Abstract
Despite the importance of the eastern regions of Iran, especially South Khorasan in the process of historical developments in Iran, archaeological research has not been done in this region. Kahnak archaeological site is an important Islamic site in South Khorasan province in the east of Iran where the weakness of environmental conditions and climatic constraints, especially the lack of water resources, has led to the formation of large and densely populated areas and settlements in this region. As this site provides economic, social, and cultural connections between the northern (Khorasan) and the southern regions (Sistan), which is also on another main route, it is very important for archaeological studies in the east of the country. Main routes have been a decisive factor in the location of human groups throughout history, and this has been more influential in areas where their habitats have been adjacent to major trade routes and communication roads. Kahnek site is considered as a place for educational activities of the Department of Archeology of Birjand University. From 2014 to 2019 excavation activities in this area have continued for six consecutive seasons. In this research, the fourth season of these excavations and their findings are introduced. The study aims to identify and analyze the architectural space called Kahnek Castle on the east side of the area in the winter of 2016. According to the surface data and excavations, the Kahnek site belongs to the third and fourth centuries until the Timurid period, and most of the gathered data include potteries and architectural structures are related to the Islamic Middle Ages. The architectural structures found in this season of excavation are mainly related to the architectural spaces of the castle. The present work is carried out in descriptive-analytical method and historical-cultural approach based on field data and library resources. 
Keywords: Establishment of the Islamic Period, Archaeological Excavation, Sarbisheh City, Kahnek Site.

Introduction
Regarding the archeology of the east of the country, especially South Khorasan, no studies have been conducted in this region, and the knowledge of researchers from the mentioned areas is more limited to the information contained in historical sources and texts and so far few articles and books about Archeology of this area has been published. One of the important sites of the Islamic Middle Ages in this region is the Kahnek site in Sarbisheh city. This site was selected in 2014 by the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts of South Khorasan and in collaboration with Birjand University as an internship site for archeology students of the Faculty of Arts - Birjand University and archaeological activities continuously until 2019, In this, it has continued. In the past, the Kahnek area was located as a settlement on an important communication route, which according to the cultural data obtained, it was determined that the establishment of Kahanek continued its life from the third and fourth centuries AH to the late Islamic (Safavid) centuries. In this study, the findings of the fourth chapter of the site are introduced. The cultural data obtained from the excavation of this site, in addition to architecture and pottery, have been other materials such as animal bone remains, decorative and functional metals, glassware pieces, metal and pottery ornaments, etc. This research tries to address these questions: 1- What is the plan of the explored architectural spaces of the ancient castle? 2- Can the influence of neighboring cultures be seen in the pottery of the Kahnek area? The research hypotheses are as follows: 1- According to the excavations, the old castle has a relatively circular plan and limited architectural spaces with square rooms. 2- Kahnek site is affected by neighboring areas due to its location in an important communication route that extends from north to south so that Neishabour-style pottery is one of the leading pottery styles of this area in the first centuries.

Geographical Location and Description of Excavation in Kahnek Site
Kahnek area is located in South Khorasan province, Sarbisheh city, in Mo’menabad rural district of the central part of this city and 50 meters east of Kahanek village and is located at 764602 longitudes and 3603433 latitudes. Architectural spaces in the fourth season of excavating the old area in 2015 are related to rooms with dimensions of 2×3 meters, which are related to the space of the castle tower. The potteries obtained in this excavation season are divided into two glazed and unglazed groups belonging to the early to late Islamic centuries. In addition to the potteries, an oil lamp, a metal scrap (possibly a coin), parts of quern-stones, a saw, pieces of glass, a chunk of glazed brick, a sharpening knife, and remnants of animals bones were found. According to the excavations and cultural materials and architectural evidence, three stages can be considered for this site. In the first and new stage of the site, it has been used as a temporary settlement in connection with livestock and agriculture. The second stage is related to the Islamic Middle Ages and at the same time with the Seljuk, Ilkhanid, and Timurid eras in which the site is at the greatest prosperity and development. The third stage of the area and the oldest one is related to the early Islamic centuries and the formation of the area, which shows the extensive connections of this area with northern Khorasan. At this stage, the architectural structures are built of clay with a wide foundation and thinner upperparts.

Conclusion
Archaeological excavation of the Kahnek site was carried out in 2016 with the cooperation of the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts of South Khorasan and Birjand University. The findings in this season of the excavation are the architectural works of several interconnected rooms with different dimensions. The walls of these architectural spaces are mostly made of clay; adobe and stone are rarely used in their foundations. Since most of the architectural spaces are detrital and in some spaces the adobes are placed diagonally next to each other, the roof of the residential spaces was probably made of rough-arch adobe. The pottery samples of the Kahnak area, which are the most important documents for the chronology of this area, can be compared with the samples and potteries of different regions in South Khorasan, particularly in North Khorasan and Kerman. The results of studies of samples and their comparisons show that the pottery in this area is related to the early Islamic centuries to the late Timurid and early Safavid periods. It can be said that trade routes played a key role in the process of communication and cultural similarities between different regions. Moreover, the Greater Khorasan Road is not only important for east-west connections but also it has been important for connecting the north and south of the Iranian plateau. Main routes have been an important factor in the location of human groups throughout history, which is more effective in areas where their ecosystems are adjacent to major trade routes and communication roads. However, it can be said that the climate has the most important impact on the process of leaving the inhabitants of this area, and agriculture, which is the main economic pillar of the region, has caused it to be abandoned due to climate change.

Abstract
Khosf county with a hot-dry climate is located in South Khorasan province in eastern Iran and on the eastern edge of the Lut desert. Despite the existence of historical monuments in this region of Iran, little is known about them to archaeologists, urban planners, architects, and art historians. Special attention was paid to the historical urban fabric and residential houses which are mainly related to the late Qajar and early Pahlavi eras, in the archeological survey conducted by the authors in the Khosf region in 2014. Three relatively intact and well-established historical urban fabric in the city of Khosf and the villages of Khor and Noghab were studied during this study and 45 historical houses in these areas and other historical villages of Khosf were examined. The studied historical/traditional fabrics are mostly active and today with some changes in the body of the building, they are still used by the local people of the region. The method of this research is descriptive-analytical and the way of collecting data is also based on archaeological studies in the region to document and collect information about traditional houses of Khosf, and Then based on library studies. This research seeks to answer three main questions: 1- How much has the climate affected the type of structures and architectural components of traditional Khosf houses? 2- Do these conditions prevent the influence of the changes and developments of the common architecture of the Qajar and Pahlavi periods or not? 3- And what have been the common decorative techniques in the architecture of Khosf houses? Based on the research questions, the main objectives of the present study are to investigate the impact of the climatic conditions of the region on traditional houses Khosf and developments in Iranian architecture, as well as the study of different structures and architectural components of these buildings and their related decorations. Despite the general resemblance to traditional architectural patterns in hot and dry regions of Iran, the results show that it is strongly influenced by the climate of the region and in terms of architectural structure and related decorations is slightly affected by Qajar to Pahlavi period architectural developments..
Keywords: Khosf, Residential House, Qajar, Pahlavi.

Introduction
Man has always had many buildings from distance past, many of which have been destroyed over time. Among these, residential houses are the most important and abundant architectural structures that have always been built or reconstructed by humans. But these buildings are generally destroyed over time and turned into a pile of soil. Therefore, it is necessary to study and document the remaining traditional and historical buildings of the country and study their construction and decoration methods and topics such as the impact of climate on them. In Iran, due to the richness of the country’s historical antiquity, many relics of traditional houses and urban fabrics have been left. At present, most of the ancient houses in Iran mainly belong to the Qajar to the first Pahlavi period. Many studies have been done on the architecture of traditional houses in different parts of Iran, which are mainly based on the historic and magnificent houses of Yazd and Kashan, but less attention has been paid to the study of simpler houses in small towns and suburbs. One of such areas where a large number of traditional/historical houses and to some extent some of its traditional fabrics have survived is the city of Khosf in South Khorasan Province, where no independent research has been done on the urban fabric and historical houses. Accordingly, the present study is the first step in studying and analyzing these architectural spaces. in this study, 45 historical houses located in three historical contexts of Khosf city and Noghab and Khor villages and surveyed by the authors in 2014 are considered as the statistical community. Considering that traditional houses, in addition to using the knowledge of their predecessors, have also been affected by climatic conditions and changes in Iranian architecture, it is necessary to know the extent of these effects in different regions. The main objectives of the present study, based on research questions, include the study of the decorations, structure, and various architectural components of traditional Khosf houses and recognizing their impact on climatic conditions and architectural developments in Iran.
Research Questions: The present study seeks to answer three main questions: 1- How much has the weather condition affected the type of structures and architectural components of urban fabrics and traditional houses of Khosf? 2- Do these conditions prevent being affected by the changes and developments of the common architecture of the Qajar and Pahlavi periods or not? And 3- What are the common decorative methods in the architecture of Khosf houses and how have they been?
Research Method: The method of this article is a descriptive-analytical one and the method of collecting data is also based on archaeological studies in the region to document and collect information about traditional houses in Khosf and then Based on library studies.

Article Text
With a hot and dry climate, Khosf is one of the southwestern counties of South Khorasan province, which is located in the eastern margin of the Lut desert. In most parts of the year, most of this area sees wind that has direct and indirect effects on the type of architectural structure of the region. Archaeological study of Khosf county has resulted in the identification of 45 residential buildings that date back to the Qajar to the early Pahlavi period. These buildings were identified in different parts of the county, from mountainous and foothill areas such as Ark and Bein Abad to desert areas such as Khosf, Khor, and Noghab. According to the objectives of the present study, Khosf traditional houses are studied based on the principles of traditional Iranian architecture such as urban form, introversion, direction, scale, spatial hierarchy, and architectural components of houses such as the entrance, courtyard, building materials, plan, colors and decorations and the effect of climatic conditions of the region and Iranian architectural developments on these works were investigated. For example, in terms of direction, most of the traditional houses of Khosf have been built in the northeast-southwest direction, and climatic issues such as the direction of the sunshine and the direction of the wind have had a direct impact on this choice. On the other hand, the studied buildings have a compact plan as much as possible and try to keep the external surface of the building smaller than its volume. This density and compactness of the house plan minimize the amount of heat exchange through the outer walls of the building in both summer and winter, thus preventing the penetration of heat into the building in summer and its loss in winter. Also, many of the studied buildings had one-way wind deflectors that brought cool air into the house in summer. Other features of the traditional Khosf houses include: having a central courtyard and rooms around it, having two porches on either side of the courtyard, having one or more windbreak rooms, having a room fireplace for winter, use of local and traditional materials, have very little decoration such as plastering or brickwork. 

Conclusion
Khosf is one of the hot and dry cities on the eastern edge of the Lut Desert that is directly affected by this climate. From the past until now, this county has largely preserved its traditional identity in the construction of various architectural works, due to its distance from very large cities. One of these works is the traditional houses of this county, which currently have a large number of them in areas such as Khosf, Khor, etc. Given that these houses have not yet been studied and surveyed, and at the same time have largely retained their traditional texture, it was necessary to address them in an independent study. Accordingly, the present study was conducted with the general purpose of studying traditional and old houses in Khosf city and with other purposes such as investigating the role of climatic and traditional factors in the formation of various spaces of these buildings. According to these studies, it can be concluded that the traditional houses of Khosf show their great influence on the climate and geographical conditions of the region. This issue can be observed in various factors such as the direction of the construction of alleys and their dimensions, direction of the construction of buildings, location of rooms in a building, type and number and direction of the windbreak, number and structure of porches, dimensions of rooms, little use of opening spaces such as windows, etc. Of course, with some factors such as the isolation of the Khosf region, its distance from the main route of commercial and communication highways, and its lack of proximity to major cities, this city will benefit less from the architectural and urban developments of the Qajar and Pahlavi periods. This issue is seen in the introverted architectural structure of buildings as well as related decorations. Accordingly, the traditional architectural model of this region can be introduced as a traditional, indigenous, and unique model, and it is necessary to take more measures for the continuation and further prosperity of this model. 

Abstract
City locals can be considered as the smallest unit of framework and social at traditional parts of Iranian cities and folks, however, in cities comprehensive plan historical districts bear sever changes and their traditional structure gradually decayed and lost its influence due to nonconformity with modern conditions. This lead to decrease in habitant’s relationship with each other. Hamadan was important city at western side of Iran at Islamic period. Its structures age returns to pre-Islamic period. Apart from any kinds of bordering rules among locals, dividing locals were of special attention at cities, in a period that urbanism was moving fast and division among locals of cities was important from city management point of view. Also, there is no research about Hamadan city locals in recent Islamic centuries. This research tries to introduce main elements of local formation, based on existing architectural and historical evidences. Based on mentioned aim, the main question is this: How was the space and framework structure of Hamadan’s historical locals? Research results shows that most of the locals gradually take circular and linear form at structural framework of locals, there are elements playing important role in meeting habitant needs from them; we can refer to Mosque, Bath, Grass, Holy shrine, Crypt and Caravansary. From this viewpoint, mosques were of important structures at each local. 
Keywords: Hamadan, Ghajar Period, Space Structure, Local Mosques, Improving Social Relationship.

Introduction
Historical locals were part of space structure of city. City plans changed the traditional old locals and they gradually lost their efficiency. In Hamadan city expansion was based on religious structure and space. Structure focus was round the mosque, holy shrine, which totally made a collection these elements were reflects of social condition and locals’ architectural structure at Ghajar period local was at the main bases of city framework and keeping locals and effect on social life balance. At Ghajar period Hamadan had many locals and villages. There were 30 lanes and locals in different forms. Hamadan as a case study in this paper, has a lot to think about city progress rules. Hamadan is a prominent sample of a city with different locals due to its genuine texture and commercial nature which lasts till now. In this research, we study and introduce the formation method and space structure of Hamadan locals.
Investigation Questions: According to the mentioned goals, important questions were as follows: How was the framework and organizing structure of Hamadan’s historical locals? Which mechanism follows space governing models of Hamadan locals?
Research Methods: This research is functional and belongs to qualitative research family which done by analytical- qualitative method. Creditable sources for research have been chosen first hand documents and matching study based on the existing evidence for this study have been chosen. Also, study uses of three method including documents study, interview with local habitants and observing texture and architecture and architecture kind.

Conclusion
With close look at local space and framework structure we notice that the main route of locals leads to local center. In other word, local mosque had the most access and focus to local formation and all planning about space organization was done at mosques. On the other hand, baths and springs had the most interaction for organization. About space structure of locals, we can say no preplanning was done and although their design was natural. However, its functions cover was so that all people take benefit of it, so that each local has private gate and realm and was separated from others. From other hand, mosques bath and springs more over than their main function had Other use as meeting places so they are main factors of structure of Hamadan locals. These elements respectively have the most frequency. Other results show that Hamadan locals center have linear and circular shapes. These shapes created for access to center. Also, there is other element named grass with quadrant, rectangular and trapezius shape or without shape This place plays a significant role at consolidating loyalty relationship among people, so that all people attend in this place for recreation and meeting.

Abstract
The settlements of human societies have always undergone cultural changes in their place over time. One of the reasons for this alteration is the change in livelihood strategies as a result of climate change, in the social organization seeks change in production, technology and.... Among these, the most important factor should be considered livelihood and a kind of biogeography-dependent determinism in meeting basic needs, in the structure of the pattern of human settlements, so economic, social and environmental frameworks complement each other to analyze why change. Or lack of it in the biological patterns of humans throughout their historical life. Kabudrahang plain has been one of the northern plains of Hamedan province and one of the most important ways of communication between the cultures of the Central Plateau, the northwest and the Central Zagros during different periods. This plain in the summer of 2007, under the title: “Study and identification of the ancient sites of Gol Tappeh and the central part of Kabudrahang” has been studied in a survey by collecting cultural materials from the area, in two seasons. The result of field studies includes 140 sites from different periods of Chalcolithic Period to late Islam, which shows environmental and cultural changes in the settlement patterns from the period of Chalcolithic Period to the Qajar era. One of the main topics addressed in archeology is the study of changes in ancient sites and, finally, the attempt to analyze the changes and developments of habitat patterns and their causes over time. In this regard, to examine the trend of changes in settlement patterns, hypotheses based on the influence of factors such as: “space”, “time” and “place” in the process of these changes are presented. However, the main question of this research is that what were the influential factors in the cultural changes of the settlements of Kabudrahang plain from the Chalcolithic Period to the Qajar era? The method selected in the present study will be the use of “Kennethe F. Watt” theory strategies based on GIS analysis with a historical-analytical approach. The results of the study of Kabudrahang plain settlements from the Chalcolithic Period to the Qajar era, show a change in the adaptive strategies of human groups present in it, based on livelihood patterns in location with the impact of the geography of the study area on the needs of human communities..
Keywords: Kabudrahang Plain, Archaeological Study, Settlement Pattern, Location, Geography.

Introduction
Human settlements have always undergone various changes in location over time. Among the reasons for that are changes in livelihood strategies as a result of climate change, changes in social organization following cultural changes, technology, and so on. In addition to socio-economic reasons, cultural issues and a kind of determinism related to environmental geography could also affect the structure of human settlement patterns; Thus, economic, cultural, social, and environmental frameworks complement each other to explain why human life patterns have changed, throughout their historical life. Kabudrahang plain with the length of 50 km northwest-southeast and north, including the northern plains of Hamadan province and has been one of the most important communication routes between the inhabitants of the Central Plateau, northwest and central Zagros. Kabudrahang, with its diverse geography including mountainous areas, high slopes, lagoon (Shirinsoo) and mid-mountain plain on the northeastern slopes of Alvand Mountains, has experienced various biological and climatic changes over time. In the summer of 2007, Kaboudrahang plain was intensively surveyed by collecting cultural materials from the region during two seasons, with a field project entitled “Study and identification of the ancient sites of Gol- Tappeh and the central part of Kabudrahang”, which resulted in 140 sites being identified. Different types of Chalcolithic Period have been identified from the period to the end of the Islamic period, which includes different types: hills, caves, castles, cemeteries, stone paintings, baths, bridges, etc. In this research, the location changes of settlements, cultural effects and developments of archaeological findings in this cultural field will be studied, which is one of the main objectives of this research.

Settlements and Sites of Kabudrahang Plain
As mentioned in the introduction, Kabudrahang plain was studied for the first time in two stages with the research project “Study and identification of the ancient sites of Gol Tappeh and the central part of Kabudrahang” (NazariArshad, 2007). in the first stage (Summer 2007) 60 works and in the second stage (Autumn 2007) 80 ancient works were identified. Accordingly, in the study of the area in the first Season, for each area, a location code number after the letter “KA”, which is derived from the name “Kabudrahang” was considered; So that after the investigation in the first Season 60 codes and in the second Season, 80 codes (140 codes in total in two Seasons) were allocated for all identified works. The identified ancient sites include: caves, stone carvings, baths, bridges, cemeteries, mountain castles with stone and brick materials for residential and governmental use, and other items in the form of ancient hills from the Chalcolithic period to the Qajar period. In the following, information about the typology of different places and ancient hills of Kaboudrahang based on known archeological periods and cultures will be provided.
Chalcolithic Period: The oldest artifacts and common cultures identified from Kabudrahang plain belong to the Chalcolithic periods, among which, from 13 sites, the artifacts of the period have been identified.
Bronze Age: Bronze Age artifacts of Kabudrahang plain have been identified in 16 settlements.
Iron Age: Iron Age artifacts in Kabudrahang plain are limited and have been identified from only 5 settlements.
Parthian and Sassanid Period: The settlements of the historical period of Kaboudrahang plain have been identified from 106 sites, which can be considered more related to the Parthian and Sassanid eras.
Islamic Period: Remains of the Islamic era of Kaboudrahang plain were identified from 125 sites. These sites belong to different periods of the early, middle and late Islamic centuries and include different types of monuments such as baths, castles, bridges, cemeteries and ancient hills.

Conclusion 
The ideas and analysis of the settlement patterns of Kabudrahang plain can be discussed from two perspectives; First: livelihood economy, which has caused spatial changes in order to benefit and adapt its different communities to the environment, which sometimes includes livestock with a semi-integrated approach and sometimes agriculture and permanent settlement in different areas of the plain. These environmental compromises have been manifested in all prehistoric periods (Chalcolithic Period) to the late Islamic period (Qajar) in Kaboudar plain. Second: Roads and communication spaces and the location of the region have been political, cultural and commercial borders. In different historical periods, roads, trade and economic prosperity have always been considered as a component of the durability and stability of governments. Road surveillance, awareness and prevention of possible movements of military attacks, required important infrastructure such as: military bases along the way, proper access roads and most importantly security. Therefore, the construction of castles has always been considered important and serious by the rulers and the city government, which in the Kabudrahang plain has shown the most in the Parthian and Qajar periods based on the type of settlements (Fortifications Castle). Existence of surface waters such as seasonal and permanent wetlands and rivers and being located in communication roads and borders of different cultures in the northwest, central plateau and central Zagros has made Kaboudrahang plain more important in different periods (from prehistoric to Islamic period). Finally, it can be said that the main areas of this plain are occupied by settlements of less than half a hectare and a limited area of one to three hectares, which indicates the existence of small and large villages to supply their core in prehistoric times and central governments in the emerging historical period. Feudalism (especially in the Parthian and Qajar periods) has been with the approach of master and servant using geography, ecology and environmental capabilities of the region.

Abstract
The historical site of Qalat Mutabad in Piranshahr is of paramount importance in numerous historical and cultural documents such as potteries and brick architectural remains, especially in terms of architectural maps and plans. The existence of a star-shaped plan in the design of the site’s outer fence illustrates the importance and pivotal role of this area in the Piranshahr plain. The site is located beside one of the branches of the Little Zab (or Lower Zab) River, which has been gradually destroyed due to the passage of time and the land-use change, “use as a military base in the contemporary period,” and currently the evidence of the architectural debris of the building at the site is evident. Examples of star-shaped plan design in different parts of Iran, as well as European fortresses, can be observed, and it is comparable to the plan of Qalat Mutabad in this respect. The main problem of this article is to evaluate the site relying on the available documents and evidence so that we study the importance of military forts in the Piranshahr plain while achieving a relative dating of the site. Accordingly, some questions about the architectural structure, especially its plan and the military and residential function of the site arise. According to written historical sources, the study of similar examples, as well as material artifacts at the site level, hypotheses concerning the attribution of the site to the period after Safavid, “Afshar or Qajar,” military function inspired by Western architectural elements, are presented. This study was conducted in a historical, descriptive-analytical method. In addition to studying historical sources and field documentation by the authors at the site, aerial images and data gained from these images were exploited. 
Keywords: Qalat Mut-Abad, Form and Function Based, Star-Shaped Plan, Piranshahr.

Introduction
Qalat Mutabad site with an area of 20 hectares is located in Piranshahr city, 15 kilometers away from Tamrchin border crossing in south of Little Zab River. The plan of the site is star-shaped, overlooking the border crossings. In terms of architectural plan and location, Qalat Mutabad is noticeable and worthy of study.
Significance and Objectives of the Research: Concerning the destruction of the site and the ever-rising expansion of degradation factors, while introducing and recognizing Qalat Mutabad due to the lack of historical and archaeological data of the Islamic periods in Piranshahr, this study can contribute to the completeness of the information.
Questions and Objectives of the Research: Qalat Mutabad belongs to which period? What are the factors affecting the construction and star-shaped design of the site? It seems that this site belongs to the late centuries of Islam. Due to its geographical location and exposure to natural and political boundaries, Qalat Mutabad was built as a fortress and military base to repel the attacks of the Ottoman state or local insurgency.
Methods: The research method in this article is historical, and content analysis is descriptive-analytical. Aerial images explore written historical evidence and archaeological findings.
Literature Review: The historical site of Qalat Mutabad was pointed out in the photo book of Ali Khan Vali (Ali khan vali, 1862-1900: 183). In archaeological investigations, the Qalat Mutabad site with a history of 2500 BC, registration No. 611, was recorded in 1966 (West Azarbaijan Cultural Heritage Archives: 2019). The survey carried out in 2002 reviewed the site of Qalat Mutabad, and the area with historical-Islamic antiquity was registered as the hill of Qala-e-Mut with registration No. 7526 (West Azarbaijan Cultural Heritage Archives: 2019). In the study of Ali Binandeh for the master’s thesis “Archaeological Study of the Little Zab River,” he attributes this site to the Bronze Age, historical and Islamic period (Binandeh, 2008: 73).

Qalat Mutabad
Qalat Mutabad faces multiple problems, including the use of the site as a military base until recent years, industrial workshops in the area and boundary of the site, destruction by agricultural land, construction of garden houses, and the activities of unauthorized diggers. Problems have caused the site to lose its architectural structure and identity. For a detailed study, by utilizing satellite images of the Corona satellite taken in 1969, the site and its architectural structure are initially studied. Using the pictures of Ali Khan Vali’s book, a more accurate study of the site and its architectural evidence will be then addressed.
Below is the recorded photo, taken by Ali Khan Vali in the Qajar period, in which the word Qala-e-Mutabad was exploited. In addition to demonstrating that the site is a fortress, this historical document proves that the name of Mutabad has not been newly known in this area and has historical and old roots (Ali Khan Vali, Ibid: 183). The term Qalat in the Kurdish language means fortress, and it seems that Mutabad has come from the two words Mut + Abad. According to the evidence, before Iran’s Islamic revolution in 1978, there was a village called Motabad, which was evacuated after using the site as a military base in 1978 (Binandeh, Ibid: 73).
In Corona satellite images, the site has two parts of the outer fence with a star-shaped plan and the area’s inner part as a hill with a natural bed. There is a hill with a natural bed in the interior of the site. In unauthorized excavation cuts performed in the site, the thickness of ancient layers up to 2 meters is visible. Based on the Corona satellite images, an almost square-shaped area with suspicious architectural features can be seen at the top of the site.

Conclusion
Due to enjoying environmental potentials and also being located in the border strip of Iran with Mesopotamia, the Piranshahr region has always been a buffer zone due to successive wars from the Safavid period onwards with the formation of Safavid and Ottoman rules. With the coming to power of the Safavids and due to various gaps, local powers such as the Bilbas Tribal Union, the local governments of Savojbolagh Mokri and Urmia in Iran, as well as the local government of Baban in the Ottoman-ruled areas of Sulaimaniyah in Iraq, have turned the Piranshahr area into a scene of regional battles for various political, religious, and ethnic reasons. Historical documents and texts provide concise and beneficial information about the political and military situation in the Piranshahr area. Regional conflicts and wars mainly exhibit the military importance of the region and efforts to rule in it. About the existence of pottery findings and architectural works in the site of Qalat Mutabad and the lack of accurate dating of these findings because of their simplicity and locality, achieving a final decision based on the findings of pottery is impossible. Due to the existence of Corona satellite images and the intactness of the star-shaped plan of the Qalat Mutabad site and the presence of a photo of the site from the Qajar period and naming the site as the fortress, as well as the soundness of parts of the wall, towers, and architectural works in the photo, we can argue that not much time has elapsed since the destruction of the fortress. Accordingly, with comparative studies, the state of the landscape of the site and also the existence of similar examples of military fortresses with regular and star-shaped plans in the post-Safavid period “Afsharieh or Qajarieh” which are made inspired by European elements, the site of Qalat Mutabad can be attributed to Afsharieh or Qajar era.

Abstract
The Kur river basin located on the center of Fars province is one of the main regions in Iran for the formation and development of prehistoric settlements. The Persepolis plain on the marginal areas of southeastern the basin has been a strategic and cross-cultural place for socio-economic exchanges from prehistoric times. The area during Chalcolithic period including Bakun and Lapui phases in 5th and 4th millennium B.C. has been settled by small villages such as Tal-e Bakun and Jalyan Archaeological sites. Jaylan is a complex site constituted of three parts and mounds that its name was the adaption of a neighboring village (Jaylan or Galyan), is situated 3.2 northwestern of Persepolis palaces and inside of its Buffer Zone. The site is completely flat on the farming lands, which can identify just by some surface finds, especially pottery sherds. The most important landscape complication of the ancient site is the Polvar (Sivand) river close to 100 m., and flows across the plain continuing southwest join to Kur river. Archaeological soundings at Jaylan excavated on the six trenches in various sizes between 7×5 m., 3×3 m., 2×6 m., and 2×2 m. Furthermore, 10 small test trenches at a distance of 10 to 50 m. from the center of site to recognize its core area and buffer zone that these didn’t have any cultural layers. So the area of the site is restricted to 0.5 hectares. a large quantity of Lapui pottery assemblage was found in lower levels, which generally divided into two categories including common ware and fine ware form to red, orange, and slight quantity in grey and buff colors. other significant finds are human burial and foundation of a large mud-bricks wall. Archaeological excavations at Jalyan show the site related to Lapui period, was a small settlement with two occupational phases. 
Keywords: Lapui, Jalyan, Kur River Basin, 4th Millennium B.C., Archaeological Excavation.

Introduction
The Kur river basin located on the center of Fars province is one of the main regions in Iran for the formation and development of prehistoric settlements. The Persepolis plain on the marginal areas of southeastern the basin has been a strategic and cross-cultural place for socio-economic exchanges from prehistoric times. The exchanges and transformations continued to the historic period with the formation of great ancient cities such as Persepolis and Istakhr during the Achaemenid and Sasanian eras. 
Tal-e Bakun is one of the diagnostic prehistoric sites on the area that formed from the fifth millennium B.C. identified by painted fine buff ware, several occupational phases, architectural spaces, and administrative documents such as seals and sealing. The last cultural settlements of the Tal-e Bakun found slightly thin occupational layers of the Lapui period during the late fourth millennium B.C. with plain fine red ware. In the period, new settlements were raised on the Kur river basin usually near the strings such as Tal-e Jalyan, which are commonly small in size.         
Lapui period during the first half of the fourth millennium B.C is the argumentative subject in the studies about prehistoric Fars region, providing some questions: why did abruptly change the pottery style during the transition from Bakun to Lapui period? How is the occupational nature of Lapui settlements? how sparsely small Lapui settlements transformed to the great city of Anshan (Tal-e Malyan) during the Banesh period on the late fourth millennium B.C.? and finally why Lapui period settlements of the Fars couldn’t develop akin to Susiana and Mesopotamian cities in the early of fourth Millennium B.C? how is the administration and socio-economic organization of the Lapui small settlements in the several plains of Kur river basin? 

The Site of Jalyan
Given the questions, it is necessary to do systematic surveys and archaeological excavations on some sites related Lapui period. Although firstly archaeological excavations on the Jaylan in 2019 found late Islamic layers on the surface levels based on the Geomagnetic survey results and anomalies, but by continuing of some soundings to get virgin soils old occupational phases from the Lapui period uncovered about 1 to 2.5 m. in dept. that established on the virgin soils.
Jaylan is an archaeological complex site constituted of three parts and mounds that its name was the adaption of a neighboring village (Jaylan or Galyan), is situated 3.2 northwestern of Persepolis palaces and inside of its Buffer Zone. The site is completely flat on the farming lands, which can identify just by some surface finds, especially pottery sherds. The most important landscape complication of the ancient site is the Polvar (Sivand) river close to 100 m., and flows across the plain continuing southwest join to Kur river. based on delimitation soundings, the estimated core area of the site is approximately 0.5 hectares with 2 to 2.5 m. the thickness of cultural layers.  
Archaeological soundings at Jaylan excavated on the six trenches in various sizes between 7×5 m., 3×3 m., 2×6 m., and 2×2 m. Furthermore, 10 small test trenches at a distance of 10 to 50 m. from the center of site to recognize its core area and buffer zone that these didn’t have any cultural layers. So the area of the site is restricted to 0.5 hectares.    

Finds
Besides some Islamic Pottery sherds on the upper levels, a large quantity of Lapui pottery assemblage was found in lower levels, which generally divided into two categories including common ware and fine ware form to red, orange, and slight quantity in grey and buff colors. Lapui fine ware has a hard dense buff or red body, with frequent lime inclusions, fired to a uniform red or buff through the core. Surfaces are smooth, sometimes with a slight luster, and scraping or burnishing marks are common. Lapui common ware has a coarse black grit-tempered body. An oxidized grey core is characteristic of many sherds and breaks leave a rough crumbly edge, as compared to the sharp smooth edge of breaks in fine ware. The surface is usually slipped, roughly burnished. Forms include bell-shaped or cylindrical beakers, open bowls, and restricted hole mouth or low necked jar. Rim forms are usually smoothly rounded but some are slightly thickened or pinched. Bases are usually flat although a few disk bases and ring bases are found. 
One of the significant finds on the excavation of Jalyan is a human burial found in trench 5 that form hole-shaped, constructed by chine wall surrounded it. Another burial from this period was just found at Tappeh Lapui on the Marvdasht plain, similar to Jalyan squat burial. Additionally, fauna and human bones were collected at the site with the number of 38 pieces and 384 gr. in weight. By the reason of little excavation in the Lapui deposits, there are small numbers of architectural residues. Nevertheless, the architecture show buildings constructed through mud-brick and chine walls. The foundation of a large wall was found in the Trench 4 with north-south direction, created by three rows of mud-bricks in light brown color, and 115 Cm. thickness. In parallel to other architectural samples in Lapui sites such as Tappeh Mehr Ali, Tol-e Spid, Tol-e Nurabad, Tol-e Bondo, and Tol-e Sozo, as yet hasn’t found the similar huge structure that could assume concerning to defense and monumental buildings of a complex society. 
Based on old satellite imagery such as Corona photos and also new imagery of Google and Bing, two other small sites are neighboring Jalyan that called Jalyan 2 (Tale- Kharkhane Ard-e Naghsh Rostam) and Jalyan 3 (Tal-e Gavdari) at a distance of 500 and 700 m. far from the site. Both sites also belong to Lapui period. Thus, the sites display this place was a cluster of small villages adjacent to Polvar river during Lapui period that confirm its important situation. Nevertheless, we should anticipate increasing the number of Lapui settlements to more than 96 sites on the Marvdasht plain, as specified by W. Sumner in former archaeological surveys. 

Conclusion
Archaeological excavations at Jalyan show the site related to Lapui period, was a small settlement with two occupational phases. Architectural remains, especially large mud-brick wall with around 1 m. thickness display a village settlement that established close to the Polvar river. however, the prehistoric village was abandoned after a short period. The site was ruined for more than five thousand years under sediments and natural deposits of Persepolis and Marvdasht plains on the Kur river basin, and at last, resettled again as a camp seasonal site by pastoral nomadic tribes during late Islamic periods. Indeed, natural sediments and also sporadically various historical ruins sometimes covered and protected a large number of prehistoric sites that it needs to revise essentially to archaeological surveys and methods.   
W. Sumner`s archaeological researches on the Kur river basin that was comprehensive and updated methods during same time need to review after 50 years. Nowadays many of the identified archaeological sites are destroyed through agricultural activities and developmental projects, but on the other hand, archaeological excavations at some sites such as Jalyan reveal that numerous prehistoric sites would be unseen by Sumner and other archaeologists. As, by the discovery of the sites, we should reconsider and change former settlement pattern analysis based on the regional surveys. 

Abstract
This paper presents a summary of a recently conducted geoarchaeological survey in the Susiana plains in southwest Iran. Here, the question of subsequent interaction of human settlements and their riverine landscape of the Greater Susiana region (roughly equivalent to modern Khuzestan) in the Later Village and the Early-historical periods (~ fifth to second millennium BCE) has been chosen as a case study. This study challenges the idea of the cultural expansion from South-Mesopotamia and its direct socio-political involvement in the spatial evolution patterns in Susiana in this timespan. It also offers an alternative interpretation: the riverine landscape and its spatial interaction with the settlement system. It has been suggested that the Later village settlements of Susiana were greatly influenced by the physical changes of the riverine landscape in their spatial development. This paper examines this hypothesis via geoarchaeological methods from the macro-level such as remote sensing to micro-level such as laboratory analysis of sediment logs to address this issue. The results of this study confirm three main points: (i) the westward migration of active watercourses in the mentioned time span; (ii) the direct correlation of this event with the spatial evolution of the studied settlements; and (iii) the overall differences between the neighboring plains of Susiana and south Mesopotamia in their geomorphological response to their fluvial evolution. 
Keywords: Geoarchaeology, Greater Susiana, Riverine Landscape, Later Village Period, Early History, Settlement Patterns.

Introduction
Geoarchaeology has established itself as a decisive means to study the human-environment-interaction in recent years. The use of geo-sciences in archaeology has revived the archaeological discourse regarding entanglement and niche construction theory, especially in the Near Eastern Archaeology. Yet, the Iranian archaeology lags behind in this matter. This paper contributes to this issue and aims to demonstrate the huge potential of geoarchaeological investigations in the Iranian archaeology.
The Susiana plains are an archaeologically rich region and suitable to examine the human-environment interaction in pre- and early history. The author has carried out a geoarchaeological survey in 2014 in this region to address this issue. The analyzed results have been published in detail (Rashidian 2020) and are briefly presented here.
Archaeological evidence of this region indicates a spatial change in the settlement patterns in the mentioned periods, including the abandonment of central settlements in the eastern plains and foundation of new settlements in the western plains (Adams 1962; Johnson 1973; Moghaddam 2012a). The common interpretation of this phenomenon related this spatial change to a socio-cultural or even political force from the South-Mesopotamian center, especially during the end of Ubaid and the beginning of the Uruk periods (Algaze 2005; 2008). This hypothesis has been discussed within the framework of the world-systems and criticized for decades, especially due to recent archaeological projects from modern Syria and neighboring regions. By integrating geoarchaeological investigations, these studies have shown that the spatial evolution of the settlements in the so-called periphery regions has been endogenic and not imported from Mesopotamia (McMahon & Crawford 2010; Ur et al. 2007). They have also offered alternative hypotheses for this phenomenon. Yet, for the Susiana region, this has remained the common hypothesis, despite occasional critic and speculation (Alizadeh et al. 2004; Moghaddam 2012a).
This has been the main focus of the present study, which examines two aspects: (i) There are strong indications of a westwards-migration of palaeo-rivers in the Mid-Holocene period, as mentioned by others (Kouchoukos 1999; Lees & Falcon 1952). (ii) In addition to a shift in watercourses and riverbed, such a fluvial change would affect the entire landscape immensely, for example, by changes in the surface slope, sediment freight, and soil characteristics. This probable landscape shift shall be comprehended in focusing on ten archaeologically known settlements (Abu Fanduweh, Abu Chizan, Band-e Qir, Chogha Mish, Dar Khazineh, Dehno, Haft Tappeh, Samirat, Sanjar, Sharafabad) in respect to the watercourses Dez, Karkheh, Karun, and their tributaries. During the here presented  geoarchaeological survey, hundreds of soil profiles, as well as fifty-one subsurface cores, have been documented in the environ of these settlements in the riverine landscape. 

Discussion
The sedimentological laboratory analysis of the documented horizons (surface and sub-surface) confirmed the large-scale migration of the rivers towards the west of the plain, which correlates with the spatial shift in the studied settlements, both in macro- and micro-level (in the region and within the settlements themselves). 
Furthermore, it was shown that not the large rivers, but the smaller rivulets had been the source of water for these settlements, despite prior speculation. Following the westwards fluvial migration, these rivulets have been cut off the hydrologic regime of the region and largely covered by recent sediments in the third and second millennium BCE. A number of them have been revived and integrated into the new canal network in the Early historical and Late Antiquity. Relative and absolute dating, based on material culture in situ and optically stimulated luminescence of sand in bulk samples respectively, have provided a dating framework for the presented geodata.
In general terms, focusing on geomorphological elements of the landscape such as slope, soil characteristics, and sedimentary regime has proved beneficial to examine the spatial evolution of prehistoric settlements. Susiana as a dynamic landscape has changed considerably in response to the fluvial regime change and extensive human impact. This has been attested in the presented geodata in this period. An intensification of the mentioned event is also confirmed for the later period, where the human impact has largely escalated due to centralized and planned developments of well established political entities From the Neo-Elamite to the Sasanian period. 

Conclusion
This study provided a range of results concerning the hypothesis and the relevant settlements. Three main points are summarized here: 
(i) The westward migration of Susiana’s active watercourses during the fifth to second millennium BCE has been confirmed using a combination of remote sensing, sedimentary analysis of cores, laboratory analysis of sediment horizons, and methods of indirect and absolute dating.  
(ii) A correlation in spatial evolution of settlement patterns with this fluvial development has been confirmed, based on available archaeological record of the ten mentioned settlements. This spatial correlation is attested both in macro- and micro-level. In this regard, a general tendency of settlements towards the western parts of the plain can be confirmed for this timespan. Furthermore, this has been attested in the spatial evolution within the settlements and it seems that some were following their migrating watercourses, and others have been abandoned entirely.
(iii) The results of this analysis also show the stark difference between the flat landscape of South-Mesopotamia with its large riverbeds as primary geo-elements in the west, and the softly sloped landscape of Susiana with its numerous rivulets and narrow floodplains surrounded by ridges and anticlines in the east. It is safe to assume that these starkly different landscapes have brought about equally different settlement patterns. Therefore, the settlement evolution of Susiana must be considered endogenic and studied in the framework of its landscape.
A detailed account of the presented study has been recently published (Rashidian 2020). A few case studies are also subject of English papers (Rashidian 2017; 2018; in press). The author hopes that this summary in Persian can contribute to the present discourse and encourage active members of the Iranian Archaeology to integrate geoarchaeological investigations into their projects. This is the only way towards further establishing an internationally acclaimed place for the Iranian archaeology. 

Abstract
The Zab River basin contains the cities of Piranshahr and Sardasht in West Azerbaijan and parts of the city of Baneh in Kurdistan. The Zab River rises from the Northwest highlands of Piranshahr and after joining many branches passes through the highlands of Alan in Iran and enters Iraq. The extension of this basin is a relatively vertical strip along the Iran-Iraq border and the Little Zab River. Its orientation is Northwest to southeast and from west to east. The Zab Basin is located in an area with a cold and temperate mountainous climate, a Mediterranean rainfall regime, with average annual temperatures between 11.7°C and 13. 3°C and, 700 ml annual rainfall (Hojabri et al 95). This article tries to answer the question of how the cultural relations between this point and other areas of the presence of the late bronze culture have been established by studying the cultural materials belonging to the late bronze cultural tradition in Akhoran tepe. Also, what was the chronology of the stables? The results of archaeological excavations led to the identification of a late Bronze Age camp. The study of Akhoran cultural materials also indicates the presence of a late bronze pottery tradition. Studies and relative chronology of pottery showed that most of the cultural interactions and influences were with Hasanlu regions and outside the borders of Iran with Anatolia and Iraqi Kurdistan. The present study is based on archaeological excavations and then library studies and with a descriptive-analytical approach tries to introduce new pottery of the late Bronze Age.
Keywords: Northwest of Iran, Late Bronze Age, Zab Basin, Akhoran Tepe, Archaeological Excavation, East of Anatoli.

Introduction
The Bronze Age is considered to be the beginning of major social changes in the early third millennium BC. The Hasanlu VI period or the Middle Bronze Age covers from 2100 to 1700 BC (Danti 2013:332 .Table 17.1). During this period, multi-colored and painted wares were commonly used in large parts of Azerbaijan (Dyson 1969). Hasanlu VI ceramic designs were in crossed, checkered, and triangle forms (Dyson 1965). The simple painted pottery, which is the characteristic of the Middle of the 2nd millennium BC, is the same as synchronously identified dishes of Khabur from Northern Mesopotamia and South West Turkey (Dyson 1969: 43-44). Our information on late bronze age in northwest Iran is quite limited. Hasanlu V, is of great importance in this region, but the period has been given relatively little attention. We therefore selected Akhoran Tepe for excavation with the goal of closing this chronological gap in our understanding of Iranian prehistory.
As a local center, the Zab basin generally witnessed the alternation of contacts and conflicts, as is evidenced by the varying patterns in the distribution of recorded sites. Unlike what is characteristic of Mesopotamia and southern Iran in the fourth millennium BC, it has not yet produced any traces of extended settlements and social complexities. 
Previous studies have illustrated that northwest Iran maintained contacts with regions south of Caucasia and the valleys hemmed in by the Aras and Kura rivers to the north, the Central Zagros to the south, and eastern Anatolia and north Mesopotamia to the west via mountain passes. 
Recent archaeological data from the adjacent neighboring regions has corroborated this observation. Therefore, serious investigation in the region has the potential to shed light on broad cultural interactions and evolutions in the middle and northern Middle East. 
The data from Akhoran is thus of considerable importance in this respect, and can improve our understanding of regional and inter-regional interactions. A foremost purpose of this paper is to look into the ties and connections between Akhoran and northwest Iran as a whole, and to explore intra- and inter-regional interactions.
One of our fundamental problems in North West Iran was the lack of excavations, with little information about the Archaeology of the region. The current paper focuses on Akhoran Tepe since we have had a little knowledge about the late Bronze Age in the Little Zab River. 

Archaeological Background
North West Iran has a particular Archeological importance since it accumulates different prehistoric periods. The area is also important from the point of view of Archeological literature since it is at a crossroad facilitating the passing of nations and trading. With regard to the history, the basin is among those that attracted the attention of domestic and foreign scholars at the dawn of professional Archaeology in Iran (Motarjem Sharifi 2014: 50).
A long-lasting Hasanlu Project started by the Museum of the University of Pennsylvania in 1956 under the guidance of Robert H. Dyson, is the most significant work carried out in this basin (Dyson, 1968; 1969). On the other hand, the work at Yanik Tepe, the Northeastern basin of the lake began in 1960 by Charles Burney that furnished important details, among them the identification of the Trans-Caucasian culture’s infiltration into Northwestern Iran (Burney 1961; 1962; 1964). Indeed, earlier excavations conducted by Burton-Brown at Geoy Tepe, in the same basin, had uncovered evidence of the Trans-Caucasian culture at Level K (Burton Brown 1951). Later excavations by Burney at Haftvan Tepe brought to light further aspects of the Bronze and Iron Age cultures.
This region experienced the Middle Bronze culture known as Urmia ware with monochrome and polychrome pottery. Danti divides the Middle Bronze Age into three periods (Danti 2013: 332).
We also know about the Urmia ware in Haftavan VIB. Investigation and recognition of the Urmia ware was carried out by Edwards (Edwards 1983).

Conclusion
Akhoran can well supplement the limited dataset at hand for Hasanlu V. An important point about this site is the absence of the middle bronze material culture. Tepe Akhoran is one of the sites with deposits of the Late bronze age within the prospective reservoir of the kani sib  Dam. The main objective of this 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 late bronze age community that occupied it. The nature of the settlement and material culture of the Hasanlu VI period in Dinkhah Tepe and the limitation of the Khabur pottery to the southern areas of Lake Urmia strongly suggest that during this period, people from Mesopotamia migrated to the Ušnu- Solduz valley (Danti et al 2004.584).  In the Piranshahr area, excavations at Akhoran Hill provided evidence of a new bronze tradition in the Zab Basin.
The most important cultural material of the Akhorn  in  late  bronze age is  potteries, which is produced in a simple and painted sherds. The pottery from Tepe Akhoran is comparable to the material coming from the, Azerbaijan and the Anatoly. 
The pottery is decorated with geometric patterns. The shape of the dishes is more inclined to closed-mouth dishes. Also, what the data of Akhoran excavations show indicates the cultural relations of this region with other parts of the Urmia Lake basin, including Hasanlu, and outside the borders of Iran, the areas of Anatolia and Iraqi Kurdistan. This area may be geographically more inclined to Anatolia. 

Abstract
The Chalcolithic Age is one of the most important prehistoric periods in Iran. The transformations of this period in the Central Zagros have emerged in continuation of the Neolithic period.  One of the important areas of Central Zagros, which had many settlements related to the Chalcolithic era, is Silakhor plain in the north of Lorestan. Despite the cultural richness of the Silakhor plain during the Chalcolithic Age, no purposeful study has been conducted to clarify the Chalcolithic status of this area. In this regard, in order to clarify the settlement models of the Chalcolithic era of Silakhor plain, this study is presented, which is a summary of Ahmad Parviz’s archaeological studies and purposeful studies by the researchers, In the present study, the authors have tried to find the answer to the following questions: What were the settlement models of Silakhor plain in the Chalcolithic era? How can the changes of settlement models in the old, middle and new periods of the Chalcolithic era of Silakhor plain be analyzed? It seems that several factors including water resources, altitude of Silakhor plain and state’s roads have been effective in the formation of settlements in this area during the Chalcolithic age. Studies conducted in this plain so far have shown 80 ancient sites related to the Copper Stone Age. Some of these sites involve all three periods of old, middle and new Chalcolithic era. The spatial data collected in this research have been studied by GIS science studies method and implemented in ArcGIS 10.3 software. The basis of these studies is the distance of each settlement area from the nearest river and its altitude level from Silakhor plain. These maps have been implemented in all three periods of old, middle and new Chalcolithic Age of Silakhor plain. 
Keywords: Central Zagros, Silakhor Plain, Chalcolithic Age, Settlement Models, GIS.

Introduction
The Chalcolithic Age (mid-fifth millennium to late fourth millennium BC) is one of the prehistoric periods which has witnessed important transformations such as population growth, enhancement of the quality of pottery, the use of copper metal, improvements in the quality of settlement construction and so on.  Some scholars consider this period to be a continuation of Neolithic transformations and some consider it as being independent of other periods. Archaeological studies conducted over the past few decades in the Central Zagros region have shown that this area has seen an increase in population during the Chalcolithic period. This increase in population is inferred from the number of archaeological sites recorded in this period compared to the previous period (Neolithic). Of course, the studies indicate that archaeological studies conducted in connection with the Chalcolithic Age of the Central Zagros, have focused mainly on the Gamasiab River Basin.
Silakhor plain has a suitable situation geographically and climatically.  The flat plain and fertile soil along with sufficient water resources have caused us to see a large number of ancient sites from the Neolithic period to recent centuries. Despite the conducted studies, so far no purposeful studies have been conducted to analyze the residential and settlement situation of the Chalcolitic era of Silakhor plain. In this regard, the researchers, while exploring the studies conducted in this plain, have re-examined the ancient sites of the Chalcolithic era of this plain. Since the area of Silakhor plain is located in Boroujerd and Doroud counties and covers a large part of the north of Lorestan province, in this research, this plain is divided into two parts, north and south, the northern part of which is in Boroujerd and the southern part is in Dorud city. In order to study the situation of the settlements of Silakhor plain more accurately, its northern part in Boroujerd city has been chosen. 

Findings
The chronology of the Chalcolithic age of Silakhor plain and the east of Lorestan is also influenced by the chronology of the Gamasiab river basin and the Kangavar valley. The study and identification of the archaeological and historical monuments of this area has been done recently by Ahmad Parviz in 2006 and the review of the researchers in line with this research has been done in 2016.  In this study, according to Godin chronology, areas related to the chalcolithic age during three periods of old, middle and new era are studied. Sites are evaluated by the ArcGIS 10.3 software after being located on elevation maps through their Universal transverse Mercator (UTM).  In this evaluation, the altitudes of the area compared to the average altitude of the northern half of Silakhor plain and also their distance to the nearest rive, are examined. In the studies performed, it has been determined that 80 sites are belonged to the Chalcolithic age of the northern half of Silakhor plain, some of which include all three periods of old, middle and new Chalcolithic era.
 Of all 80 Chalcolithic Age sites in the study area, 25 sites are related to the old period. These areas are mainly distributed in the central parts and in the plains.  Most sites are at altitudes between 1,500 and 1,600 meters above the sea level.
Of the 80 Chalcolithic Age sites in the study area, 31 sites are related to the Cenozoic Ages. These sites, like the old period, are mainly distributed in the central parts and in the plains. Most sites are at altitudes between 1,500 and 1,600 meters above the sea level.
Of the 80 Chalcolithic Age sites in the study area, 42 are related to the Cenozoic period. These areas, like the old and middle periods of the Chalcolithic Age, are mainly distributed in the central parts and in the plains. Most sites are at altitudes between 1500 and 1600 meters above the sea level.

Conclusion
In this study, it was found that the number of old, middle and new sites of the Chalcolithic Age in the northern half of Silakhor plain (Boroujerd) are 25, 31 and 42 , respectively. This indicates that the Copper Stone Age in this area has developed in a growing trend (in terms of the number of settlement sites). Increasing the number of settlements in this area paves the way for future transformations in the next period (Bronze Age).  Therefore, the beginning of urbanization in this area has had a strong and evolving introduction to the Chalcolithic era.
On one hand, the study of maps prepared in ArcGIS software shows that the vast majority of sites in all three periods in the Chalcolithic Age are located at an altitude of 1500 to 1600 meters (average height of Silakhor plain is 1500 to 1600 meters) and in the area of Silakhor plain.  On the other hand, the analysis of the distribution map of the Chalcolithic sites of this area shows that the settlements of this period have been formed depended on the water resources (rivers).

Abstract
In determining the boundaries of Qara Tappeh Sagzabad and Tappeh Qabristan in July 2016, evidence of a cemetery in the east of Qara Tappeh and southwest of Tappeh Qabristan belonging they revealed to the Iron Age 2 and 3 under sedimentary layers. In the 2018 and 2019 seasons of excavations, we got valuable findings in trenches 13 and 12 on the site. Among these findings are two tablet-like objects, one of these two objects, made of stone with a rectangular shape and light gray with a length and width of 12.5 × 18 cm and a thickness of 2.8 cm with circular blind holes, The holes made in four vertical rows and nine horizontal rows to a depth of 1.4 cm on one side of the object. We found the object in Grave No. 8 of Trench 13. Another example is a broken part of a gray rectangular clay object measuring 5.1 x 5.86 cm long and 2.81 cm thick with six circular blind holes 2.2 cm deep. We excavated this object from Trench 12. The two objects in question are comparable to the specimens found from Kul-Tarikeh, Haftavan Tappeh, and specimens unearthed from the neighbors of the Uzbeki archaeological site and the Sialk cemetery in the first millennium BC. This article examines these objects in terms of morphology and compares them with other similar findings, and it is likely that these findings, based on other examples and examples from older periods, are a kind of tablet for counting games; First by placing the findings in the archaeological context and comparative comparison with contemporaneous sites and then measuring the results with earlier examples of these findings in other archaeological sites, a preliminary proposal to use a counting game or board game for objects provided.
Keywords: Iron Age, Sagzabad, Qara Tappeh, Numerical Tablet, Boardgame.

Introduction
Since the first archaeological excavations in West Asia to the present day, thousands of types of objects have been discovered from archaeological sites, and researchers have proposed various approaches for the functional interpretation of each object. Among these approaches has been a comparative comparison of the findings with other similar findings and an understanding of the functional concept of the object in the archaeological context. Examples of objects found over a long period from the Late Neolithic period to the Achaemenid period and later in various areas from Egypt to Central Asia have been called game boards. In the excavations of the 2018 and 2019 years seasons in the Qara Tappeh of Sagzabad, similar findings were obtained with these samples. Initially, the findings were assumed to be a common type of board game in ancient West Asian cultures. Further study in this field revealed that unfortunately, no correct definition of the board has been provided in the archaeological literature of West Asia and different these forms from the Neolithic period to the first Islamic century (7th century AD) in this region known or registered. Therefore, the samples were compared with objects called board games, and a suggestion was made to use them. Thus, first, the desired findings and the texture of the place of their discovery are described, and then a brief review of the type of cultural materials called game boards done, and finally, the desired materials analyzed and we make comparative conclusions. Based on this, these findings can be near-certainty examples with the use of counting games. The two morphological objects found in the Qara Tappeh excavations can be like the examples from the findings of the West Asian sites, which are known as game boards in the archeological cultures of the region. For this issue, the two fundamental questions of this research will be in the following order.
1- What is the use of the previous samples in terms of morphology that are like the findings of Qara Tappeh Seghzabad?
2- What kind of Function can the two objects found in Qara Tappeh Sagzabad represent?

Identified Traces
Qara Tappeh is one of the key sites of the Iron Age in the center of the Iranian plateau. Two special findings have been obtained, which are like ancient game boards. The relative and absolute chronology show that these two objects belong to the first millennium BC. Game boards are among the archaeological finds found in large geographical and cultural areas of West Asia and North Africa and the Indian subcontinent, simultaneously with the Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Bronze Age, and the Mesopotamian Dynasty, Egypt up to the Achaemenid period, Perhaps the oldest examples of this are, for example, what introduced by Hole (1977: 215) from the Neolithic site of Choghasefid and Kirkbride (1966: 34) of Beidha and Rollefson (1977) of the Ain Al Ghazal. Various other types of game boards with The Game of 20 Square, The Game of 58 Holes, Senet, Mehen, Mankala, Nine men’s morris, Backgammon, and Chess have been introduced from ancient cultures. With certainty, examples of Qara Tappeh can be one game of 58 holes. This game Rule is less well known, but the overall morphology of the game shows that this board Has been a kind of racing game, pieces like pins could be inserted into the holes of the board and move along a certain path according to the number of dice poured, the name of the game is a description of the appearance of the game but always the number of holes on the board Not equal, it thought that this game invented in Egypt during the ninth to twelfth dynasties (2100 BC) and has been widespread in Egypt since the late third millennium BC. Has found. This game was common during the second millennium BC of Mesopotamia and among its close neighbors. Archaeologists have not found examples of this game in various areas of the region after the 6th century BC. (de voogt et al., 2013: 1718-1719). The samples found from Qara Tappeh can be considered as a type of game of 58-hole based on the morphological comparison.

Conclusion
What is found in the trench of 13 Qara Tappeh with 36 blind holes and a passing hole in the highest part of the tablet can be among the types that are known as the game with 58 holes, the closest example in terms of the number of holes on the find, sample Is introduced in the surface survey of the Kul Tarikeh. Another example that is similar in shape to the two aforementioned examples is the example introduced from the Haftavan. This finding, however, unlike the two aforementioned findings, has 3 horizontal rows and 8 vertical rows. If we accept that the tablet found in Trench 13 is a kind of board game, we must say that there are no special rules for the type of use. On the other hand, the presence of an all-round hole in the upper part of the find can indicate that the tablet could hang from somewhere. Finally, according to the relative comparisons, the object found in Trench 12 can be considered as a broken piece of a game 58-holes. But in the case of Trench 13, this must be considered more carefully. Only according to the appearance of the object can be considered as a preliminary use of the game of 58-holes for it.

Abstract
Northwestern Iran and the South Caucasus have relatively favorable environmental conditions for the formation of ancient settlements. These include the Urmia Lake basin and the Aras shores in northwestern Iran, and the Kura River, the Mil-Moghan (mountainous areas) in the South Caucasus region. The archaeological evidences and recent researches in two geographical areas illustrate the cultural shares and similarities of the period. The main purpose of this article is to introduce the areas and pottery traditions and to identify the sequence of chronology in the areas of study. The following questions will be raised in order to achieve cultural interactions in the geographical area studied in the Chalcolithic Period: How is the condition of chronology sequence in the two cultural domains? The main hypothesis in this regard is the existence of approximately the same chronology (the beginning and the end of the Chalcolithicperiod) in the two geographical locations. How do the layers of settlement and the sequences of residence from the Neolithic to the Chalcolithic Periodin ancient sites indicate the theme of cultural continuity and transition? The present article is written by descriptive-analytical method. As a final result, it can be pointed to the similarities and differences of the archaeological data, including thepottery features, architectural structures, burials, etc. By studying the areas such as Dalma Tepe, Jolfa’s Kul Tepe, Khoy’s Davagöz, etc. in northwest of Iran and Leila Tepe, Galayeri, Puylu Tepe, Boyuk Kəsik, Soyuq Bulagh, Brikil Dibi, Kawtskhevy, Tekhvot have been obtained in the South Caucasus region and chronologically covers the millennium from 5000 BC to 3700/3600 BC. 
Keywords: Chalcolithic, Northwestern Iran, South Caucasus, Cultural Interactions, Chronology.

Introduction
The northwest of Iran and the Caucasus have long been a prominent site for archaeological studies due to their proximity to important cultural sites such as Anatolia, Zagros, Mesopotamia and Central Asia. Most of the ancient sites both in the Caucasus region and in the northwestern Iran, which were inhabited by the Chalcolithic period, were also inhabited during the Neolithic period, suggesting that the human and animal habitat conditions and the environmental conditions are favorable. The following questions will be raised in order to achieve the cultural interactions in the geographical area under study in the Chalcolithic Period: 1. What is the status of the chronologysequence in the two cultural areas? The main hypothesis in this regard is the existence of a same chronology (beginning and end of the Chalcolithic Period) at two geographical points. 2. How do the layers of settlement and settlement sequences from the Neolithic to the Chalcolithic Periodsindicate ancient sites, cultural status, and the cultural continuity and transition themes? Most of the ancient sites both in the Caucasus region and in the northwestern Iran, which were inhabited by the Copper-Stone period, were also inhabited during the Neolithic period, indicating the existence of afavorablehabitat and environmental conditions for both human and animal. Although there are also single-period enclosures among them.

Discussion
In recent years, one of the most significant issues in introducing and studying the Chalcolithic culture of northwestern Iran havebeen the ambiguity and darkness in the timing chronology of the Chalcolithic Period of this region. Because, this period was introduced after the late Neolithic period, was identified in areas such as Haji Firouz, Hassanlu, Yaniq Tepe, etc., with a break of almost a thousand years. Dr Abedi’s recent years’ excavations atJolfa’s Kul Tepe and Khoy’sDəvə Göz have eliminated the gap in the timing of the Chalcolithic Period of northwestern Iran (Azarbaijan). The archaeological studies are divided in twostages; and its early stage dates back to the 19th century and is known as the Eneolit cultural period. The archaeologists in the North Caucasus geographical area of have identified two culturaltypes of Kura-Arax and Maikop in the Chalcolithic Period, hence, the two Kura and Araxrivers in the Caucasus Basin are named as the Mesopotamia of Caucasus.
One of the most important cultural data of the Chalcolithic Period is the rectangular architectural structures which are made of white raw clay. Inside the structure, large crumbs, food storage wells and numerous stoves, along with the data such as mortar, and grindstone, and burned remnants of grains such as barley, wheat and lentils have been obtained. The burial variety ofthe Chalcolithic Period is more diverse than the Neolithic period. The most repeated type of burial in the Chalcolithic Period is the pits burial, but more recently therehave also been found two other burial types such as burial in earthenware, and kurganburial.

Conclusion
One of the most important issues of Chalcolithic culture in the South Caucasus is anunbroken continuation of the Chalcolithic Period after the Neolithic period. This continuation can be seen in Mentesh Tepe, Aratashen, Khatun Ark- Aknashen, and theChalcolithic Period begins unbroken after the Neolithic periodin these areas. But after the Neolithic period, the Old Bronze Age beginsinNakhchivan’s Kul Tepe. Scientists consider the climate change as the main cause of cultural disruption. In the southern Caucasus, the earlyChalcolithic phasehas been dated from 4800/5000 to 4600 BC, and themiddle andthe lateChalcolithic phases from 4600 to 3200 BC, and some new areas, such as Nakhchivan Tepe, Uchan Aghil, Uzun Oba, is derived from the earlyChalcolithic Period that are closely related to Dalma culture.

Abstract
In 2010 some human remains were discovered in Kan-Gohar cave, an iron mine which is located close to Bavanat city in Fars Province. By regarding the different hypothesis about the probable events which might have been occurred inside the cave and unknown date of them, after visiting the cave, a series of historical sources relevant to Bavanat regional history were considered. Some texts (e.g. Ale-Mozaffar and Timurid sources) pointed to the events which have been occurred in1350 AD through which after the death of Abu-Saeed Ilhkanid, people of a village in Bavanat were attacked by one of the Mongols son, so that all villagers to escape sheltered inside a cave to save their lives. But Mongol ruler ordered to set a huge fire in the entrance of the cave, thus all people were suffocated by the smoke and were killed in the cave. In order to compare these human remains with the mentioned event in historical sources, bioarchaeological studies were done with focus on violence using standard protocols of Buikstra & Ubelaker (1994). This method is rely almost solely on observations aiming to age estimation, sex determination, identification of pathological conditions and taphonomic agents. Considering the smoky roof and entrance of the cave, the number of females (37%), subadults (29%) and old individuals (30%) and lack of physical violence traces and observing the traces of burning on some of the bones, these assemblage of human remains are comparable with this historical event, with probability. These findings can provide an answer in order to find out the reason of discovering this human remains assemblage from Kan-Gohar cave. 
Keywords: Kan Gohar Cave, Bavanat City, Human Remains, Bioarchaeology, Archaeology of Violence.

Introduction
In 2010, a large number of human remains, burnt wooden objects and old shoes and clothing with lots of ash all around the cave specially in the entrance, were discovered from Kan-Gohar cave in Bavanat city in Fars Province. Since the bones were very well preserved, in addition to Fars Cultural Heritage Organization (CHO), Legal Medicine Organization (LMO) started to handle the studies on these bones, through collecting 47 skulls from the cave. The results of LMO studies revealed that most of the skulls belong to females and children, and they seemed that the skulls could not be assigned to the modern times and probably they are the victims of a firing. CHO studies by focus on cultural materials revealed that these are the mine workers who were killed by the collapse of the cave roof probably in the Safavid or Qajar periods. In addition to these hypothesis it was possible to assume that these human remains belong to people with dangerous infectious disease that are banished in this cave to save other people lives. Although there have been no a convincible answer, the case was closed. In 2015 through an archaeological survey project in Bavanat, and the director of this project stated that these are likely the victims of a war (Khanipour et al., 2015). After this project there was another chance to open this case for more investigation (Najafi 2018, Najafi et al., 2018). The aim of this article is to reveal the probable reason of discovering this human remains assemblage from Kan-Gohar cave. In this research 2 methods are used, the first, is studying the historical sources and the second is studying the human remains with using standard protocols (Buikstra & Ubelaker 1994). This method is rely almost solely on observations aiming to age estimation, sex determination, identification of pathological conditions and taphonomic agents. 

Discussion
Since the discovered cultural materials in the cave belong to Islamic Period, the relevant historical sources of different Islamic periods were evaluated. The result of this comprehensive survey on written sources revealed that some of the Ale-Mozaffar and Timurid sources would point to an event that has been occurred in 1343 AD. After the death of Abu-Saeed Ilkhanid, there was political instability and people of a village in Bavanat were attacked by one of the Mongols son, so that all villagers were sheltered inside a cave to save their lives. But Mongol ruler found the shelter and ordered to set a huge fire in the entrance of the cave, thus all people were killed in the cave through the influence of smoke. This event is mentioned in six sources with the same story. (Hafiz. Abru 1996, 1938, Qazvini 1993, Yazdi 1947, Kotobi 1985, Samarghandi 1993, Mirkhand 2001). So, this and it is possible that theses human remains are the victims of this event.
The results of bioarchaeological studies are related to age estimation, sex determination, identification of pathological conditions and taphonomic agents. The study of 40 skulls revealed 9 unidentifiable skulls, 15 females and 2 males. Age estimation showed 12 old individuals, 13 adults, 15 subadults (11 children and 4 adolescents). The pathological situations include pelagiocephaly in 16 skulls and it should be noted that this feature was observable in all ages, 5 old individuals, 6 children and 6 adults. 11 skulls were identified with porotic hyperostosis and 14 skulls with Cribra orbitalia. The last one is button Steoma in 6 skull. Taphonomic changes include smoky and burnt skulls with black and brown staining with post mortem breakage and crystalline spots. 3 antemortem trauma were identified that have been healed before death. No evidence of physical violence was observable on these skulls. 

Conclusion
The aim of this research is to find out why these human remains without usual burial practices are spread in this cave. The identified pathological items are not related to infectious disease and it is not acceptable that these individuals are abandoned in this cave, to die without hurting others. These human remains based on sex and age, don’t belong to mine workers, since almost all of them belong to old individuals, subadults and females that are not qualified to work in mine as mine workers. The reason of death isn’t roof collapse in the cave, since there is no evidences of pre-mortem breakage on the skulls that cause death. Based on the available proofs in archaeological context of these remains, like a thick layer of ash, burnt wooden materials and in some of the skulls, scattering bones in all around the cave and smoky entrance of the cave, it is likely that a huge fire was set in the entrance and the smoke has been scattered in all around and covered most places and objects too. Moreover the sex and age gender combination lead us to not only an accidental event in the cave, but also an organized action. One of the reasons that causes old individuals, children and subadults climbed the mountain and gather all together in such a dark and dangerous place, is a more dangerous event that can cause them to death. Based on this combination, the most probable reason can be war. So the geographical location of the cave, the condition of the context and age and gender combination prepare some clues to compare and connect it with the event which happened in Bavanat. These are likely the ones who sheltered in the cave to save their lives so they were killed with no physical violence, and they were suffocated by the smoke and died.  

Abstract
In explaining Iron Age archeology, the study of metal artifacts is of particular importance because of the hidden technical values. The study of metalworking methods enhances our understanding of the industrial centers of metallurgy, stylistics, and available mines. The purpose of this study is to identify the methods of construction and elemental analysis of “ornaments” discovered from “Iron Age” sites in northwestern Iran, using metallographic experiments and an SEM-EDS elemental analysis device. In the Iron Age, the making of metal objects, especially those with many ornaments, flourished. Therefore, knowing the manufacturing methods and the type of alloy used in them is one of the essentials of this research. This research responds to the question, what methods used to make the discovered ornaments from the Iron Age sites in the northwest? Or what were the most used elements in the construction of these objects? In these areas, the current research hypothesis is that most of the “ornaments” made by hot hammering and casting methods and have a large amount of tin in their structure, which uses for greater strength and flexibility of copper and tin (bronze) alloys. In this study, several samples of ornaments discovered from Iron Age sites in northwestern Iran, which were geographically very close to each other, were tested by metallography and elemental analysis. In this experiment, using a scanning electron microscope equipped with an SEM-EDS element analyzer, making these metal objects and their constituent elements were determined. This study shows that the main methods of making these metal objects have been hot hammering, but those objects that had a large volume made using the casting method. Also, the most used element to increase the strength and flexibility of objects is the element of tin. 
Keywords: Iron Age, Northwest of Iran, Bronze Objects, Metallography, SEM-EDS.

Introduction
In the Iron Age areas of the northwest, metalworking was done at an advanced level. The expansion of the tradition of metalworking in the northwest can be seen in other Iron Age areas of Iran. (Talaei, 2001:77-83) One of the reasons for the development of metalworking in the Iron Age areas of northwestern Iran has been the abundance of copper and iron ore mines in this region. During the excavations of the Hasanlu area in the south of Lake Urmia, founded a large number of iron and bronze objects. The large volume of metal objects discovered in the Hasanlu area indicates the prevalence of metalwork in this region of the Iranian plateau. (Pigott, 1989: 67-79) According to the studies, the residents of Hasanlu have supplied their required copper ore and iron ore from the mines that probably existed around this area. The development of metalworking art in this region, in addition to the existence of metal mines and fuel reserves, has been the development of furnaces and metal smelting molds, which in some Iron Age sites such as Hasanlu, obtained a large number of these metal smelting molds. The main reasons for the development of technology and style of metal products in northwestern Iran in the Iron Age could have been powerful governments such as Urartians and Manas. (Aliun and Sadraei, 2011) They were skilled metalworkers in the vicinity of Iron Age sites. One of the signs of this effect is discovering a bronze bracelet discovered in the Toul Talesh cemetery in northern Iran, which shows the expansion of Urartian territory in this region. There is a Urartian cuneiform inscription on it. This inscription shows that Argishti II, King of Urartu, gave this bracelet to Khaledi God. This person could have been a prince or a military person. (Tahmasebi and Masoudi Nia, 2015) The main issue of this research is to know the construction methods and the constituent elements of the jewelry discovered from the northwestern region of Iran. In the Iron Age, especially the Seldouz valley, these sites are primarily located in the Seldoz Valley and are geographically very close to each other, which can help understand the methods of construction and elemental analysis of the metal samples tested. The present research has been done by analytical-experimental method and based on scientific and laboratory studies. The purpose of this study is to identify the methods of construction and elemental analysis of “ornaments” discovered from “Iron Age” sites in northwestern Iran, using metallographic experiments and an SEM-EDS elemental analysis device. This research responds to the question, what methods used to make the discovered ornaments from the Iron Age sites in the northwest? Or what were the most used elements in the construction of these objects? In these areas, the current research hypothesis is that most of the “ornaments” made by hot hammering and casting methods and have a large amount of tin in their structure, which uses for greater strength and flexibility of copper and tin (bronze) alloys.

Materials and Methods 
In this research, the first eight metal samples from different Iron Age sites in northwestern Iran were collected through the reservoir of the National Museum of Tehran and sampled in the same place, and then sent to the Materials and Metallurgy Laboratory of the Sharif University of Technology for metallographic testing.

Discussion
Laboratory analysis and elemental analysis of metal samples using the SEM-EDS method show that a small amount of arsenic was founded in the alloy composition of the samples Because most copper metal ores before extraction and smelting contain amounts of arsenic. Therefore, there is a possibility of the unintentional existence of arsenic in the composition of these metals. Another element that a large percentage obtained in the composition of these metal samples is tin. Metallographic images of the ML-98-7 and ML-98-8 specimens show that these two specimens have a branched or dendritic structure in their body and are made by casting. Also, tiny cracks on the metallographic images of ML-98-2-ML-98-3 and ML-98-6 samples formed due to stress and fatigue caused by continuous hammering work on these metal works. The dark spots seen in most of these microscopic images indicate oxygen, carbon, and a lack of copper and tin, which have caused corrosion and sulfidation of these metal objects.

Conclusion
The results from the images obtained by scanning electron microscopy equipped with an SEM-EDS device found that the metal samples have a relatively large amount of tin. A small percentage of arsenic found in the metal samples tested. Considering the amount of arsenic in these samples can be concluded that metalworkers of this period may not have noticed the harms of using arsenic at that time and therefore used this element to improve the properties of bronze alloy. Ancient metalworkers used tin, arsenic, and antimony elements in the composition of bronze alloys to increase the hardness of the work. The items in the category of jewelry need to pay more to get the right shape. Another possibility is the unintentional presence of arsenic. The presence of large amounts of tin in these samples indicates that arsenic may have been naturally present in copper ores and Ancient metalworkers used tin to lower the melting point of copper and increase its strength and flexibility. Microscopic studies of bronze objects show that many copper sulfide compounds are present in metal samples. The presence of copper sulfide inclusions dispersed on the surface of the metal matrix and stretched in the longitudinal direction of the microstructure of ancient copper alloys may indicate the use of oxide ores along with some copper sulfide ores for extraction. Most of the ornaments found in the northwestern Iron Age sites, such as bracelets and collars, were made by hot hammering, subsequent hammering or forging, and objects with larger volumes and decorations molded by casting. In general, the objects discovered from the Iron Age sites in the northwest, especially the Hassanlou site, are more complex in terms of technique and construction style than the Iron Age sites in other parts of Iran, where existed local and indigenous governments. This issue has been due to the proximity of northwestern Iran to powerful governments such as Urartu and Manna.

Abstract
Khorasan was of great social and economic importance during the Seljuk period and with the rise to power of Sultan Sanjar (511-552 AH), it became the political nucleus of the Seljuk Empire. With the invasion of the Oghuzs (548 AH) and the capture of Sultan Sanjar, the political, social and economic situation of Khorasan became chaotic. The site of the Barzanun “Qahve Khane Sangi” also belongs to the Seljuk period, and with the discovery of gold coins from Sultan Sanjar (minted in Neyshabur in 551 AH) in its surface layers, it is possible. Which has wreaked havoc in the conflict of these attacks. Due to such widespread chaos, historical texts have scattered and different information about this historical event, so by having such a coin, the science of numismatics can rely on the sciences of archeology and history. Provide valuable information to researchers. Therefore, the main basis of this article is the coin discovered from the “Qahve Khane Sangi” and a relatively similar example of it (probably struck in Neyshabur in 551 AH). The main questions of this research are: 1. How can a part of the history of that era be reconstructed using this coin and a similar example? 2. According to the prevailing conditions and influencing factors, by whom and for what purpose were the coins in question minted? In addition to introducing these flag coins, this article intends to reconstruct and determine the causes of some events along with cognitive coin data along with historical texts. As a result, it was determined that the coins studied after the release of Sultan Sanjar from captivity and in his name, by Moayed Ibeh, in order to oppose the alliance of Sultan Mahmoud (the first period of the rule of 551-548 AH) and Atsiz Kharazmshah (551 -521 AH) and gaining the necessary legitimacy for the survival of his power and rule in the position of Amir affiliated to Sultan Sanjar, has been beaten in Neyshabur and even parts of Khorasan.
Keywords: Sultan Sanjar, Neyshabur, Oghuz invasion, Numismatics, Qahve Khane Sangi.

Introduction
In the fall of 2008, the first group of archeology students of Neyshabur University set foot in the “Qahve Khane Sangi” (Barzanun, Neyshabur, Khorasan Razavi) for educational exploration. An examination of the surface data and information from the four trenches in the first chapter of this scientific-educational excavation suggested that the site contained artifacts from the end of the historical period to the Mongol invasion, but the possibility was growing. The main use and peak period of this area was related to the Seljuk period. Thus, a special data, the dinar from the Seljuk period, obtained at the top level of the second trench, could have been a validation of this possibility.
The importance of coin discovery in ancient sites lies in the fact that the problem of their exact and somewhat absolute chronology can be based on coins. In other words, the fact that a coin belongs to a particular period or date means that the area in question also existed at that time. In addition, important features such as the name of the coin owner, the name of the mint, and the date of minting on each coin can provide useful historical information. Further study and observations of the authors about the coin discovered in Barzanun show that this coin was also one of the dinars of the reign of Sanjar and was minted in Neyshabur in 551 AH.
Coins can be considered a valuable document and the best archaeological data, because they belong to the same era and did not appear like historical texts for the purpose of re-reading. So, given that historical texts provide scattered and sometimes contradictory information on events, this shortcoming can be compensated by referring to more reliable documents such as coins. Archaeological data in general, as a relatively reliable reference, confirms, confirms, or completes written source information. In the meantime, completing the information of written sources is doubly important. In other words, these data can reveal dark corners of historical events and currents for historians. This article tries to provide a complete reading of the history of that coin in Neyshabur province from the perspective of archeology and history in addition to the complete introduction of the coin in question, and brings a joint analysis through the two sciences.

Discussion
After the Qatwan war between Sultan Sanjar and the Qarakhtaeans (536 AH), the Seljuk rule was severely weakened. Many of the emir’s subjects rebelled and claimed independence, and this increased with Sanjar’s aging. . With the invasion of Oghuzs to Khorasan and the capture of Sultan Sanjar (548 AH), widespread chaos spread throughout Khorasan. In addition to the continuous attacks of the Oghuzs, some independent commanders seized power and in addition The Ismailis of Quhistan, Khwarezmshahis and Ghurids conquered large parts of Khorasan. During the captivity of Sanjar (551-548 AH), some of his rulers resisted the attacks of the Oghuzs and put Suleiman Shah, the nephew of Sultan Sanjar, on the throne. Suleimanshah was not enough and after the defeat of his army from Oghuzs and the conquest of Neyshabur (549 AH), he went to the realm of Atsiz Kharazmshah and then fled to Iraq, Mahmud, the nephew of Sultan Sanjar, was elected to the throne. The most important Seljuk emir, Moayed Ibeh, was able to dominate some cities of Khorasan, including Neyshabur, and prevent the domination of Oghuzs by expanding his territory. After that, Ibeh separated from the new sultan, Mahmoud, and led his army to independence. After the defeat of Sultan Mahmud in the battle with Oghuzs, he enlisted the help of Atsiz Kharazmshah and at the same time Ibeh was able to free Sanjar from captivity (551 AH). In fact, with the alliance of Sultan Mahmud and Atsiz Kharazmshah, the power and legitimacy of Ibeh was lost, so the release of Sultan Sanjar could and the minting of new coins in his name could guarantee the survival of Ibeh’s rule.

Conclusion
The discovery of a golden dinar from Sultan Sanjar, minted in Neyshabur in 551 AH, is one of the most superficial layers of the “Qahve Khane Sangi” area, probably abandoned during this period, and a relatively similar specimen (probably struck in Neyshabur, in 551 AH) was able to provide new information to researchers. Coinage is normally used to meet the economic needs of each city and region, but in such cases coinage is merely a manifestation of power and legitimacy. The minting of these coins can be attributed to the liberation of Sultan Sanjar from captivity and Ibeh’s affirmative efforts to gain more power in Neyshabur and even Khorasan. By minting such coins, he was able to secure two of his main demands, namely, to confront Sultan Mahmud and Atsiz Kharazmshah and to gain the necessary legitimacy to continue his rule as Sultan Sanjar. The existence of written differences on the original coin of this study and a similar example, ie the displacement of the central text in two coins and the lack of writing the date of coinage in the same sample, can confirm the urgent need to mint such coins. In addition, the existence of weight differences between the original coin and a similar pattern (3.1 and 2.82 g) can be a sign of insignificance of monetary weights and independence from the economic system of the period. Although the liberation of Sultan Sanjar could be a great help to Ibeh, it could not be considered a cure for the turmoil in Khorasan, and finally, a little later, Sultan Sanjar died in 552 AH without taking any important and effective action. 

Abstract
The beginning of the Iron Age on the Caspian Sea coast and the adjacent areas on the Iranian plateau and the neighboring lands was accompanied by extensive social, political and cultural changes that led to the collapse of urban centers and exchange economics, the formation of scattered and rural communities, which were often followed by livestock or nomadic economics. Changes in the social structures in the Bronze Age and the beginning of the Iron Age, for whatever reason, caused extensive changes in the cultural material of the Iranian plateau and the Caspian Sea and formed settlement patterns from which only the associated cemeteries have often been identified and excavated. However, the residential structures, the spatial organization of the settlements and their relationship with the cemeteries are not well known. Excavation on the Parija Tepe, 3 km from Qaem-Shahr-Kiakola road on the low shores of the Caspian Sea, resulted in the identification of two stages of settlement from the Iron Age and the Early Islamic period. The Iron Age finds include pottery, metal objects, stones, bones, animal remains, and the remnants of architectural structures. According to the obtained evidence, the largest volume of cultural layers in the Parija Tepe is related to the Iron Age. The present study indicates that the Parija Tepe has an important place not only in better understanding of the pottery traditions of the Iron Age in the Caspian lowlands, but also in identifying mud-brick architecture and the pattern of sedentary life in this region. Further archaeological excavations of the site will undoubtedly give a clearer perspective on the social organization and settlement patterns of the Iron Age in the coastal areas of northern Iran.
Keywords: Mazandaran, Tepe Parija, Iron Age, Mud-brick, Pottery.

Introduction
One of the characteristic features of Iron Age sites of Mazandaran is the lack of settlement sites with visible architecture, the abundance of cemeteries, special funeral rituals, as well as a distinguished pottery tradition. During the Iron Age, the majority of dead people were buried in simple pit graves, Mud-brick lined graves or Pithos burials. The dead were often buried in a curved or flexed position, and in limited cases in supine or stretched position. A variety of burial-goods often placed next to the dead, a tradition which was also common in the preceding Bronze Age and that became more prominent during the Iron Age. In addition to the large number of pottery vessels, a good variety of tools such as swords, daggers, knives, spears, and other objects made of bronze and sometimes iron, as well as jewelry such as rings, bracelets, necklaces, plaques, and seals of bronze, silver, iron, bone, faience, stone, and rarely gold have been reported alongside the skeletons. While results of archaeological research in the Iron Age sites of Mazandaran suggests the influence of local Bronze Age cultures on the later Iron Age communities but, it appears from the available evidence that the Iron Age settlements are smaller albeit larger in number compared to the Bronze Age sites. 
The present article introduces the results of excavation in Perija Tepe in the Caspian Sea shores. Results of excavations suggests the important role of Parija Tepe not only for a better understanding of the Iron Age pottery traditions in the coastal lands of the Caspian Sea, but also for the identification of permanent settlements through examination of mud-brick architecture and the pattern of sedentary life in this region. Archaeological excavation at Parija Tepe can provide a clearer perspective of the social organization and settlement patterns of the Iron Age in the coastal areas of northern Iran.

Discussion
Parija Tepe is located in the central part of Mazandaran plain, some 3 km to the northwest of Ghaemshahr, next to the road from Ghaemshahr to Kiakola (Simorgh) and among the paddy fields of Kolagar village. Recent excavation at Parija Tepe has led to the identification of two phases of settlement belonging to the Iron Age and the early Islamic period. The main settlement phase and the majority of cultural depositions at Parija Tepe dates back to the Iron Age which is divided into Iron Age II and III. 
Typologically, most pottery forms of Prija appears to reflect the characteristics of Iron Age II. In addition to the pottery vessels, significant cultural materials such as a tanged bronze spearhead and a stone stamp seal were also excavated. One of the most remarkable findings of this excavation is the discovery of remains of mud-brick architecture that possibly shows a sedentary lifestyle rather than a nomadic way of life. Bio-archaeological studies on the faunal remains of the site demonstrates that all animal bone remains belong to mammals, and no fish, birds, rodents or reptiles have been identified. Throughout the occupational period, sheep, goats and cattle are the dominant species, followed by boars. Very rare remains of red deer have also been seen. Thus, it seems that the subsistence economy of the inhabitants of Prija has been diverse and based on livestock activities, agriculture and hunting patterns.

Conclusion
The cultural material discovered from excavation of Parija Tepe represents the cultural traditions of the Iron Age and indicates cultural links between this area and other Iron Age sites in the northeastern and north-central regions of Iran. Although some rich cultural materials such as a tanged bronze spearhead and some pottery forms have their roots in the Bronze Age cultures of the Northeast and the Gorgan Plain, the production of these type objects has continued throughout the Iron Age and striking analogies could be seen in large areas of Gilan and Mazandaran and the southern slopes of Alborz. It seems that the main volume of pottery and other cultural materials retrieved from Parija excavation indicates to Iron Age II and II period occupation with the material cultures resembling those from contemporary cultures in the north and northeast of Iran. The results of preliminary studies of Parija Tepe indicates that this area, like many of its contemporaries in Mazandaran, is formed near the river and in a flat and fertile land, and in terms of architecture, similar to other Iron Age sites in Mazandaran, has wooden and mud-brick architecture. Therefore, Parija, along with other Iron Age sites of the region, indicates to the uniformity of the Iron Age material culture in the lowlands of Madandaran, which, while similar to the Iron Age cultures of the southern slopes of Alborz, has particular local features.

Abstract
Kohgiluyeh; One of the most enduring names of the Islamic era is in the southwestern part of Iran, which has played a very important role in the political and social changes in this region. More than a thousand years have passed since the name of Kuhgiluyeh was mentioned in historical sources, but so far there has been no mention of the existence of such a city and it has always been mentioned as a geographical area or region. Recent discoveries in the historic city of Dehdasht show that Kuhgiluyeh was not only a geographical area, but also the most important urban center of the region in the Islamic Middle Ages. Also, it was of great importance in politics, military, economics, and even religion. This evidence includes a valuable treasure of 194 historical coins, some of which have the city of Kohgiluyeh engraved on as the place of minting. The location of Kuhgiluyeh city among the mints of this period shows the importance and of this city, which has remained unknown until now, and its geographical location is not known. Now, these questions can be asked: During what period and at what time were they discovered coins minted? When and what time did the city of Kohgiluyeh mint on these coins? Where is it located today in terms of geographical location? Which of the historical sites of the region is it compatible with? This study aimed to determine the period of minting the discovered coins, to locate the geographical location of Kuhgiluyeh city, and to gain information about the method of collecting library and field information. Its approach is historical-analytical. Kuhgiluyeh Mint, as one of the most active and important mints in the period of Agh-e-Quyunlus and Atabakan Lor Bozorg, is in harmony with the historical city of Dehdasht, in Kohgiluyeh. The Safavid period was renamed the city of Dehdasht and over time, the name of Kohgiluyeh has been forgotten.
Keywords: Coin, Kuhgiluyeh Mint, Agh Quyunluha, Historical City of Dehdasht.

Introduction
Kuhgiluyeh is one of the most famous places in the southwest of Iran, which according to historical sources, its peak period and fame; Goes back to the Safavid period (Valeh Esfahani, 1993: 643; Mirk Hosseini, 2006: 437). Lack of information about this area has led many researchers to rely on new archaeological evidence and discoveries, especially written works and findings, for more information and knowledge of its dark and unknown aspects. The study of coins discovered in the historical city of Dehdasht has provided us with useful and important information about the political and economic situation of this region during the Agh Quyunlu period, the most important of which is the introduction of the city of Kuhgiluyeh as one of the most important mints of this period. Until now, there was no information or knowledge about it.  
Research Purpose: The aim of this study is to introduce and locate the city of Kuhgiluyeh in the Islamic Middle Ages, to study the discovered coins and to study and analyze the historical sources as well as the most important urban centers of the region. 
Research Questions: 1- What period do the coins discovered from the historical city of Dehdasht belong to and during which rulers were they minted? 2- The location of the historical city of Kuhgiluyeh corresponds to which of the historical sites? 
Research Method: This research has been conducted by descriptive-analytical method and its information has been collected through library and field studies. The field information of this research is based on the study of a collection of coins minted in Kuhgiluyeh, which was discovered in 2009 AD in the form of a small treasure consisting of 193 silver coins in the historical city of Dehdasht and is kept in the repository of the Archaeological Museum of Yasuj. 

Discussion
The most important collection of coins discovered in the city is a collection of 193 silver coins that was discovered in 2009 AD during the demolition and restoration of Pirghazi tomb in the portico of the historic city of Dehdasht, in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad provinces.  Studies on coins discovered in the historical city of Dehdasht, show that 80% of these coins are of the type of surcharge coins and the rest are of the type of common mint coins.  Coins discovered; they belong to the reign of the Turkomans of Aq Quyunlu and the reign of Ozun Hassan (1453-1477 AD) to Sultan Muhammad (1500 AD). According to studies, 14 coins from this collection were minted in Kuhgiluyeh Mint during the reign of three rulers of this period (Sultan Yaqub, Sultan Rostam, and Sultan Murad).
The total number of coins minted during the reign of Sultan Yaqub in this collection is eight coins; the place of minting two coins is Kuhgiluyeh. Out of 64 coins minted by Sultan Rostam (1484-1496), 11 coins are minted by Kuhgiluyeh. The number of coins related to the time of Sultan Murad (1497), are 19 pieces and all of them are without surcharge and are of the type of ordinary coins. Among these coins, one was minted in Kohgiluyeh. 
Before the Agh Quyunlu period, in the Atabakan Lor period, the name of Kuhgiluyeh was mentioned in the list of mints (Alaeddini, 2017: 181). The minting of several coins by the rulers of Aq Quyunlu, with the minting of Kuhgiluyeh, which is sometimes of high quality and weight among other mints of this period, shows that not only this city did not decline during the transition from Atabkan to Aq Quyunlu but has been able to maintain its past position, become one of the most active and important mints of this period. 

Conclusion
According to the studies conducted in the Giloyeh mountain region and its sphere of influence, only two cities, Behbahan and Dehdasht, have the necessary conditions and potential (area, communication and climatic location) to locate and propose as the location of the city of Koohgiluyeh. There is no doubt or ambiguity about the history of Behbahan name since its formation in the 14th century AD until today and in terms of its settlement history and naming can not be related to the city of Kuhgiluyeh which in the 14th century AD, due to the importance of the city, coins were minted. Therefore, the only historical site in the region that can be compared with the city of Kuhgiluyeh in terms of age and historical background, size and geographical location and climatic conditions, is the historical city of Dehdasht.  The study of archeological findings such as pottery discovered from the historical city of Dehdasht also dates the city back to the Sassanid period and early Islam.  In addition to archeological findings, historical sources in their descriptions of the historical city of Dehdasht refer to much older works outside the city walls and also the order to build the city of Balad Shapur by the second Sassanid Shapur, which is consistent with the results of archaeological findings, has it. The cities of Kuhgiluyeh (Islamic Middle Ages) and Dehdasht (Safavid period) have many commonalities, the most important of which are the antiquity of these two cities and the lack of historical information about their historical status in the pre-Safavid period and their location in a same geographical area, which can be the point of connection between the two.  According to what has been proposed so far, the city and mint of Kuhgiluyeh in the 14th and 15th centuries AD can be located in the current location of the historical city of Dehdasht in the city of Kuhgiluyeh. 

Abstract
Varamin-Pishva plain is one of the most important cultural areas of the southeastern part of Tehran plateau in different historical periods. Taghabad Tepe with two western and eastern elevations and consisting of different rich layers of Iron and Bronze Age is located in this plain. This site has been studied and archeological research in 1397. In this study, it was found that this area has different deposits from the Iron Age one and two in the upper layers and traces of late bronze in the lower layers along the horizon with the common western traditions on the plateau. The aim of this study was to analyze the mentioned findings and compare it with the findings of other areas of Varamin plain and other neighboring areas. The questions of this research are as follows: based on the archaeological findings of the cultural developments of Taghiabad Tepe, what kind of cultural traditions dose the Iron Age have? What is the influence of regional and trans-regional cultures of the common Iron Age cultures of Varamin plain due to the Taghabad findings in the type of pottery and architecture? Accordingly, the Iron Age 1and2 of Varamin plain and especially Taghiabad Tepe to some extent shows the regional actions in Varamin plain and the proximity and convergence of the trans-cultural region with neighboring areas. 
Keywords: Iron Age, Varamin-Pishva Plain, Iron Age Settlements, Taghiabad Tepe, Architecture, Pottery.

Introduction
Varamin-Pishva plain, having a suitable geographical position in the slopes of Alborz mountain range and Damavand peak and having a suitable height, has provided suitable ecological conditions for the presence of human communities for a long time. This plain is one of the areas prone to the formation of Iton Age settlements in the north-central part of Iranian plateau. During the archaeological study of this area in 1391-1392 AH. Has identified 27 sites belonging to the Iron Age (Figure1), as a result of studding the findings of this study, only a few sites have been introduced and identified. In this research to analyze and study the pattern of establishment and distribution of sites as well as cultural stages of the Iron Age of Varamin plain by analyzing cultural findings identified from  Iron Age sites based on archaeological studies and cultural traditions of this plain by case study, especially pottery, and the architecture identified from workshop A in the eastern ridge of Taghiabad area as well as the surface findings obtained, classified and then the location of this area in Varamin-Pishva plain next to the Iron Age settlements in the center of Iranian plateau, in a general view, reviewed, evaluation and analysis are included. In this review, understanding the Iron Age communities, especially the Varamin plain will be accompanied by re-reading various theories.

Research Method
The present research is structurally one of the basic researches with a comparative-analytical approach, the method of finding is to exploit the findings of an archaeological excavation chapter based on historical analysis of the findings of Taghibad Tepe. According to the research topic and the variables studied in it, the method of collecting information in the field and data collection tool in this research will be based on archaeological excavations and related reports and articles. 

Taghiabad Tepe
Taghiabad area is located in Javadabad rural district and between Taghiabad villages, Khajoo Qaleh and Ajorbast counties in the agricultural lands of Taghiabad village in Varamin city. This site was considered in the framework of joint cooperation between the Institute and the University of Berlin in 1397 AH to collect samples of ancient climate studies from ancient deposits and according to the surface findings of the Iron Age and Bronze Age and according to the situation. The demolition of the site was speculated. The site is located in the west and near the Ali Kharat River. Cultural and settelement findings of this research have been identified in Taghiabad Tepe from workshop A in the ridge No1 of Taghiabad Tepe (eastern ridge) and in the northern side of this Tepe in the area that was excavated with an area of 1/5×2 meters (Figure5). From this Tepe, seven settlement phases with two historical periods from Locus have been identified, which include artifacts from the Iron Age 2 and 1 to the late Bronze Age. The cultural materials of this Tepe are all kind of pottery covered with red, cream and brown mud, gray, architecture (walls and thermal structures) plaster, pounded floor, stone tools such as pounding stone, abrasive stone , burnt plant seeds (in terms of appearance similar to wheat or barley) it has formed a bony specimen, goat horn and clay tokens, etc., which will be described below

Conclusion
The results of the study of Varamin plain settlements from its archaeological of Iron Age communities, based on Taghiabad Tepe excavation, this area and site as an important area and indicators in the study of Iron Age cultures and chronology of the Iranian plateau. One of the most important topics in the archeology of the Iranian plateau is how the tradition from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age and its sequence, one of the important features of Taghiabad Tepe is the presence of communities from the Iron Age and their cultural connection with the Bronze Age which is of great importance in the studies of the tradition from the Bronze Age to Iron (Age)., an area where settlement began in the Iron Age and continued until the Bronze Age . Accordingly, in this study, questions were raised that can be evaluated in this way. The first question was asked about archaeological findings, cultural developments of Taghiabad Tepe and how the cultural traditions of the Iron Age. The urban complex and evolution of later cultures with cultural establishment has been one of the actions of the neighboring horizon in the type of architecture and pottery, especially Gholi Darvish. The second question was asked about the interactions and influence of regional and supra-regional cultures of the common cultures of the Iron Age of Varamin plain due to Taghiabad findings in the type of pottery and architecture, which according to the surface findings of 27 sites recorded in studies, archaeological as well as various excavations in Sofalin Tepe, Chalnasian and other areas, this plain to some extent shows intra-regional activities with the center of Taghiabad Tepe, with cultural trans-regional affinity and convergence with adjacent areas in the southern and northern parts of the central plateau of Iran. Therefore, it can be considered that the Iron Age sites of Varamin-Pishva plain, especially Taghiabad Tepe, are the product of an advanced society with a cultural establishment of adjacent horizon actions in the type of “architecture” and “pottery”. Based on the types of pottery and the type of architecture the cultural sequence of Taghiabad Tepe can be introduced with 7 phases of establishment in two historical monuments. Finally, it can be said that based on the relative and comparative dating of Taghiabad Tepe, it can be dated to the late bronze period of the transition period and the Iron Age of one and two.
pe. 

Abstract
This paper will focus on Lithic assemblages from three sites in the eastern part of Kurdistan province. The Chalcolithic period appears with different pottery tradi-tions than the earlier period in the Zagros, these changes appear mainly in the emergence of a variety of long blades and very regular and standard sickle blades. Due to the importance and lack of studies on the Chalcolithic Lithic, the main ques-tion in this article is what was the technology and function of the tools in the Chal-colithic period? The results show the technology of direct percussion with a hard hammer used to in the primary stages of Chalcolithic, and in the late phase, in addi-tion to the earlier method, the pressure technique has also been used to construction of long blades and sickle blade. Also, long blades and sickle blades, in terms of production technique, are continued in the Neolithic period in the Zagros, but in terms of dimensions as well as the ratio of blade length to width in a new class which is a new indicator for the Chalcolithic period. The results show that the con-struction of regular sickle blades begins in the late Chalcolithic phase. The skill of making tools is undoubtedly related to exist people who have special ability for these products, and they have distributed these tools in certain areas; because the least waste of high-quality flint of these blades has not been found in the sites. While most of the debris belong to raw material that are easily accessible in the riv-erbed.
Keywords: East of Kurdistan, Chalcolithic Period, Lithic Artifact.

Introduction
The stone artifacts in this study are the result of excavations in Tepe Gheshlagh (Motarjem & Sharifi, 2015; Sharifi & Motarjem, 2018), Tepe Kalanan (Saedmoucheshi, 1390), and Golali (Saedmoucheshi, 1398) in Kurdistan province (Figure 1). In this region, the chronology of Tepe Gheshlagh, one of the key site in the Chalcolithic period that shows the sequence of this period (Motarjem & Sharifi, 2014). On the other hand, all samples of artifacts obtained in intact layer and with absolute chronology (Table 1). The Chalcolithic period in the Central Zagros has been studied by many scholars (see Young & Levine, 1974; Abdi, 2002 & 2003; Henrickson, 1983 & 1985), and most studies have focused on pottery and other data. Various sites in this area such as Godin (Young, 1969), Sehgabi (Young & Levine, 1974) have been explored before the Islamic Revolution of Iran and there isn’t an independent report on the tech-nical classification of stone tools. Study of Lithic artifacts in the Cen-tral Zagros including superficial study of Tepe Ban-Asyab (Bernbek et al., 2011), superficial study of Hersin (Mortensen & Smith, 1977), Chogha-golan and Towe Khushkeh sites in Islamabad plain (Abdi, 2002). Also, the study of lithic tools tradition in the sixth and fifth millennium BC in the Zagros gets limited to (Kozlowski, 1999; Nishiaki, 2013, 2019) and west of Kurdistan (Hariryan et al., 2021). In this regard, the study of stylistic differences in terms of technology, typology, and access to sources of raw material, as well as trade of some stones such as obsidian is momentous. Therefore, research questions include the following: (1) what is the basis of the tool-making tradition in East Kurdistan? And (2) Due to socio-economic complexities that occurred during the Chalcolithic period, what changes have taken place in the Lithic artifacts? The hy-pothesis of this research is that the Post-Mlefaatian tradition of tool making has been prevalent in this region. In fact, the purpose of introducing and analyzing of Chalcolithic Lithic is paying attention to them as cultural data that an important role in cultural communication and interactions.

Conclusion
The study of stone artifacts during the Chalcolithic period and beyond has never been seriously considered in Iranian archeology, this is due to the prevalence of evolutionary archeology. This approach goes back to the Serialization and connec-tion of cultural transformation circles to each other, without an explanatory and an-alytical approach to the lifestyle and cultural exchanges and human dynamism in the habitat. Discussions that were considered only after the spread of new archeol-ogy. The study of stone artifacts in this study shows that the insignificant quantity of tools in the early and middle phases of Chalcolithic, It shows the focus of the residents of this area on livestock. Because the Habitat around Tepe Gheshlagh and Kalanan are mainly steppe and less fertile. In the late phase, the production of Lith-ic tools increases, especially the examples related to grain harvesting, which indi-cates a kind of more attention to crop production. This leads to decline of livestock or the increase of population in the region and even familiarity with new cultivation methods. In the late Chalcolithic, this region has Cultural Horizon with the late Obeid, early Uruk and the Sabz period of Dehloran and Khuzestan. At this time, agriculture based on irrigation has been proposed on southern region such as Susa and Dehloran. In these periods, all the tools used in agriculture, focused on Lithic tools and implements including plowing tools, sickles, mortars and hand tools. In fact, the construction of practical tools, the use of different raw materials, and the interpretation of regular and long sickle blades represent an advanced and evolving technology. The produce of regular sickle blades from high quality stone, disap-pearance of small scrapers (trapezoidal and triangular) and the limitation of serrated tools are the most important changes in this period compared to the Neolithic peri-od. 
Lithic assemblages during the 6th and 5th millennia BCE in the Zagros is known as Post-Mlefaatian tradition (Kozlowski, 1999). The use of pressure Debitage tech-nique to produce long blades and sickle elements is one of the most significant fea-tures of this tradition. In the Post-Mlefaatian, the length of the blades increases. In East Kurdistan, we are faced with two technologies for making stone tools, (1) The use of direct percussion for primarily stage of removing, and (2) The use of pres-sure technology for construction of sickle blades. We have a limited number of long blades in Gheshlagh and Gelali sites, but the construction of these blades, like other regions of the Zagros, shows the use of the Post-Mlefaatian tradition in this region.
It is probable that after 3 to 4 thousand years of domestication of devolving of wheat stem compared to other species such as Emmer and Einkorn of the Neolithic period, In order to harvest, thicker and stronger blades need to create. The produc-tion of thicker blades in this period has been a technical adaptive response to this need. Hence, the discussion over the assumption about the prevalence of irrigation in the Chalcolithic period, even to a limited extent, has led to change in Lithic tools production related to agriculture, especially sickle blades. On the other hand, issues such as the formation of full-time or part-time expert groups, access to high-quality flint mines for proper production, distribution and exchange are raised. As men-tioned in the discussion, there is no evidence of regular sickle blades construction on the site, in the eastern Kurdistan. On the other hand, presence of obsidian in Gheshlagh and Kalanan sites show continuation of the old distribution network of the nearest neighbor to the far regions in eastern Kurdistan. The presence of obsidi-an and lack of evidence for making sickle blades from dark flint, indicate the pos-sibility of making blades produced from this species in specialized workshops out-side the site and their import to these areas.

Abstract
Cylinder seals usually were used on clay objects, especially tablets, as a symbol of individual’s identity and administrative centers of the ancient East. While, rare potteries sealed by cylinder seal are a new case for archaeologists. Based on the small number of sealed pottery fragments found, archaeologists are dealing with several main questions: Why cylinder seals used on pot-tery? What is the usage of sealed pottery? And whether it is possible to provide an exact chro-nology for these potteries? A sealed pottery fragment from the site of Qal’eh Asrār in South Khorāsān is an example which is also our subject matter in this present study. The area of Qal’eh Asrār is located 1800 meters southeast of Barandood village and 800 meters northwest of Zarbarandood village of Ghohestān section of Darmiān city. This area is currently located on top of a natural hill at a height of about 200 meters above ground level. Analysis of potteries found on the surface of site shows that the occupation of it belongs to Late Iron Age and Achaemenid period, although there are also small numbers of pottery belonging to the late Is-lamic centuries. In this paper we try to study a fragment of a sealed pottery found from surface of site. Firstly, we deal with the issue of sealed pottery with regard to the context and the prob-lems and challenges of its study, then we try to analyze sample pottery of the Qal’eh Asrār in terms of typology, style and its legend. This study shows that the sealed pottery of Qal’eh Asrār is locally produced and its legend is a local style with the common motifs of first half of the first millennium BC. As this site is probably a garrison, this container could be used for bearing commodities to the construction.
Keywords: Qal’eh Asrār, Sealed Pottery, Iron Age, Achaemenid period, Local Style.

Introduction
In ancient near East, the stamp and cylinder seals have been used on diverse clay objects such as bullae and tablets to sealed administrative documents, but use of seals on pottery is rare. Since 3rd millennium B.C Fragments of sealed pottery have been found in sites from north Iraq and Syria (Collon, 1987: 13; Oates, 2001), Levant (Amiet, 1975: 425-426), west and south western of Iran (Caldwell, 1976), Shahr-e Sukhta in south east of Iran (Baghestani, 1997: 34- 43; Hakemi & Sajjadi, 1989: 145) and central Asia (Sariandi, 1986; Heibert, 1994a). Several fragments back to the Iron Age I and II were found from Bahrain in Persian Gulf (Olijdam, 2008) and Central Plateau of Iran in Tepe Sialk (Malekshahmirzadi 1381: 25) and Gholi Dar-vish in Qom (Sarlak 1386: 193- 194). Most of these sealed potteries are small fragments that have been found mainly as single fragment on the surface of sites. A small number, such as the Gonur Depe fragment in Turkmenistan (Sariandi, 1986: fig.123) or the Tell Brak in Syria (Oates, 1985: 257), have been found from archaeological excavation. 
In archaeological survey of Qal’eh Asrār in South Khorasan, Iran, one fragment of sealed pot-tery with a cylinder seal impression was found in archaeological survey. There are several questions raised here. Is it possible to provide an accurate chronology for the sealed pottery of Qal’eh Asrār? Why the pottery sealed, specifically with cylinder seal? Are these sealed pottery have an administrative function and were used as a kind of administrative-economic object or tool? Or here seals just used as decoration? In this paper, which is a descriptive-comparative and analytical approach, firstly we examine the challenges related to chronology and recogniz-ing the function of sealed potteries in archaeological studies, then we focus on study Qal’eh Asrār fragment and its seal impression.

Chronology and Usage of Sealed Pottery
Archaeologists have two different approaches for chronology of sealed potteries. If these frag-ments are found from excavation, they propose site stratigraphy to date it. But, most of the sealed pottery has been found on surface of sites, so dating will be complicated. In fact, archae-ologists use two methods to date sealed potteries, such as Qal’eh Asrār case; they propose the chronology based on typology of pottery or the style and image of seal impression. 
Function of sealed pottery is under debate too; there is no consensus on why sealed potteries are made and how it has been used. In general, the proposed suggestions can be divided into three groups, although, there are many doubts about each of these three views. 
1- The image of seal on pottery was for decoration.
2- The seals are the sign or signature of the potters who identifies the ownership and identity of his handicrafts.
3- Sealed pottery has an administrative function and has been used for storing or moving com-modities.
The style and image of the cylinder seal impression of Qal’eh Asrār sealed pottery
The image of Qal’eh Asrār seal does not show a unified theme and its upper part is broken. In part of the image a human is standing, bending one hand from the elbow and holding a cane, his other hand is not clear, it had stretched body with broad shoulders and arms, the proportion be-tween the upper body and the legs is not observed and the upper body is taller than the legs. It seems he have a dagger in his waist. On both sides of the human image are two birds. On the left side is design of the quadruped (donkey?) and in front of it is a horse, both are upside down. Of course, the horse’s head is broken. Between the two images are a small bird at the top and probably a sitting human at the bottom. The style of Qal’eh Asrār seal is a local style which focusing on the outer lines, not paying attention to the details. 

Conclusion
Studies on sealed potteries in diverse sites, despite different time and cultural periods, shows the following common features can be observed:
1- All fragments of sealed pottery are locally produced.
2- The seals that are used on these potteries also have a local and indigenous style, and this in-dicates the locality of their production.
3- Sealed pottery fragments indicate they should mainly belong to medium and large jars.
 4- In most of fragments seal was mainly used at the area between the neck and body of the ware. 
Given the common features mentioned, it can be argued that these potteries had an administra-tive aspect. However, they used locally which both the pottery type and the seal originate from the local culture of the same region, and there are no examples that show their displacements or dispersion in a wider cultural context.
A comparative study of Qal’eh Asrār sealed pottery shows that this pottery is locally produced and cylinder seal used on it also has local style of the 1st millennium B.C. Due to pottery type and the presence of architectural remains, this area is suggested to be a garrison to protect the road in the late Iron Age - early Achaemenid period, and the style and image of the seal on the pottery also confirms the proposed chronology.