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Showing 441 results for Type of Study: Research

Mostafa Dehpahlavan, Mahdi Jahed,
year 5, Issue 15 (6-2021)
Abstract

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.

Ali Karimikiya, Reza Rezaloo, Akbar Abedi, Ardeshir Javanmardzadhe,
year 5, Issue 16 (9-2021)
Abstract

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.

Sara Sadeghi, Saeed Rahimi, Behrooz Afkhami, Esmaeil Hemati Azandariani,
year 5, Issue 16 (9-2021)
Abstract

Abstract
Perhaps painted rocks are the oldest surviving artifacts of prehistoric humans. Man has painted before the letters would create.  This art has a very ancient history in Iran and especially in the west of the country (Lorestan). This article studies the motifs of newly discovered petroglyph of Bauki village, Azna county in Lorestan. So far, no measures have been taken to record this site. Therefore, the record and study of petroglyph Bauki has the great importance in completing the archeological map of the country and the petroglyph studies. In particular, these motifs are variety and have narrative themes which is different from the style of human or animal motifs of other Iranian petroglyphs. The main study questions are: What motifs has designed on Bauki petroglyph and what style and method have used in designs of motifs? What areas are these motifs comparable to? What was the aim of creating the designs? What historical period do the Bauki petroglyphs belong to? The research method of this article has been did both field and desk study that documentary method were applied on comparative of motifs, anthropology and chronology of the newly discovered area. The research results show this The number of Bauki motifs is 74 which is on interconnected rocks and includes the motifs of human, animal, geometric, plant, and instrumental. According to the studies done, it can be said that in quantity and quality, the motifs of this area are similar and comparable to the petroglyph motifs of different regions of Iran, such as petroglyph of Timura (Khomein), Sungun (Arasbaran), Zarrineh (Qorveh) and abroad with Qobustan (Azerbaijan) and Gagama (Armenia). According to the obtained information from the motifs and the pottery evidence from the area and its surroundings, the surveys of the settlements around the site, comparison of motifs with other dated sites in Iran, pattern style and other historical data, subject to caution, is dated to Iron Age motifs.
Keywords: Petroglyph, Motif, Iron Age, Bauki.

Introduction
Petroglyph is one of the oldest living art traditions in the world, which has lasted for thousands of years. It seems bedrock have been the first surviving surface that man has chosen to record his artworks (Qasimi, 1399: 25). The subjects of petroglyphs are influenced by the geographical, cultural, and environmental conditions of each region. Until 1967 rock carvings were considered insignificant not only in Azna, but in all of Iran, and archaeologists made only minor and transient references to them in reports, but so far many studies have been done and there are many reports on the petroglyph motifs in different parts of Iran. The cultural and historical infrastructure of Lorestan province is so pristine and rich that in any field, especially point of view archaeology, it allows researchers to survey and to study and obtain valuable results. In addition to other archaeological data (pottery, buildings, etc.), other signs, such as the petroglyph motifs left on the rocks are specially worth considering from the point of view of archeology and the cultural-artistic interaction of the ancient tribes living in these areas with the surrounding areas, which points to the necessity and importance of the archaeological position of petroglyph in this part of Iran. The present research has been done both method: a desk study and field. The main objectives of the research include: introduction and study of Bauki petroglyph motifs, classification of motifs based on the type and style of petroglyphs, comparative study and similarity of motifs with other parts of Iran and abroad, the proposed chronology is based on the evidence of the relative chronology of the existing motifs.  In this regard, the authors of this study try to answer the following questions: What motifs has designed on Bauki petroglyph and what style and method have used in designs of motifs? What areas are these motifs comparable to? What was the aim of creating the designs? What historical period do the Bauki petroglyphs belong to?

Discussion
Each of the Bauki petroglyph motifs has a meaning and most importantly, and most importantly, the existence of ancient habitats and hills related to different periods and around the petroglyph are the important and determinative factors to justify the historical and cultural position of these motifs and the time of their creation. Therefore, for this basis, we can say that:
1- About the semiotics and meaning of the selected motifs were pictography and ideography and a limited number of psychography have high concept and were directly related to ethnic-religious faith, beliefs, and environmental conditions which are rooted in the myths and beliefs of the people about animals.
2- The motif of a goat is a symbol of seeking rain and abundance and has long been hidden and preserved among the motifs like a spell. For this reason, the motif of the goat in the rocks was abundant and varied
3- Motifs found in the area include horses, leopards, dogs and deer. The variety of motifs is directly related to animal species in the region. 
4- Some of the animal motifs were native to the area, but today there are no motifs such as leopards in the area. Since the engraved artists of these motifs could not engrave their motifs or paintings except by observing reality. So there is no doubt that in the past, these animals lived in this area.
5- There is a relationship between the method of engraving and the position of the motifs and the variety of motifs in the petroglyph of the study area. In terms of workmanship, they are of the petroglyph type and have used smoother rock surfaces to create motifs, the material of which is composed of hard rocks. 
6- Regarding the style and manner of presenting the motifs from the point of view of artistic representation (aesthetics), it is simple and abstract and only 4 realistic (animal) cases have been mentioned.

Conclusion
The Bauki petroglyphs are very simple and a limited number of realistic motifs. This area contains 74 motifs: animal, human, plant, symbolic and instrumental motifs, most of which are related to animals and humans. The most common method of creating Bauki petroglyphs is engraving and the creating style of the studied motifs has been mostly in an abstract style. All animal motifs are engraved in profile. Ritual dances performed while collecting agricultural products as well as asking for rain. Also, the exaggerated deer antlers are symbolically a symbol of herding and agriculture. Goats are still very important in the lives of people in the region today.
The chronological basis of Bauki motifs in terms of morphology with other Iranian petroglyphs and other motifs has been database tools, method to dig stone, engraving tools for these types of motifs. Therefore, these motifs are based on animal motifs, tools found and the smashing type of impact on the rocks, with caution and condition, it has no history beyond the Iron Age and belongs to the second millennium BC. In terms of quantity and quality, the studied motifs, based on carried out surveys can be examined and analyzed with other motifs found in other parts of Iran such as petroglyph of Timura (Khomein), Sungun (Arasbaran), Zarrineh (Qorveh) and abroad with Qobustan (Azerbaijan) and Gagama (Armenia).

Mahsa Najafi, Kamal Aldin Niknami, Saeid Golamzadeh, Arkadiusz Sołtysiak,
year 5, Issue 16 (9-2021)
Abstract

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.  

Nasim Asgari, Shahriyar Nasekhian, Mohammad Saied Izadi,
year 5, Issue 16 (9-2021)
Abstract

Abstract
The landscape formed by the holy places of the pilgrimage cities is considered a central element in recognizing their physical and semantic indicators. These landscapes unite their affiliated religious rituals and ceremonies in a useful framework while developing an integrated whole in temporal and spatial aspects. The spirit of these landscapes is the human soul. Therefore, what causes disruption and chaos in this relationship disrupts the authenticity of these holy places and the integration of their immediate fabrics and will have undeniable negative effects on the pilgrimage. Since the residents have always considered these spaces, pilgrims, and even tourists, their written and illustrated documents can be examined to represent the subjective and objective aspects of the mentioned landscapes. In this regard, by raising the question, what aspects have the physical and semantic structure of the stated landscapes included throughout the past ages? The current research aimed to find the apparent and latent aspects of this subject to represent the central features of the landscape of the pilgrimage cities of Shiite religion and the role of their holy shrines. To this end, the derivation approach was selected based on inferential-historical and thematic analysis methods, and the texts and images of 29 travelogues reported in the interval of 6th to 14th AH were studied. The findings indicate that as symbols and indications of the pilgrimage city and individual and unique in their surrounding area while having an integrated cohesion in the natural context of the city, the stated places arranged the landscape in the form of a united complex, including all the relations, events, and its related local customs and rituals. The result shows that the sacred landscape of these places was a semantic network and a series of tangible and intangible values and elements requiring increasing attention to conserve their visual sanctity zone and review the current plans and measures. 
Keywords: Sacred Place, Ritual Landscape, Pilgrimage Landscape, Sacred Landscape, Visual Sanctity Zone.

Introduction
Religious landscapes reflect ritual beliefs and thoughts, and the sacred landscape of a pilgrimage city is considered its inseparable element. The sacred places create privileging landscapes in the urban landscape and, as a known indication, contribute to determining the cultural changes of their related historical-geographical fabrics. However, nowadays, claiming the uniqueness of these places due to having prominent spiritual values and deep religious roots in the related culture and religion, the visual sanctity zone of these cultural properties has faced numerous irregularities and disorders. The conservation of the visual sanctity and the landscapes formed by these places will significantly affect the organization of the mental image of their audiences to recognize them besides its significant role in protecting the authenticity and identity of its affiliated cities. Thus, according to the stated necessity, by raising the question, what aspects have the stated landscapes included in the interval of 6th AH to the early 14th AH? the current research aims to represent the central and influential indicators in the structure of the scared landscapes of the Shiite pilgrimage cities through which it can obtain rethinking and developing the practical principles in the plans.
It is noteworthy that the main focus of any previous research was not on the sacred landscape of the famous pilgrimage cities of Shiite religion, and the current study analyzed the narrations of the travelogues from a new perspective. Since the current research had a qualitative-interpretive paradigm based on the analytical induction and required analyzing the text and illustrated data, the applied method was the historical-inferential and thematic analysis method.

Discussion
A landscape can include the cultural history of a place with legibility capability and message, and since the effect of the belief insights and religious beliefs is obvious thereon, it is considered a religious landscape. Primarily, this landscape includes all the cultural and social activities in its related religious area, and then, it is considered an area of the civil and structural territory of a city. Beliefs related to the spaces formed by the previous two areas, the scale and how it is related to a particular place, a region, or the integrity of a city according to the worldview system that governs it, are manifested and in concepts and titles such as “ritual landscape”, The “pilgrimage landscape” and the “sacred landscape.”
A sacred landscape of a pilgrimage city cannot be perceived correctly, disregarding how the sacred places play a role in its prospect. In other words, the indications of the spatial separation between the holy shrines and their surrounding and external spaces are considered the elements of the sacred landscape. For instance, in Khorasan Travelogue, while mentioning a place in the suburb of Mashhad called “Tappeh Salam”, Houtum-Schindler states that “Mashhad city with its sacred dome of Imam can be seen from this hill”.
Thus, the observation, imagination, and even thinking about how these landscapes were created varies based on people’s worldviews.
Considering the abovementioned and based on the narrations recorded by the travelers, it can be deduced that the sacred landscape was one of the central bases of travel writers’ subjective structure map so that it began from the historical core of the city, which included the shrine and its surrounding areas and extended to the suburb. Their first descriptions before reaching the entrance of the city were the description and explanation of a landscape that indicated the religious and pilgrimage identity of that city, and can be divided into two main groups as follows:
1. Representing the visible and tangible structures of the holy shrines and their immediate surroundings,
2. Expressing the intangible and latent aspects of their affiliated landscapes. 
Others indicate the importance of a sacred place as a focal landmark and valuable element of the pilgrimage city that all the visual attention led to that. The integration with the natural elements is one of the cases that extended to these places’ core and internal zones.
The extracted propositions indicate that the interaction of the religious values, natural context, and the residential fabric neighboring the holy shrines with a network of the cultural systems, such as pilgrimage behaviors, local beliefs, and customs, human interactions, Etc., formed an integrated network of communications besides the sacred place as the central core the results of which was the formation of the integrated sacred landscape in the physical structure of the pilgrimage city.

Conclusion
The obtained result shows that the sacred landscapes of the stated holy places included a perfect and homogenous complex in the aesthetics background role and displayed a multifaceted manifestation for the viewers’ thought and perceptions like a communicative-social system. In other words, these scenes are a manifestation of the coexistence and synonymy of structural-semantic elements in the observer’s mind so that the hole formed in their dependent context represents the importance of the quiddity of the holy shrines.
Therefore, the values of the sacred landscape and its related meaning were entirely dependent on the cultural aspect of a context, which has been integrated with traditions, rituals, and beliefs over time. It is related to a relationship between the human, sacred place, and immediate environment. These landscapes were related to the sense of a metaphysical presence and lived through the religious symbols and rituals, such as pilgrimage, because the feelings experienced by the pilgrims and viewers, such as travel writers in the current research, were under the influence of a set of features of the sacred shrine. The high visual quality that integrated the sense of place and sense of sanctity zone surprisingly in the audience is proved by the high visual quality that integrated the sense of place and sense of sanctity zone. Therefore, it can be concluded that these landscapes indicate the attributes, context, and background of the holy shrines. Thus, one cannot disregard the two-way and inseparable relationship between two tangible and intangible cases linked with their related landscapes in today’s development plans of these places.  

Atefeh Rasouli, Alireza Hejebri-Nobari, Haeideh Khamseh,
year 5, Issue 16 (9-2021)
Abstract

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.

Muhammad-Amin Saadatmehr, Hasan Basafa, Hamid-Reza Sanaei, Mohsen Momeni,
year 5, Issue 16 (9-2021)
Abstract

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. 

Abbas-Ali Rezaei-Nia, Ali Akbar Vahdati, Mostafa Sharifi,
year 5, Issue 16 (9-2021)
Abstract

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.

Mehdi Pirhayati, Alireza Anisi,
year 5, Issue 16 (9-2021)
Abstract

Abstract
Lorestan bridges have been of particular importance in different eras due to being located on ancient roads. Bridges built for various purposes, including political, religious and economic, have acted as valley bridges in addition to linking different areas through crossing ravaged rivers of Lorestan at the time such as Kashkan and establishing road safety. Lack of awareness by the local people, the country and the international community of the value of these properties, the destruction of their properties and their associated environments by indigenous peoples and domestic tourists, the lack of a comprehensive and integrated conservation program and the lack of proper budget allocation for their restoration, Their natural context for conservation and restoration has all made these valuable and indigenous properties in the process of destruction. Accordingly, the purpose of the research is to identify the cultural landscape of historical bridges attributed to the Sassanid period of the Kashkan River and to establish a structuralist framework through the analysis of national and international laws, charters, conventions, and treaties to conserve their cultural landscape. In this research, library and field data were collected and four bridges: Kashan, Kelahor-e-Mamulan, pol-e-dokhtar, and Gavmishan were selected as study samples due to historical and architectural values. In the following, recommendations for the conservation of selected bridges’ cultural landscapes were categorized into two categories, generic and specific to the selected bridges themselves using qualitative research method, data analysis, and coding operations at three levels to reach the final results of the research. 
Keywords: Conservation of Cultural Landscape, Historic Bridges, Sassanid Period, Lorestan, Kashkan River.

Introduction
Lorestan province, with its rich and important rivers such as Seymareh, Kashkan and Cesar, has one of the richest flowing water networks. In addition to communicating with the two capitals (Susa-Ekbatan), this province has always established the connection between the old Babylon, then Ctesiphon, and then Baghdad, to Isfahan, through Khorramabad. (Siroux, 1978: 32-33). From other roads, separated from Lorestan, we can refer to Susa to Bisotun and Susa to Masbazan road (Minorsky, 1937). The need for quick and easy access and constant communication between these areas, despite the rich rivers and deep valleys, has led to the construction of huge bridges that makes a man wonder7 (UNESCO, 2016). These bridges have been built to connect large civilizations and some extent of the realization of human rights, religious, ethnic, economic and cultural ties, as well as development, prosperity, security and comfort in difficult mountainous regions (UNESCO, 2016). The undiscovered identity and value of these works for the indigenous people of Lorestan and at higher levels, the country and the international community, the destruction of the works themselves and the natural environment, associated with, by indigenous people (intentionally interfering with the cultural landscape of the bridges), lack of comprehensive conservation and restoration plans and lack of necessary credit allocations from organizations, entrusted with these works, the non-formal and mere physical restoration of some properties, regardless of the context in which, they are formed, have all made these valuable properties of art and cultural landscape associated with, to increasing degradation. In Lorestan cultural domain, these properties have been constructed with the highest quality of locating and building, and study of these works and conservation challenges of their cultural landscapes, can certainly Conserve bridges, with addition follows:
• To illuminate and conserve various historical layers of the region;
• To preserve the natural environment (including river, valley, etc.) where the bridges are located;
• For legibility and conservation of the region’s indigenous culture and
• To achieve construction technologies of bridges, for future conservation and restoration of these properties.
This research seeks to identify the Cultural landscape of Historic Bridges on the River Kashkan and its conservation challenges, in order to provide a basis for helping, define a systematic model to conserve its cultural landscape. In this regard, the following question is defined as:
• What is the definition of the cultural landscape of historic Bridges on the River Kashkan?
• How can a systematic, structuralist model be achieved to conserve the cultural landscape of historic bridges over the Kashkan River?

Discussion
According to the epigraph left by the bridge, Badr-ibn-Hasanwayeh has introduced himself as a constructor to this bridges. The cultural landscape of these Bridges is an integrated collection, interacting with humans over time in the geographical domain of middle Zagros. Despite the vagueness of the “cultural landscape” meanings, today this word has become one of the most controversial words in the World Heritage Convention. Challenges are coming into place when modern science cannot face the challenges of different levels and disciplines (Zibalkalam, 2018). Conservation is also no exception to this and has undergone various changes over time to respond to problems, encountered in conservation. The analysis of this research is carried out through “codifying” at three levels: first cycle codifying, second cycle (middle) codifying, and third or final cycle codifying (post-coding). The codes were reviewed and stored to verify the qualitative data, in order to identify conservation principles of the cultural landscape of these Bridge (the core of the research), at the final stage (Afshar, 2014). In the following, by integrating, the results of code analysis are compatible with the dispersive components of the image (Giviyan, 2016). In the following, recommendations for the conservation of selected bridges’ cultural landscapes were categorized into two categories, generic and specific to the selected bridges themselves using qualitative research method, data analysis, and coding operations at three levels to reach the final results of the research.

Conclusion
This research, in the form of fundamental-applied research, was able to identify the conservation of the cultural landscapes of the studied historical bridges and make them applicable to other similar historical bridges in Lorestan. This study was able to introduce recommendations in two general categories Generic and specific to the bridges themselves. In response to the first part of the research question, the concepts and constituent elements of the cultural landscape of historical bridges were identified through the library, field studies, and analysis of various concepts in the subject literature and in accordance with the native conditions of the cultural landscape under study. In answer to the second part of the research question, it can be said that by analyzing the collected literature and taking a look at field studies, by examining and analyzing the challenges of conserving cultural landscapes and the meanings and concepts of conservation in national charters, conventions and treaties, and International; Investigating and analyzing the meanings and concepts of cultural landscapes in national and international charters, conventions and treaties. These recommendations, since taken from the very context of the aforementioned research and context, have been categorized into a specific framework and have created a systematic model for the conservation of the cultural landscapes of the historical bridges studied. 

Zabihallah Masoudinia, Ahmad Salehi Kakhki, Saied Hashom Hossaini,
year 5, Issue 16 (9-2021)
Abstract

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. 

Zohreh Shirazi, Nozar Hedari,
year 5, Issue 16 (9-2021)
Abstract

Abstract
Bampur historical complex is located in Makran – Jazmourian Basin in a flat plain in the Northwest of Bampur city, the capital of the region and 4 km to the North of Bampur River (20 km to the east of Iranshar). Extensive firing and burnt vestiges are one of the most characteristics phenomena at Bampur Castel. The evidence of firing is scattered nearly all over the site and it is not limited just to spaces like pits or kitchens. The diversity and abundance of brunt materials (seed of cereals, fruit remains, woods, charcoals and mat-made shoes) allowed us to use them for archaeobotanical studies. Due to the limited archaeological excavations especially in prehistoric sites, Iranian Baluchestān has so far been less-known from archaeobotanical and history of vegetation point of view. This research present the results of studies on the plant remains obtained from some pits and firing debris belonged to the Qajar period’s layers. The purpose of the study was to recognize the vegetation around the site and the type of plants used by the inhabitants during that period. Microscopic observations and analyze of 2301 charcoal fragments, woods, seeds, rachis segments and fruit remains showed that the vegetation cover around the Castel included trees such as tamaris, willow, acacia, musquit bean and date palm. They used the wood of these trees to meet their fuel needs (especially tamaris) or as construction materials (willow, acacaia and mesquites). Given the current ecology and geographical distribution of these species, it is reasonable to assume that the identified trees are native to the area and have grown around the Castel. Also the remains of Cereals (wheat and barley), fruits (date palm) and Cucurbits (Watermelon and melon) found in the firing debris testify agricultural activities. In addition, further evidence is attested by the presence of burnt seeds of the wild plants or weedy such as rye, bermuda grass, brome, wild grass, vetch milk, vetch, medic, goosefoot family, knotweed, seepweed, cowherb, asphodel and sedge family (present in the fields along with agricultural products).
Keywords: Archaeobotany, Bampur Castle, Wood utilization, Qajar Period, Southeastern Iran.

Introduction
The study of vegetal remains is not solely limited to climate change that occurs normaly over a long period of time. It could be used for reconstruction of vegetal cover, cultivation patterns or the introduction of non – native species compatible with the environment of a specific region. 
Bampur castel is located, in a flat plain on the northwest side of Bampur city, 4 km north of Bampur River and 20 km east of Iranshahr. The castel have a rectangular – oval shape in the northeast- southwest axis. Due to the best state of conservation at the site, large quantity of vegetal remains including seeds, fruit remains, woods, charcoals and reed mat and other artefcats were found in archaeological contexts. 
The present research will study plant data obtained from the excavated layers in the second season of excavations at Bampur castel conducted by Nozar Heydari in 2018 (heydari 2018). Here, we will try to answer to the following questions: 1. What was the vegetal cover around Bampur in the late Islamic period (Qajar period)? 2. Which kind of woods were used by the inhabitants of the region during that period? 3. What plants species were cultivated by the inhabitants as food resources?
Unfortunately archaeobotanical studies have not been realized in Iranian Baluchestān. Henece, for the first time archaeobotanical studies have been applied to identify the vegetation history of the area, the plant resources and the possible existence of non – native species. The Information on the agriculture and plant economy of Pakistani Baluchestān during the prehistoric times has been available (Tengberg, 1998; 1999; Tengberg & Thiebault, 2003; Costantini, 1981; 1990). However in the Iranian Baluchestān, no specialized study has been conducted in this field. In the southeasten part of the Iranian Plateau and in the Indo-Iranian Borderlands (Sistan, Baluchestān and Kerman) several long-term environmental studies have been carried out in some prehistoric sites by iranian and foreign experts resulted in obtaining valuable information on the history of agriculture and vegetal cover of the area (Costantini & Costantini-Biasini, 1985; Costantini, 1977a-b;  Costantini, 1979; Meadow, 1986; Shirazi & Shirazi, 2012; Tengberg, 2008; Mashkour et al., 2013 ; Vaezi et al., 2019; Hamzeh et al., 2016; Gurjazkaite et al., 2018; Shirazi 2019; Kavosh et al., 2020).

Material and Method
In the second season of excavations a total of six trenches were excavated including:  W1.T2, W1.T3, W1.T4, W1.T5, W1.T6, W1.T7. The archaeobotanical data were obtained from W1.T2, W1.T3, W1.T4, W1.T5. Extensive traces of fire and ashe were scattered all around the castel. Considering the diversity and large quantities of plant remains (grains, fruitstones, charcoals, woods and artefacts) it was decided to select them for archaeobotanical studies. In total, 10 samples from contexts such as pits and fire debris have been collected. From 153 litres of collected debris by water sieving, about 5690 ml. plant remains including seeds, fruitstones and rachis segments were obtainted. Laboratory studies of these data have been done in the Archaeobotanical Laboratory of the World Heritage Site of Shahr-i Sokhta.

Discussion
A total of 310 fragments of charcoal and woods and 1991 seeds, fruit stones and rachis segments were studies. Anthracological digramme indicates the presence of various trees and shrubs such as tamaris (Tamarix spp.), willow (Salix sp.), date palm (Phoenix dactylifera), acacia (Acacia sp.) and mesquites (Prosopis sp.). The relative abundance of tamaris and willow is higher (79%) than other plants. Tropical plants such as acacia and mesquites (15%) and fruits like date palm (6%) are in the second and third ranks respectively. This evidence shows that the inhabitants used the wood of tamaris as fule and willow, acacia and mesquites as construction materials. Given the habitat and geopraphical distribution of the actual vegetation, it is quite reasonable to assume that the identified trees are native to the area.
In addition to the identified trees, carpological digramme indicates the existence of various crops like cultivated cereals  (emmer wheat/Triticum dicoccum), bread wheat /T. aestivum, club wheat /T. compacteum and barley/Hordeum vulgare), fruits and cucurbits (date palm, melon and watermelon), wild grasses (rye, bermuda grass, brome), wild pulses (vetch milk, vetch, medic), and wild plant or weedy (goosefoot family, knotweed, seepweed, cowherb, asphodel and sedge family) that were present in the fields along with agricultural products.

Conclusion
According to our study, plant resources around Bampur includs trees such as tamaris, willow, acacia, date palm and mesquites. Tamaris is the main source of fuel in the region and willow, acacia and mesquites have been used as construction materials (beams for building strengthen). The remains of charcoal and wood of these trees in the explored contexts show that the inhabitants of the castel did not need to import wood from other areas to meet their needs and were completely self-sufficient in this regard. In addition to these tree, which grew naturally in the past as they do today, Baluchestān also enjoyed favorable conditions for cultivation of cereals (emmer wheat, bread wheat, club wheat and barley), cucurbits (melon and water melon) and other fruits especially date palm. 

Mossayeb Amiri, Majid Badiei Gavarti,
year 5, Issue 16 (9-2021)
Abstract

Abstract
In the repository of Persepolis Museum, there are about 700 pieces of inscribed stones related to the cinctures of Persepolis Palaces, almost all of which are broken and incomplete. It us noteworthy that all the pieces are incomplete and broken in one place and only one cincture in the museum hall is complete and the rest of the pieces are all incomplete. Even the healthy piece was broken at the same point where the other cincture were broken and later repaired. All these fractures and defects have been done intentionally and from two specific places. About 40 of these pieces belonged to Thatcher Palace, and after their arrangement and reconstruction, 12 cinctures were obtained equal to the number of Thatcher Palace columns. In all this number, the name of Xerxes is seen as the builder and there is no other name of the Achaemenid kings. The sculptors have followed a certain pattern for their work. Apparently, all the pieces have inscriptions and these inscriptions were in three living languages of that time, namely ancient Persian, Elamite and Babylonian, and all the inscriptions were carved with cuneiform. These three civilizations were the most important civilizations of their time and they certainly had interactions with each other. In this article, we will try to study the cincture inscriptions of Thatcher Palace columns by descriptive-analytical method. How many paragraphs dose the writing contain and what does it contain? The three languages are compared and analyzed, their differences are identified and finally the cause of their breakdown is investigated. 
Keywords: Cuneiform, Cincture, Persepolis, Thatcher Palace.

Introduction
The common script in Achaemenid times is cuneiform, which some scholars attribute to the previous kings of Darius and even the period of historical beginning (Young, 2007: 38). Elamite was the official language and Aramic language common is most areas under Achaemenid rule. But it should be considered in mind that with the vastness of the Achaemenid territory, there were certainly many linguistic differences in this land, which according to recent linguistic research, probably more than 10 languages were common in this territory, (Anthony, 2013,37). The number of inscriptions from the Achaemenid period that have been discovered so-far is over 40 inscriptions, the most famous of which is the great Bistoon, which is written in three languages: ancient Persian Elamite and Babylonian. With the coming to power of Darius, this line was completed so that the types of verbs and their tenses, as well as pronouns and objects and the construction of verbs in it were well observed, and because it was based on grammar, it was possible to decipher it. It is noteworthy that the cuneiform is the only line that there is slash sign between words, and this feature led Rawlison to decipher it for the first time, and then the starting point for deciphering other lines, such as the Babylonian, Elamute and Assyrians...... The main goal of any linguistic research based on a silent language is to go through the veils of historical and cultural language and to achieve a correct understanding of the inscriptions and a report that is as enlightening as possible, in addition, providing an opportunity to teach a silent language has been a sub-goal of this research. In this research, apart from the ancient Persian language, the Elamite language of the Achaemenid period, which was strange in its birthplace, Iran, has been studied. Unfortunately, less of this research has been by domestic researchers in the field of ancient Iranian languages in the field of Elamite language. Thatcher Palace, column and its cinctures.

Discussion
Thatcher’s stone cinctures in Persepolis are divided into three categories in terms of material, shape, color, and size. 
1. Cinctures made of limestone which has a light gray color and in terms of shape and form has a simple cut and no geometric tools and on it inscriptions in three languages of ancient Persian, Elamite and Babylonian in a very beautiful, technical way carved without the slightest fracture. All letters and symbols have a dimension in the sculpture and have elongated symbols and are neither short nor long due to the small space. For this reason, this type of current is called cuneiform by Nasta’liq writers. (picture7). This cincture sample has not been found more than two samples so-far, for this resin, this specimen must belong to the columns inside Thatcher Palace Hall. The stones with which the sculptors used to build these types of columns were extracted from the mines of the same area. (picture, 1,4,5). 
2. The cincture is made of decorative stone or hematite, which is glossy black, this type cincture is smaller in diameter and height than the other two, similar in shape to the first sample, which is made of limestone. The reason for the simplicity of this sample is probably the high degree of hardness of the lathe. On this cincture unlike the first sample, trilingual inscriptions with cuneiform lines are carved in a row and in the same order, a few centimeters apart. In this way, the last sign of the Babylonian cuneiform, which is the end of the inscription, is located a few centimeters behind the beginning  of the ancient Persian inscription, the carving of the symbols and letters on it were simple and had no dimension, and perhaps due to the hardness of the stone, they used narrow and simple symbols and letters, and had no small, crushed pieces and also there are two samples of this cincture, one almost complete, which attracted the inside the Persepolis Museum, and the other was half of cincture that was placed in the tank of the same museum. (Picture 2 and 8). 
3. Cincture made of decorative stone and light blue color with a gutter tool around its upper edge, also this cincture is larger in diameter and height than the other two types, and triple cuneiform are carved in a row on it. This type of cuneiform has beautiful but it does not have concave dimension and beauty of the first type. (Picture 3and 6). The size of the cinctures starts at 5 Cm and covers up to one third of a cincture. Its inscriptions were masterfully sculpted in ancient Persian, Elamite and Babylonian languages. After arrangement, the pieces reached 12 cincture, which were the number of columns in the Palace. After translating each word, it replaced them and finally a text was obtained that was repeated 12 times in 3 languages. The important point with our discussion was that a common part this text disappeared in the sentence and then continued the sentence to the end.

Conclusion
When Alexander entered Persepolis, more than two centuries had passed since the Achaemenid Kings ruled the world, and more than one hundred and seventy years had passed since the construction of Persepolis. Conqueror historians have written that after Alexander’s conquest of Persepolis, he ordered it Tobe burned while intoxicated at the request of his mistress, and they know this commandment against his inner desire and try to remove this shameful act from his face on the other hand, if Xerxes or his father Darius, he immediately rebuilt it, although such an action, ie the burning of Athens by the Achaemenids, was never reported. With these details, the authors of this article found that the fire and destruction of Persepolis had nothing to do with the above story, Greek soldier, consciously and under Alexander’s direct order, destroyed the inscriptions, symbols and looted the architecture and its treasures. When they translated these inscriptions for Alexander, he saw himself defeating the Achaemenids without a rival to the emperor of the world. As a result, he ordered the destruction of all inscriptions that had such meanings, especially titles such as king of the world etc., for this reason, broken pieces were not found when translating the cincture. There is also a broken statue of Darius in the treasury of Persepolis, which is clearly visible due to the strong blow, especially the left eye of the statue, which is split on both sides and the place of the blow corresponds to the arrow of Alexander’s soldiers, and as you fill the gap with the sculpting paste, it becomes an arrow, the same shapes can be found at the fracture site of the cincture.

Majid Mohammad-Yarluo, Morteza Hessari, Khalil-Ollah Beik-Mohammadi,
year 5, Issue 16 (9-2021)
Abstract

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. 

Hamid Hariryan, Abbas Motarjem, Amir Saed-Mucheshi,
year 5, Issue 17 (12-2021)
Abstract

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.

Leila Makvandi, Mohsen Dana, Seyed Reza Rafae,
year 5, Issue 17 (12-2021)
Abstract

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. 

Hamed Mowlaiey Kordshooli, Farhad Zare Kordshooli, Hamidreza Karami,
year 5, Issue 17 (12-2021)
Abstract

Abstract
The tomb of Cyrus the Great, the founder of the Persian Empire, is one of the most important buildings of the early Achaemenid period in Pasargadae. The function of the tomb has changed over time, the most important of which is the transformation of it into a mosque in the Ataba-kan period and the construction of a miḥrāb inside the chamber of the tomb on the southern wall. In addition, the walls and stone surfaces of this building contain signatures of visitors, tourists, and pilgrims who have visited the building over time. Previous research has been done on the miḥrāb of Atabaki Mosque, but its inscriptions and memorabilia have received less at-tention. The purpose of the present article is to classify and identify the petroglyphs left on this tomb, which, as a result of a field study of all the motifs and lithographs, has been fully de-signed and documented. In the library study stage, all historical sources have been studied and, according to the inscriptions as well as the comparison of the signs engraved on the walls, each one has been studied separately. The following questions have been asked in this regard: What are the tomb’s oldest petroglyphs or inscriptions? Is there an inscription on the stone blocks of the tomb from the Achaemenid period? To which historical figures do the inscriptions on the tomb belong? The results of this research are the identification of more than one hundred in-scriptions and petroglyphs, the oldest of which are signs belonging to the Sasanian period. Many of the signs and inscriptions on the tomb belong to the contemporary era, which has led to the study of part of the historical course of this valuable building.
Keywords: Tomb of Cyrus the Great, Pasargadae, Memorial, Petroglyph.

Introduction
The tomb of Cyrus the Great has always been of interest throughout its life, and many people who have visited or lived around it have written inscriptions on its stone walls. From the com-mon people to European travelers and agents, Since many humans, animals, plants, and geo-metric motifs are engraved everywhere on the stones of the tomb of Cyrus the Great, a number of motifs were selected and studied from each category.
 The purpose of this article is to classify and identify the drawings, which were the result of a detailed study of all the stones in the tomb of Cyrus the Great. In the first stage, all the litho-graphs have been fully designed and documented, and in the next phase, by referring to the ex-isting books and documents, as well as comparative studies, he has analyzed and interpreted the lithographs and signs. The result of this research is the identification of more than one hundred inscriptions and engravings, the oldest of which are motifs belonging to the Sasanian period. Many of the motifs and inscriptions on the tomb belong to the contemporary era.
Azizi Kharanaghi and Ms. Salimi have studied the tombstone lithographs and one of the animal motifs of the tomb under the title “Pasargadae petroglyphs” (Azizi Khoranaghi and Salimi 2011). Also, Mirza Abolghasemi has already studied the Mihrab inside the tomb and the inscriptions on the columns and stone pieces under the title “Pasargadae inscriptions in the Islamic period” (Mirza Abolghasemi 2011). A comprehensive study of the signs on the tomb has not been done yet.

Inscriptions
On the stone blocks on each step, there are many inscriptions in Persian, Arabic, and Latin. Most of the themes are names, dates, prayers, and some poems, each written in a different size, style, and script. Many of these texts were written on top of each other; that is, at the point where the stone was flat, a text was written. After time and erosion, another person wrote the same text on the previous text.

Human Motifs
A scene of cattle grazing is carved on the stone blocks in the northwest corner of the tomb. In one part of this scene, two people are depicted standing with very light bodies. On the foot sur-face of the second platform on the south side of the building, a large number of engravings, in-cluding the face of a woman whose long hair is silver, by creating a line on the right side of her face and the left side by creating several parallel lines.

Animal Motifs
Most of the motifs are related to animals such as goats, sheep, and a number of dogs, which were probably created by cattle breeders and shepherds in later periods. The most interesting animal motifs that can be mentioned are the needle motif of five deer standing. The signs are created with shallow lines on the stone and some of the details of the animals’ bodies are finely silver-plated. These needle designs probably belong to the Sasanian period.

Plant Motifs
Five plant motifs are carved on the stone blocks of the tomb. The role of a flower with short stems and two oval leaves, which is very primitive and can be seen obliquely inside the tomb room and on the north walls, The wheat cluster on the blocks on the west side of the tomb, the role of a six-pointed flower on the platform on the north side, the role of a flower with a long stem, two leaves, and a very simple three-leafed flower, and next to it, the word Shirazi with number 39 on the third platform.

Geometric Signs 
Many different geometric signs can be seen on tombstones, including circles, squares, rhom-buses, and irregular geometric patterns that have been repeated over and over again. A marker for the qibla has been created in the southern corner of the third platform of the tomb with a diameter of 20 cm. The outer circle is about 20 cm in diameter and the inner circle is about 15 cm in diameter.
A square has been created in the western corner, the interior of which has been filled with inter-secting lines. Below this picture and attached to it, the two words “Action ------- Al-Hamdani” is written with a space between them.

Other Signs
Other motifs and works that can be mentioned are scissors, horseshoes, and instrumental mo-tifs. A grid square is one of the most notable works that has been seen several times on some of the petroglyphs.

Conclusion
In this research, the signs have been classified into six categories: more than 100 lithographs in Persian, Arabic, and Latin and 200 lithographs including human, animal, plant, geometric, and other signs have been identified. All the motifs and inscriptions identified in the tomb belong to the post-Achaemenid period. Given its style and subject matter, the needle motifs of the deer on the north wall of the tomb might belong to the Sasanian period. Some of the writings belong to famous people and officials from Iran and European tourists who have engraved their names or titles in Latin and beautiful script with history. The existence of a number of inscriptions and memorabilia of high-ranking officials and people shows the importance of this building in the Islamic periods. The present study has been written as a preliminary, and its supplementary studies will be published in the future.

Ahmad Azadi,
year 5, Issue 17 (12-2021)
Abstract

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

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

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

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

Lily Niakan, Fahimeh Homayoon,
year 5, Issue 17 (12-2021)
Abstract

Abstract
Excavations in the last five decades in northern Iran, especially in the Sepidrood catchment area, have led to the discovery of unknown cultures, in the ancient sites of Marlik, Kaluraz, Nasfi, Joven, Jam-shidabad and other sites in the cultural area, during the late second and first millennium BC. They were achieved from different periods of the second millennium BC until the Sassanid era.  This article re-ports the result of a preliminary research on a number of exchange stamps (seals) which were identified and registered during the re-organization of the objects of the National Museum of Iran in 2010.They were part of a collection of seals frits from the ancient sites of Kaluraz.These works contain valuable and important information from various artistic, cultural, economic and commercial aspects in different historical periods in this cultural field.  The purpose of this study was to stablish the method of con-struction; the typology and the age of these seals; the geography of this cultural field; the method of making imitation stamps and recognizing their designs.  Research Questions and Hypotheses are specif-ically explained below: Where was their main origin and from which historical and cultural context? Do these seals have a particular local style or their style is influenced by other cultures? The seals found in the kaluraz Archaeological Site belong to which historical period? Archaeological excavations in the cemeteries and the geographical basin of SepidRood in the last five decades has provided valuable ar-chaeological knowledge of this cultural area during the late second to the first millennium BC, includ-ing specimens of wrought iron and bronze Frits seals from the whole tomb. The results of this research led to documentation of the findings and comparison the finding with other important settlements of the first millennium BC, in contemporary cultural horizons such as Marlik, ToulTalesh, Hasanlu and Mesopotamia.  Furthermore,a general conclusion about the process of typology and stylistics of seals is presented.
Keywords: Gilan, SepeedRood, Kaluraz, Cylindrical Seal, first and Second Millennium BC.

Introduction
The art of sealing and making stamps has a very long history in the olden times of mankind.  Since the appearance of stamp seals in northern Mesopotamia during the 6th millennium B.C, they have been used throughout the ancient Near East until the innovation of the cylinder seal in the second half of the 4th millennium B.C. Cylinder seals were the preferred administrative tool in Mesopotamia during the 3rd and 2nd millennia B.C.  The seals of Persia correspond in their types and use to those of Meso-potamia, beginning with amuletic pendants, and developing into stamp to cylinder seals.
Like cylinder seals, stamp seals could be made from stones; metal and clay. The images carved into the seal face itself ranged from simple geometric patterns to elaborate scenes of human and divine images. Seals are important to the study of ancient art and can, help to define chronological phases. they serve as a visual chronicle of style and iconography.
The images on it, contain enormous information which can be used to clarify the customs, ethnic be-liefs and to some extent the social, religious, political, economic, art and architectural conditions.  Fur-thermore, this information can be employed to culturally reconstruct the ecosystem of the forgotten ancient societies.  On the other hand, the stamps seal was used as a document to facilitate the transfer of commercial goods to neighboring or distant cultural areas.  It also provides information about neigh-boring and other cultural areas and shows the links between ancient societies and their relationship in joint organizations (Collon, 1990: 11).
This article reports the result of a preliminary research on a number of exchange stamps and cylinder seals which were identified and registered during the re-organization of the objects of the National Mu-seum of Iran in 2010.  They were part of a collection of seals from the ancient sites of kaluraz. These works contain valuable and important information from various artistic, cultural, economic and com-mercial aspects in different historical periods in this cultural field.  
The purpose of this study was to stablish the method of construction; the typology and the age of these seals; the geography of this cultural field; the method of making imitation stamps and recognizing their designs.  Research Questions and Hypotheses are specifically explained below:
• Where was their main origin and from which historical and cultural context?
• Do these seals have a particular local style or their style is influenced by other cultures?
• The seals found in the kaluraz Archaeological Site belong to which historical period?

Material and Methods
To achieve this aim, we did literature review using the currently available visual documents and exam-ined eight seals of the Damage and crockery cylindrical seals of Ali Hakemi in the coin and seals section of the National Museum of Iran in 2010.  Our analyzes is based on the excavations information (ob-tained during the field work in this cultural field) and the designs and descriptions of the concepts of the symbols of these seals.  
The National Museum of Iran has a large collection of different seals from various historical periods.  For example, the flat and cylindrical shapes seals that have been obtained in archeological excavations of the last five decades from the ancient sites of northern Iran in the geographical area of SepidRood.  

Geographical Setting
Sepidrood (the name of a river) catchment is located in Gilan province, south of the Caspian Sea.  Due to the climatic conditions; suitable environment and natural resources, this geographical basin has long been considered as a suitable habitat for living and has contributed to the creation of ancient cultures in this area for thousands of years.  The native name of SepidRood, especially in Gilan province, is Es-piyeh or Espiro (Domorgan, 1338: 209) in Gilaki language means white river.  Some Avestan scholars consider Sefidrood to be the same Daiti river in Avesta (Khodzko, 1975: 19-40).  Diakonov mentions the old name of Sefidrood Amard or Amardos (Diakonov, 1379: 79, 210, 312 and 623).  
The history of archeological research in the Kaluraz Valley dates back to the 1960.  During this period, a delegation headed by Ali Hakemi with the cooperation of archaeologists such as Mahmoud Kardvani; Abdolhossein Shahidzadeh and Ali Akbar Sarfaraz excavated some part of Gilan.  They worked contin-ually in several seasons for many years.  They collected valuable artifacts including stamps from Lilijan, kaluraz, Joban, Sandos and other archeological sites of Gilan.  The Stamps of current study were dis-covered and collected by Ali Hakemi and Abdolhossein Shahidzadeh, during the archaeological study and excavations between the years 1965 to 1969. 
During 1967 to 1969, Ali Hakemi studied Kaluraz, which includes a collection of cemeteries such as Ganjpar, Kafarkesh (Daghudalan) Zarindar and Jalalieh (Hakemi, 1347: 22-22).    The findings of Ali Hakemi are maintained and protected in coin and stamps section of the national museum of Iran.   
In 2010, we explored the cemetery and the ancient hill of Kaluraz in the west of Sefidrood, which is located alongside the road from Tehran to Rasht and 85 kilometers far from the coast of the Caspian Sea in Gilan province.   

Result
Excavations in the last five decades in northern Iran, especially in the Sepidrood catchment area, have led to the discovery of unknown cultures, in the ancient sites of Marlik, kaluraz, Nasfi, Joven, Jamshid-abad and other sites in the cultural area, during the late second and first millennium BC. They were achieved from different periods of the second millennium BC until the Sassanid era.  
Preliminary study on these seals, collected from Marlik Cemetery and northwestern sites such as Ha-sanlu, was able to give us a fresh look at the environmental conditions of the region, cultural relations and trade exchanges from socio-economic institutions during the Iron Age of this cultural field. The role of animals such as mountain goats, river fish, hunting birds, native trees of the region and agricul-tural fields indicates the livelihood and livelihood economy of the inhabitants of SepeedRood basin, which reflects a part of the environment and connections of the ancient Kaluraz area.  The artistic qual-ity in drawing the creatures is one of the characteristics of the artistic style of these seals.  This type of design can be seen in other works of this cultural field such as Marlik Cemetery.  The only seal whose style of engraving is different from other seals is a seal with a row of male mountain goats moving backwards.  This type of role is influenced by the stamping style of the Assyrian period, which can be entered into Kaluraz as a result of commercial exchanges. Although the lack of inscriptions on these stamps makes dating difficult, valuable cultural findings such as gold cups; ornaments, and beads made of imitation and bronze, show the characteristics of the Iron Age in Iran and cultural ties in this period.  Gold and silver goblets and ornaments and flat bronze seals and types of pottery obtained during the excavations of Kaluraz Cemetery, indicate very dynamic economic conditions with close relations and economic exchanges of residents with neighboring areas in the south of the Caspian Sea and between different geographical areas in Lake Urmia, such as Hasanlu.  In these areas the effects of the common style of local art and the influence of the Mitani style on cultural findings can be seen.

Conclusion
Archaeological excavations in the cemeteries and the geographical basin of SepidRood in the last five decades has provided valuable archaeological knowledge of this cultural area during the late second to the first millennium BC, including specimens of wrought iron and bronze beads from the whole tomb.  The results of this research led to documentation of the findings and comparison the finding with other important settlements of the first millennium BC, in contemporary cultural horizons such as Marlik, Toul Talesh, Hasanlu and Mesopotamia.  Furthermore, a general conclusion about the process of typol-ogy and stylistics of seals is presented.

Davood Behroozifar, Reza Mehafarin, Mohammad-Reza Saeidi-Harsini, Ahmad Chaychi-Amirkhiz,
year 5, Issue 17 (12-2021)
Abstract

Abstract
Sarakhs plain is located in northeastern Iran and adjacent to Turkmenistan. Regarding Parthian pottery studies in Sarakhs plain, no special components have been considered for it so far. Identification and classification of Parthian pottery in this region can be a good tool to better understand the pottery traditions, study the cultural and economic interactions of the population centers of that period. The research method is based on library and field studies (descriptive and analytical) during a field survey (survey) stage. Based on the surface findings of the field survey, a total of 91 flagship pottery pieces from 14 settlements belonging to the Parthian period were selected for the survey. In fact, this study seeks to answer the question of what were the intra-regional and extra-regional relations of Sarakhs plain during the Parthian period with contemporaries? According to the studies on pottery attributed to the Parthian period in Sarakhs plain, this period can be divided into two periods in the mentioned plain. In the first period (formation of Parthian rule before the reign of Mehrdad I) Sarakhs is influenced by the culture of the Sarakhs oasis of Turkmenistan, and in the second period, until the end of the Parthian period, they are influenced by the well-known cultures of southern Turkmenistan, namely the cultures of Nessa and Merv. The purpose of this study is to identify and introduce Parthian pottery in Sarakhs plain, classification and typology of Parthian pottery in the region. The necessity of the present study is that the pottery cultures of the Parthian settlement of Sarakhs plain are unknown and the present study can provide a better understanding for further research.
Keywords: Archaeology of Northeast Iran, Sarakhs Plain, Parthian Period, Classification of Pottery.

Introduction
Sarakhs plain as a study point due to its natural potentials and optimal environmental conditions such as altitudes, suitable soil and relatively favorable weather conditions, has been a desirable habitat for the formation of various human communities (Ebrahimi, 1384: 2). Scholars in historical texts have stated the origin of the Parthians in northeastern Iran, especially Khorasan (Asak near present-day Quchan) and their primary capital was Nessa in Turkmenistan (Altheim, 2010: 20). Based on the field surface findings, a total of 91 flagship pottery pieces from 14 settlements belonging to the Parthian period were examined. The method of this research is based on library and field studies (descriptive and analytical) during a field survey (survey) chapter. Documentation of human handicrafts is necessary in terms of studying the background and type of community culture at any point in history.      
Research Questions and Hypotheses: In fact, this study seeks to answer the question of what were the intra-regional and extra regional relations of Sarakhs plain during the Parthian period with contemporaneous areas? Therefore, in the present study, surface cultural materials have been interpreted by preparing a statistically citation able and scientific population through archeological study. Analyzes obtained from classification, typology and methodological analysis of this statistical population as well as comparative comparison of pottery species with similar examples of contemporaneous settlements show the formation of sequences of some settlements in the Parthian period and continuous continuity before and after the Parthian period in this Has an area.                                                                                                    
Aims of Research: The purpose of this study is to identify and introduce Parthian pottery in Sarakhs plain, classification and typology of Parthian pottery in the region.                                                       

Materials and Methods
The present research is based on the purpose of basic research and based on the nature and method of descriptive-analytical research. The basis of the research is the study of Parthian pottery along with library studies. Methods and tools of data collection in this research have been done in two ways: documentation and field activities. In the documentary stage, all written sources, images and maps were first collected and analyzed. In field studies, while surveying the plains in the region and identifying the settlements, the required archaeological information and evidence (pottery) were collected from the mentioned areas and recorded in the database. In order to compare the chronology of the settlements and analyze the pottery of the Parthian settlements, the total pottery collected from 14 Parthian sites was examined and compared with other sites of the Parthian period such as Nessa, Merv and Sarakhs oasis of Turkmenistan. It was not possible to identify more Parthian sites through surface surveys. 91 index pottery were selected for photography, design, classification, typology and comparison with other Parthian sites. The index samples were selected as research materials based on classification and typology. In archeology, when classifying, the differences and similarities of the pottery in question must be clearly evident in the various groups that are distinguished; In such a way that no further explanation is needed for easy identification of one group from another. It is logical to expect that no two groups of objects classified in the main and important criteria are common to each other (Azarnoosh 1377: 76). In the present study, first, in a general division, pottery pieces are divided into five general categories, including: 1- edge 2- body 3- floor 4- base 5- handle, and then edge pieces that can be recognized in the form of a container. 

Discussion and Results  
In this study, 91 Parthian pottery pieces were identified from 14 ancient settlements related to the Parthian period, many of which have chronological sequences and in addition to the works of the Parthian period, also have the works of other periods. Settlements were classified based on pottery typology, comparative studies of pottery find, and archaeological excavations in southern Turkmenistan, northeastern Iran, eastern Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and other regions within and outside the region. A total of 26 sites in 11 areas for this study in the order in which it is presented has the most references. Based on this, a table was designed for each cultural region and settlements of each basin in which the amount and percentage of comparison is clearly significant (Table 2).     

Conclusion
Archaeological study of Sarakhs plain and 91 surface pottery pieces from 14 Parthian settlements were considered as the main foundation for relative chronology, classification and typology of the research. In order to obtain a scientific answer to show the cultural interactions, the method of comparative analysis was used and the findings of the archaeological study of Sarakhs plain were compared with the findings of intra-regional and extra-regional contemporaneous areas. These similarities, taxonomy, morphology, typology, and cultural connections were evident and analyzed. What results from the study of Parthian pottery findings obtained from the Sarakhs plain; According to the studies carried out on pottery attributed to the Parthian period in Sarakhs plain, this period can be divided into two periods in the mentioned plain, in the first period (formation of the Parthian government before The accession of Mehrdad I) to the Sarakhs plain is influenced by the Sarakhs oasis culture of Turkmenistan, and in the second period, until the end of the Parthian period, they are influenced by the well-known cultures of southern Turkmenistan, namely the cultures of Nessa and Merv. The presence of these pottery indicates a two-way and dynamic relationship.    

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

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

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

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


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