logo

Search published articles


Showing 2 results for Mollazadeh

Mostafa Rezaei, Maryam Mohammadi, Kazem Mollazadeh,
year 7, Issue 23 (5-2023)
Abstract

Abstract
One of the main aspects in understanding past cultures is the study and analysis of pottery works in ancient sites. The passage of communication routes such as the Khorasan highway during the historical period, especially in the Islamic period, has caused the emergence of many pottery cultures in this part of the country. Considering the influence of Hamedan pottery cultures and consequently the Qoroq site from large pottery areas of the Islamic period, in this research, an attempt is made to answer these questions. In terms of construction style and decoration, the effects of which areas can be seen in the pottery of Qoroq site? What are the most important types of pottery in this area from the 5th to 8th century AH? And which type of pottery has native characteristics? The main purpose of this writing is to identify the types of pottery indicators of the study site, which is done through the study of archaeological data obtained from modern surveys. In the present research, the descriptive-analytical research method and information gathering has been done in the form of library studies and field comparison of the findings of this area with other areas. The results show that the pottery art of this area can be seen in terms of construction and decoration techniques influenced by the art of neighboring areas such as Zolfabad, Aveh, Soltanieh, Takht-e Soleiman, Kangavar and Boroujerd. Also more than 10 types of pottery from the fifth to the eighth century AH have been identified, which include different types of unglazed and glazed pottery, each of which is divided into simple, patterned and multi-colored subsets under the glaze. In the meantime, specimens such as Dishes with multicolored decoration on white glaze probably have local characteristics.
Keywords: Qoroq Site, Hamedan, Typology, Pottery, 5th to 8th Century AH.

Introduction
Qoroq site is located 9 km north of Hamedan city, in the east of Bahar city. In terms of topography and geological features, this area is located in the alluvial, eastern and northern parts of the Alvand mountain valley habitat and in the middle of the vast and fertile plain of Hamedan (Fig 1 & 2). According to historical texts and archaeological evidence, Qoroq site is one of the leading cultural centers of the Islamic period, the peak of its prosperity is related to the seventh and eighth centuries AH (Fig 3). Surface studies on the pottery of the Islamic period of Qoroq site show that in this region, various known pottery styles have been prevalent in different regions of Iran. The Survey and analysis of various types of pottery index during the fifth to eighth centuries AH, The relationship of this area with neighboring areas and also the identification of local samples is one of the objectives of this Research. The most important research questions are: 1- In terms of construction style and decoration, the effects of which areas can be seen in the pottery of Qoroq site? 2- What are the most important types of pottery in this area? And 3- which type of pottery has native characteristics? According to the results of the research, underglaze and overglaze varieties with monochromatic and multicolor motifs are among the most important pottery works of this area. It is probably the multi-colored type on a white glaze background from the local pottery of the western regions of Iran in the 7th and 8th centuries AH. (Table 7 b). In the present article, the data are collected by documentary and field methods and the research approach is “descriptive-analytical”. The pottery pieces were studied by “sampling” method as “simple random” and based on “qualitative characteristics”.
Archaeological studies by faculty members of Bu - Ali Sina University in the region during the years 2006 to 2012 have referred to the pottery data of the Islamic period of this region and its flagship hills, including Qoroq site (Mohammadifar and Motarjem, 2006; Motarjem and Belmaki, 2009; Nazari Arshad, 2012). “Survey and analysis of the typology of pottery from the beginning of the Islamic period to the end of the Safavid period in Hamadan”; (Zarei and Shabani, 2019) is another research that has studied the totality of Islamic pottery in Hamedan province, including the Qoroq site, which has been obtained through excavations and studies.

Data
In this research, the pottery fragments of Qoroq Islamic site are divided into two groups of unglazed and glazed pottery. According to the type of decoration, unglazed pottery can be seen in three groups with molded decoration, incised pattern and added pattern. Glazed parts can be classified into two groups, monochromatic and multicolor. Also, according to the type of motifs and patterning method, it is divided into monochromatic motifs (carved, molded, embossed) and underglaze and overglaze motifs. Glazed pottery is divided into Sultanabad style, esgraffiato, black pen under turquoise glaze, silhouette, blue and white, Azure with gold decorations and several colors on white glaze (Table 1-7).
In the Islamic period, especially from the 3rd to the 8th century AH, historians and geographers have made important references to the routes between Hamadan and the neighboring regions, which can be known to some extent about the main and most important roads of this region and the neighboring regions. These routes are: 1- Hamadan-Holwan route (Istakhri, 1961: 163-162; Ibn Hoqal, 1987: 103-102; Ibn Khordadbeh, 1992: 24; Ibn Rosteh, 1892: 168-167; Maghdasi, 1982: 599-600; Mostofi Qazvini, 1957: 164) which passed through the western regions of the country, including the cities of Asadabad, Kangavar, Bisotun. 2- Hamedan-Qazvin route (Istakhri, 1961: 163), which passed through the cities of Razan and Avaj. 3- The southern road of Hamedan (Demeh road, Raman/Jarfadghan/Isfahan/Khuzestan) which was flowing from the cities of Jokar, Nahavand and Borujerd towards the southern and central regions of the country (Istakhri, ibid.: 163; Natanzi, 2013: 254). 4- The route from Hamedan to Saveh and Ray (Ibn Khordadbeh, 1992: 25; Ibn Rosteh, 1892: 168-167; Hamavi 2001, Vol. 1: 651; Katebe Baghdadi, 1991: 38-37) which passed through the eastern parts of Hamedan, including the villages of Gorgaz and Bozenjerd. 5- Hamadan-Soltanieh route (Mostofi Qazvini, 1957: 164; Hamedani, 2007: 126), the northern road that passed through the cities of Kabudarahang and Shirinsu.
Here, many similarities can be seen between the pottery of the Qoroq Islamic site and the examples found in the significant cultural centers within the region (Bashqortaran, Dargzin and Babakhanjar sites in the north, Arzanfoud and Troglodytic Samen sites in the south, and Qale juq site in the northeast). Also, the ability to compare some of the samples found with pottery from outside the region such as Qorveh, Kangavar, Bisotun, Garos, Aghkand, Soltanieh, Zalfabad, Tahigh, Aveh, Ray, and Borujerd has shown the connections of this site with its western, eastern, northern, and southern neighbors. Among these routes, which had a significant impact on the political, economic and cultural life of the region, is the Great Khorasan road that entered the Hamadan basin from the eastern parts of the plain.

Conclusion
According to the study of pottery left over from this area and the abundance obtained from them - as one of the cultural centers with valuable archaeological data - its peak of brilliance belongs to the Seljuk and Ilkhanid periods. Among the pottery fragments of the area, all kinds of single-color pottery (plain and patterned), underglaze and overglaze patterns typical of the western regions of Iran have been obtained. Among the types of glazed vessels, esgraffiato vessels with linear and simple geometric motifs repeated in the middle of the frame (spiral, zigzag, rhombus and triangular circle motifs) on a light green and cream background, and multi-colored decorated vessels on white glaze with mixed geometric motifs. (horizontal parallel lines, continuous crossed lines) and a simple plant (flowers with several leaves, mesbek and pichan) in the inner part is considered one of the most important types of local pottery of this place. Similar to the samples studied based on the construction technique, decoration method, color and shape in other pottery centers inside and outside the region, especially in the neighboring prominent areas which are on the most important communication routes from Hamedan to Kangavar, Bisotun, Qorveh, Soltanieh, Aghkand, Garos, Zolfabad, Tahigh, Aveh, Ray and Borujerd were placed, it has been popular. The designs used on the pottery have shown the extensive cultural relations of the population centers in the middle Islamic centuries. According to historical and archeological evidence, the main factor influencing the pottery art of this region from neighboring regions in the Islamic period was the trade and pilgrimage routes that entered the Hamedan plain from the east, central plateau, west and northwest. As can be seen, during this period, all exchanges from the most important city of Jebal, i.e. Ray, to the western regions of the country, including the Hamedan Plain, were carried out through the Khorasan road. Therefore, Hamedan is located in the center of one of the four important communication routes between north and south and east and west of Iran, and the similarity of the cultural materials of this region with other regions is due to its location in the chain of political, cultural and commercial communication in the west of the country.

Hamed Hajilooei, Kazem Mollazadeh, Morteza Maleki,
year 9, Issue 32 (8-2025)
Abstract

Abstract
It is possible to study the climate adaptability of past and present architecture by benefiting from the sciences of archeology, architecture, geography, applied climatology and paleoclimatology. Conducting such studies in connection with the complex of Persepolis in Marvdasht plain belonging to the Achaemenid period adds new information to the scope of our knowledge of the architecture of the mentioned period. The current research seeks to evaluate three main questions: 1) What were the physical components of the architecture of Persepolis complex in order to adapt it to climatic conditions? 2) How effective were these components in line with the mentioned issue? And 3) What were the non-physical heating or cooling arrangements of the complex? The necessary information has been collected by library and field methods and analyzes of four software, AutoCAD, Climate Consultant, Ecotect, and DesignBuilder in the field of energy and architecture and processed in a descriptive-analytical way. The physical components of the architecture of the complex include its orientation towards the south with a northwest-southeast stretch, high density and height of buildings and the creation of passages with a small width, the use of mud-brick in the construction of walls and the creation of a flat covering of wooden beams, the installation of side doors and windows in the walls. South in most of the buildings are the construction of the pillared porch at the entrance of most of the buildings. These components are effective in using the radiant heat of the sun to heat the residents in some hours in the time range from October to April. However, the application of these solutions from November to March (1632 hours in total) is not enough, and heat production was needed. Probably, in order to achieve thermal comfort, the residents had time management in holding gatherings and used non-physical heating arrangements similar to portable open fire-place from the palaces of the Assyrian Empire. Finally, the climatic adaptability of the complex to the Marvdasht plain and the adoption of suitable heating and cooling measures in it have ensured the thermal comfort of the residents.
Keywords: Environmental Archeology, Persepolis Complex, Thermal Comfort in Achaemenid Architecture, Climatic Adaptability.

Introduction
Creating ecological stability between man-made and nature is necessary for the continuation of life. Architecture is one of the aspects of human life that has a direct relationship with climatic conditions. The formation of native architectural styles throughout history shows the extent of knowledge of the ethnic groups from the climatic conditions of the surrounding environment, which is based on the reading of the geographical, historical and social background of the region (Moazzen & Sad berenji, 1400: 168). When the climatic conditions in a region are favorable, human life is formed and continues there. These conditions are different in different parts of the world and it is necessary to use elements in the architectural body of the building with the aim of complying with the mentioned conditions. Archaeological evidence shows that humans have been aware of this issue since prehistoric times and have taken steps towards the optimal use of natural factors and reducing their negative consequences. The architecture of the residential and religious buildings discovered in Tepe Zagheh (Malek Shahmirzadi, 2011: 326-327) and the architectural works obtained from the V cultural period of the Tepe Sagzabad (Talaei, 2015: 145-145) are proof of such knowledge. By adopting suitable cooling and heating measures in the architectural body of the building, a mental condition is created in the residents that express their satisfaction with the thermal conditions of the environment, and it is called the thermal comfort range (Hejazizadeh & Karbalai Darei, 2014: 22).
Historical documents and archaeological data related to the Achaemenid Empire have been discovered from different parts of their territory, and architectural remains are among these discoveries. The architectural complex uncovered in the vicinity of Persepolis in Marvdasht plain is one of the architectural remains left over from the Achaemenid period. The architecture of this complex is in a way that has certain proportions and the Peymoon system (Javnmardi & et al., 2018: 123). The architectural body of each building must match the climatic conditions of the surrounding environment as much as possible in order to ensure the thermal comfort of its inhabitants. If the physical adaptability of the architecture is not enough, cooling and heating measures are taken to produce cold or heat in the building. The problem of the current research is to know the physical components of the architecture and the heating and cooling solutions thought in the architecture of the Persepolis complex in accordance with the climatic conditions of the Marvdasht plain, which can bring information about the adaptation of the architecture to the climatic conditions in the Achaemenid period.

Identified Traces
The physical components of the Achaemenid architecture of Persepolis, in order to implement these arrangements, include the orientation of the complex in relation to the azimuth of sunlight towards the south with a northwest-southeast extension, which is exposed to an average of the maximum amount of solar radiation energy and its optimal value. Due to the gradual construction of the complex, the high density and height of the buildings has caused the creation of passages and two courtyards with a small width, which has reduced the area of the movement field of unfavorable winds, shading the openings on hot days and causing a lot of failure in the passages. The use of mud-brick in the construction of walls and the creation of a flat covering of wooden beams with a large thickness, which has a high capacity and thermal delay, prevents the loss of heat on cold days and reduces the entry of heat from the outside into the interior of buildings on hot days. Installing openings in the northwest-southeast azimuth is an average of the maximum radiant heat (east) and optimal (east-west with south view) azimuths, and the amount of heat received from sunlight is suitable for hot and cold days of the year. Most likely, the doors and windows are closed on cold days. The construction of pillared porches in most buildings also played a role in adjusting the air inside. Applying these solutions in most of the hours from November to March, which is calculated as a total of 1632 hours, is not enough to ensure the thermal comfort of the residents of the complex, and heat production is needed.

Conclusion
Considering the great and well-studied achievements of the architects and master craftsmen of Persepolis in various architectural, technical and artistic fields, it is expected that they will have significant achievements in the field of adaptation of architecture to the environment and heating and cooling arrangements. Based on the analysis of the climatic conditions of Marvdasht Plain and the thermal comfort of its residents, it is more necessary to comply with the heating measures compared to the cooling measures in the architecture of a building in the mentioned area for climate adaptation and providing the thermal comfort of the residents. Natural heating measures include the use of heat from sunlight, which relieves the cold stress of the residents in some hours in the time range of October to April. The cooling arrangements also include shading on the openings and natural air ventilation, which provides thermal comfort to the residents from April to May and from September to October in some hours and in the middle days of the two mentioned periods at all hours of the day and night. There was no need for cooling during the year. In this collection, wall-mounted heaters similar to the examples of the third floor of Babajan Tepe Lorestan have not been identified. For this reason, it is likely that the inhabitants used portable metal fire-place similar to the Assyrian types and provided the necessary heat. Finally, the present research shows that the architects of Persepolis complex, as well as having mastered various architectural techniques, also had sufficient knowledge in relation to various aspects of climate adaptability and the adoption of heating and cooling measures in order to ensure the thermal comfort of the residents in different months of the year.


Page 1 from 1