in geographical coordinates of 38s x: 605380 and Y: 37522210. This site is located 50 km northwest of Ilam, Zarneh district in Ivan city, about 800 meters south and southwest of lower Sartang village. (Khosravi, 1395: 32) Gorieh region drowned in water after impounding of Kangir dam in year of 1394 AH. (Fig. 2) Part of the Zagros Mountains, which overlooks to Mesopotamia and the plains of Khuzestan, is now called Ilam Province. Pottery is the most abundant cultural material in archaeological excavations and studies. Pottery is mostly used for relative dating and to know the cultural and trade relations of the ancient sites. (Khosrozadeh et al., 1399: 119) Therefore, in the present study, the Authors try to introduce and study the pottery findings as one of the cultural materials discovered from the excavation of Gorieh site, which was excavated by one of the Authors of the article, with other sites at the same contemporary.

Discussion 
Masbezan was one of the Sassanian provinces during the rule of Ardeshir Babakan (ruled 244-241 AD) (Rawlinson, 1362: 44); in historical books, this province has been recorded in two forms: ((Masbezan)) and ((Mah, sebzan)). The word Mah or May in the word ((sabzan)) is the changed form of the word ((Mad)) which means city (Qara Chanlu, 1360: 31-32) and the change of the word Mad to Mah and May, which was done during the Parthian and Sassanian eras, was also a common word in the Islamic period for refer to Iraq and non-Arabic places. (Ibid: 32) During the early centuries of Islam, western Iran in the terms of geographical divisions was considered as Jabal province (mountain) in. (Fig. 1) among the cultural findings of the excavation in the Gorieh site, a number of pottery obtained from different spaces. In the present study, from hundreds of Sassanian pottery pieces obtained by screening method, Index pottery was selected from 127 pieces and then categorization, typology and chronology were proposed. Most pottery was made using the wheel-making technique and most of them are sufficiently baked; the pottery s are made entirely of mineral chamotte (sand). In terms of the quality of the pottery s, the earthenware of Gorieh area can be divided into three groups: 1. medium 2. Average 3. Rough. In the present study, the studied samples are pottery s from ancient textures and spaces which cognitively obtained and representative of all classes and species, these potteries were selected accordingly and then discussed and analyzed. Therefore, from a comparative study conducted in a chapter of archeological excavations in Gorieh area, the number of pieces was selected separately: 96 rim, 1 pipe, 4 handles, 18 body and 8 pottery bottom Sassanian unglazed pottery s in terms of color of the dough are divided in three main groups: pea near to green (79 of 127 pieces), pea (20 of 127 pieces), red (19 of 127 pieces), brown (7 from 127 pieces) and gray (3 out of 127 pieces). In addition to the above, for the classification of pottery s which studied in Gorieh, the shape of their rims has also been considered. Accordingly, the rim founded pieces are classified into separate groups: gutters shape, triple, compact, standing and round, round inward or outward, quadruple, and flat .The highest rim diameter among Ceramics is 400 mm and the lowest is 40 mm, in terms of rim type’s number, the highest type of rim is the rounded rim. The pottery bottoms are divided into three groups: flat (Table6, numbers 1 and 3), legged bottom (Table6, number 4 to 7) and upright bottom (Table6, number 2), and handles are in two circular shapes (Table6, number 9 to 11) button shapes, (Table6 number 8) and a container tube (Table6 number 12) are separable Motifs and decorative elements of Gorieh pottery’s can be divided into four categories: 1. Simple patterns (stump) 2. Composite patterns 3. Added patterns and 4. Compression patterns.
The studied potteries, as mentioned before, is placed in common (simple) type in terms of construction and technical characteristics. In the present study dishes, based on the general shape of the earthenware and the type of edge are divided into different shapes of jug, crock, bowls, plates and cups.

Conclusion 
In each cultural region, the quality and quantity of archaeological data provide the basis for archaeological evaluations. The exploration, typology, and chronology of the potteries of a Guriyeh region were carried out to answer the research questions. The technical characteristics of the pottery show that sand is used in its composition. What is clear is that most of the potteries were fired sufficiently, and some of them were fired insufficiently, which indicates the lack of heat control in the pottery kilns. Most of the potteries studied in the present study were in the medium group, showing the tendency of the residents of Guriyeh to use vessels with medium elegance. The majority of the pottery has been made through wheel throwing, demonstrating the use of the potter’s wheel in making pottery; only a few of them are handmade. Wet hand polishing is also observed on the inner and outer walls of most of the pottery. In addition to the polishing of some earthenware, a thin or thick mud layer was also applied on the inner or outer wall and even both walls. In total, several types of pottery, including jugs, crocks, bowls, cups, and plates, were obtained from the Guriyeh area. The comparison of the kinds of pottery with those of other regions showed that pottery with general use, such as jugs (48.96%), is the primary type used by people living in this region. In terms of decorative diversity, Guriyeh’s pottery includes engraved, embossed, and combined motifs. Among them, the use of fingernail pressure to design the pottery seems to be indigenous to the Western region of Iran, and it has not been observed in other areas. Since there is very little archaeological information about Sassanid pottery in the Western region of Iran, the pottery of the Guriyeh area was compared with other regions. Based on comparisons, it was found that the potteries of the Guriyeh area have relative similarity with those of regions at the end of this period, such as (Abu Nasr Palace in Fars, Abu Sharifah Hill in Iraq, and Bushehr surveys). In general, the Guriyeh area was located on two ancient communication routes from Iran to Mesopotamia, as well as a route to the West and Southwest of Iran. Accordingly, Guriyeh’s pottery is comparable to that of other cultural regions of Iran. It can be concluded that based on the available documents, the area of Guriyeh seems to be culturally influenced by the cultural region of Southwest and South Iran, which can be attributed to its specific regional style.


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