Abstract
Tol-e-Zahak site, as the ancient city of Fasa in the historical and Islamic period, is located about 2 km south of the modern city of Fasa in the eastern center of Fars province and was registered as the 15th national monument in 1310 AD. After conducting a archaeological systematic survey of this site in 1397, in addition to identifying the extent of the site (based on the dispersion of surface data) which reaches more than 500 hectares; Chronology and settlement periods of the site, which indicate its habitation from the late fourth millennium BC to the Islamic Middle Ages; It was found. By studying the data obtained from the survey, especially pottery samples, one of the important settlement periods of Tol-e- Zahak area is the settlement related to the Sassanid period. Scattering of cultural materials related to this period (especially pottery) was observed almost all over the site. In this article, the authors intend to examine the historical sources and previous archaeological research in the region in connection with the Sassanid period in the region, the results with the data related to the Sassanid settlement identified from the methodical study of Tol-e- Zahak site, Intertwined (Historical Approach) and to reconstruct the appearance of Fasa city in the Sassanid period as much as possible. Studies show that the Sassanid settlement of Tol-e- Zahak site is undoubtedly a large urban settlement of the type of cities with an irregular shape of the Sassanid period. Due to its strategic location and suitable environmental conditions for agricultural and livestock activities, this city as one of the important commercial and commercial cities throughout the Sassanid rule and even a few centuries after the advent of Islam in Darabgerd province in the east of Persia Has played a role.
Keywords: Tol-e- Zahak Site, Ancient City of Fasa, Archaeological Survey, Sasanian Period.

Introduction
Fasa is a city in the eastern central of Fars province, despite the environmental conditions suitable especially for agricultural activities and also its special strategy position, which is located between the civilization areas of the east and west of the Iranian plateau on the one hand and the access route to the open waters of the Pars sea, despite the identification of many works and sites from prehistory to late centuries, Islamic archeological knowledge, especially the situation of the region in its historical period is very small Zahak bridge (Tol) is the largest ancient site of the city and one of the most important ancient sites of Fars. Most of the researchers in the area are related to the pre-revolutionary period. Some limited investigations were carried out on each of these sites based on a specific settlement or only included the main mount of the area which gave its name to the entire part. So it’s necessary to carry out a systematic investigation that covers the entire area of the site and all settlement periods. After the systematic investigation of the site that was carried out in 2017C (1397) based on the distribution of cultural materials. 
The surface area of the site was more than 500 hectares it was reached with the chronology of the cultural materials of the period of the residence in the site from the end of the fourth millennium to the middle Islamic century it was estimated continuously without interruption it seems that despite the most Sasanian cities during the Sasani’s period, the city of Fasa has been an important commercial city in the region since and it reached the peak of its expansion and prosperity in the Sasanian and early Islamic period. On the other hand, the historical and geographical sources of the beginning of Islam have a close relationship with Sasanians and called the city a large city with many products and prosperous commerce a city that has all the important structural features like; Kohandej, Baroo, Khandagh Sharrstan, Rabz… .

Data
The largest number of sites identified in the archaeological survey of Fasa which was conducted in 2008 (1388) belongs to the Sasanian period. A total of mounds and artifacts have been identified from this period (image 3). Of these 18 sites, only Sasanian settlements Also 28 sites were identified with the continuity of settlement from the Ashkanian to Sasanian period, 1391(166), the results of archaeological investigation and excavations region in Fasa indicate the importance of the region such a way that all the boundaries of the city witness settlements related to this period include urban and rural settlements, (watch towers), (fire temples), (water structures), (cemeteries), etc.
The main part of this article is derived from the results of the methodical archaeological survey of the site of Tol Zahak, it’s necessary to give a brief explanation of the survey and sampling method chosen for this site. Since the area in question is located between the modern city of Fasa and the two villages of Dastjeh and KheyrAbad, most of its lands has been cultivated and turned into agricultural lands for the villagers on the other hand the urban and rural construction in the northern, southern and eastern parts of the are an don’t allow a more accurate estimate of the area out to the size and extent of the area the selection of small square brought problems. So it was decided the entire area can be gridded into units with dimensions of 100 × 100 meters in the main geographical directions. Sampling to select the sample units in this research is based on one of the pre-defined, scientific methods, which is stratified methodical sampling.

Discussion
General chronology of Tol e Zahak and recognition of the settlement periods as well as identification of each period is based on the pottery chronology obtained from the methodical investigation of this area. According to the existence of prominent Sasanian cities explored near Fasa such as Darabgerd, Ardeshir Khoreh, Fasr AbuNasr, etc. Knowing the Sasanian pottery of this area is not very complicated. They have enough cooking. Pottery with a thick red mud coating and gray pottery with a black coating (image 6) of the common types of Sasanian pottery of the Tol-e-Zahak area which were identified from almost all investigated units. Among the interesting points of Sasania’s pottery of the Tol-e- Zahak is the use of decoration. There is a large undulating log on their outer surface. According to the distribution of Sasanian pottery in the Tol site, the Sasanian settlement covers the entire surface of the site, and it can be called a large urban settlement that is located next to the important cities of Kureh. Darabgerd has been in the eastern center of the Pars state based on the large dispersion of pottery known as Sasanian-Islamic pottery on the entire surface Fasa has passed the transition from the Sasanian period.
In the Islamic period without any change in the urban structure of the area of Tol -e-Zahak, several types of pottery related to this period were found. One of these characteristic types is pottery with an alkaline green glaze with added motifs which was obtained from most of the sampled units of Tol Zahak (image7) other types of Pottery related to this period are pottery with carvings decoration with a wave on the edge and other surface and the pottery is decorated with a grooved log pattern and these samples are almost was found all over the area. Sir Orel Eshtein the first explorer of Tol Zahak describes it as follows: there isn’t a big ancient area in Fasa except Tol Zahak so without doubt this area is the old city of Fasa (eshtein,1936) but this hypothesis was scientifically proven by conducting a systematic investigation. Conditions suitable environment and special strategic location of Fasa due to its location between several royal cities.

Conclusion
Fasa City has different from other important cities of the Fars State in the Sasanian period such as Bishapor, Darabgerd, ArdeshirKhore, and, Estakhr the most important issue is the function of the city and its background and history. The most important cities in Fars in the Sasanian period can be considered royal and religious cities that played a big role as religious centers of the Sasanian period. Without any doubt, the existence of significant governmental and religious structures in cities is undeniable but Fasa can only consider the commercial prosperity of commerce and agriculture as the most important factors of the city’s prosperity in the Sasanian period. It is the commercial center of Fars State and most of the geographers who have visited this city are described in their works. Trade and commerce of Fasa have been praised a lot. Archaeological evidence shows that the Sasanian-Islamic period of Tol Zahak is one of the large and important settlements of the site the Sasanian period and the early Islamic centuries can be concluded this transfer of power from Sasanian to Muslim Arabs which includes the aspect political and religious issues couldn’t have created a disturbance in the prosperity of Fasa.
Their fore description of the large size of the city included commerce and agriculture can imagine the Sasania’s area well. According to the description of the surface, Fasa is estimated to be about 500 hectares and is one of the largest cities. Another issue is related to the historical region in the Sasanian cities. Most of the royal cities in Fars as BiShapor were founded in this period and Darabgerd and Ardeshir Khoreh a little time passed it was used like checkered entities but about the formation of city it is very different issue.

Abstract
The investigation and study of the plains and valleys between the mountains of South Zagros in Iran from a geographical and cultural point of view leads to a deeper understanding of how the archaeological cultures of those regions were formed and expanded; The southern parts of Zagros have their own geographical and cultural areas, while the northern regions include Abadeh, Eghlid, and Semirom; The Ghabr-e Keykha river basins and Semirom region are significant for the study of cultural interactions and areas of expansion of the archaeological cultures of Fars province because of their location at the intersection of the archaeological cultures of South Zagros. Therefore, we started the studies to investigate the prehistoric settlements and demographic fluctuations of the Ghabr-e Keykha river basin and to identify the oldest habitation in the central part of Semirom. The current research was based on a season of the archaeological survey with a habitat analysis approach in the central part of Semirom city (Figure: 1); After preparing the required maps, we surveyed the target area, and random sampling was done. Due to the low environmental capabilities, the sites were not in the dimensions and size of settlements in the central parts of Fars. It has been considered from sources of water and quality soil and living in the closest distance to rivers and reliable sources of water; It is interesting to note that, unlike in the central parts of Fars, there is no evidence of a sharp decrease in the number of enclosures and a change in the lifestyle from a sedentary farmer to a nomadism, and we are witnessing the size of Sites and the increase in population during the Banesh period.
Keywords: Archaeological Survey, Prehistory, Semirom, North Fars, Southern Zagros.

Introduction
Semirom county has an area of about 5224 square kilometers and an average height of 2400 meters above sea level, and its location is in the south of Isfahan province on the slopes of the Zagros highlands. This county is in the middle of South Zagros and the eastern slope of Dena highlands. What turned Semirom County into a distinctive locale in the prehistoric and later periods was its obvious location at the interface of the three major Iranian cultural zones, namely Fars to the south, Bakhtiari to the west, and the central plateau to the north. Thus, the region represents a significant focal point for exploring the cultural interactions of the cited zones. What is evident with regard to the regional archaeological investigations is the lack of systematic surveys, local chronology, excavated sites, and knowledge of the cultural evolutions in prehistoric times.  From another geographical point of view, Semirom lay in the southernmost part of Isfahan, that is the lowermost focal point of the central plateau cultures, wherein the penetration of the Bakun culture cannot be ruled out.
The basic question concerns the circumstances of settlements and population fluctuations at the prehistoric sites in Central District of Semirom, focusing on the factors of settlement size, water resources and arable lands, in particular during the Bronze Age, to determine whether there are comparisons with the central parts of Fars? Another question is: Given the location of the Semirom region at the convergence point of the cultures of the central Fars, are there any evidences of cultural interactions with the latter cultures? Furthermore, since at the current status of our understanding, grounded in the excavations of Tall-e Mash Karim (Sardari and Taheri 2015, 266; Taheri 2015, 233), and Gol-Afshan (Taheri 2009, 345; Taheri, 2020), the region’s earliest occupations date to the Bakun period, we were looking for information about potential earlier Paleolithic and Neolithic settlements. Judging by previous surface surveys, albeit their partial coverage of the region, and excavations, I assumed that the region was under the influence of Fars archaeological cultures, and indications for influences from the Bakhtiari region and the central Iranian plateau are absent. Thus, testing this hypothesis called for carrying out more careful intensive surveys in parts of Semirom.

Discussion
From the Middle Paleolithic period, we identified three open sites, two of which were created on the terraces dominating the rivers, and one site with a long distance from the permanent water resources at the exit of one of the northern valleys of the region is surveyed. Earlier, the settlement in this area was dated to the Bakun period. But it dates back to the Middle Paleolithic period, according to new surveys and evidence of human activities identified from the Paleolithic period. From the Neolithic period, we identified only one site related to the Shams Abad period, but with the beginning of the Bakun period(Chalcolithic), like Fars, we see an increase in settlements from one Neolithic site to seven sites in the Bakun period and four sites in the Lapui period. Various causes can be involved in this increase in population. First, with the warming of the region after the late Holocene, in a way that was not much different from the current climate of the area (Sadat Hosseini et al., 2015), better conditions were provided for the expansion of settlements and human habitation. We can see its appearance at the beginning of the Shams Abad period and the identification of one site. On the other hand, with the revelation of the Bakun culture in the Kur river basin, which had progressed in the economic and social contexts, more possibilities and abilities were obtained to exploit the environment, such as the expansion of irrigation canals began in the Shams Abad era and reached its peak during this period. They used more diverse animals in their food chain through hunting and animal husbandry. Although, like Fars, we see an increase of sites in the Bakun and Lapui periods. it seems that the Semirom region should be introduced as one of the peripheral regions of Fars and influenced by the archaeological cultures of this region with its cultural characteristics, in terms of dimensions and number of sites, livelihood patterns, and pottery motifs. That needs to be studied separately and consider its specific climatic and geographical conditions in the framework of the archaeological cultures of Fars.
 In the Banesh period, the number of sites is reduced to three. It seems that this region, unlike Fars, in this period, not only has not a noticeable decrease in population compared to the Lapui period, but we can see the stability of the population and the size of the sites. Also, observing the beveled rim pottery (Figure: 7) in this region is an important issue that doubles the need for a more detailed study of the entire county in this period. 

Conclusion
The results indicated the influence of environmental factors in the selection of sites, and factors such as distance and proximity to reliable water resources, fertile lands with easier access to water, and a suitable slope were the main factors for choosing a place of habitation. In all prehistoric times, most of the sites were very close to the main branches of the rivers (Map: 3); Most of them have settled in the middle of the plain, where the ground is less steep and has better soil. The reason that we identified no areas in the foothills of the mountains and at a greater distance from the rivers is because of the factors such as more difficult access to water resources due to the greater depth of the valleys in the initial parts, the lack of good soil, and the impossibility of exploiting water resources through canalization. There may be other factors involved which require more research to identify. In this lifestyle, the location should be chosen more carefully because the stay duration was longer, and the soil and water resources use was continuous and planned. In the end, based on the model that most archaeologists use to estimate the population and their interpretations, i.e., determining 100 to 150 people for each hectare in prehistoric periods (Alizadeh, 1392: 159), we predicted a population of over 200 people for the central part of Semirom in the Neolithic period, considering that we identified only one site with an area of 15,000 square meters. After that, during the Bakun period, the total area of seven sites was 27,500 square meters, and the estimated population was about 550 people. In the Lapui period, the total area of all the sites was 18,000 square meters, with an estimated population of about 350 people. In the Banesh period, the total area of all the sites was 50,000 square meters, which reached around 1,000 people with the increase in population. This analysis clearly shows the beginning of the increase of the sites with the beginning of the Shams Abad period. It continues to increase in the Bakun period. In the Lapui period, we are facing a 40% decrease in the number of sites. Again, in the Banesh period, the size of the sites increased a lot, and we estimated the largest population for this period.

Abstract
One of the most important commercial ports of Iran in the Islamic period was the old Hormoz (Hormuoz). This port was part of Jiroft area in the early to middle centuries AH. In the fifth century AH and after the decline of the commercial prosperity of Siraf port, Hromouz was one of the most important and active maritime trade centers of Iran in the northern margin of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman; And was associated with most of the important economic, commercial, and industrial centers of the ancient World. At the end of the seventh century AH, following the local conflicts and insecurity in the region, the establishment of Hormoz was transferred from the coast to an island in front of it called “Joron”. According to historical texts, after this relocation, the coastal port was called “Old Hormoz” and the island was called “New Hormoz”. The most important period of prosperity was the establishment of old Hormoz from the fifth century to the end of the seventh century AH. The aim of the present study is to identify and locate “old Hormoz” based on archaeological evidence and historical sources, and the research is on the question of where the port of old Hormoz was based on archaeological data and historical sources? For this purpose, basic information has been collected in two ways: field and documentary. Based on historical texts, the location of old Hormoz in the city of Minab can be traced. While there is no ancient city or site called old Hormoz on the coast of this city. Written sources, on the other hand, do not have an organized structure in old Hormoz, and the location of the port and the residence of the merchants are not located in the same place and are far apart. Based on this, it seems that among the 36 sites of the Islamic period that have been identified in the studies of the archaeological city of Minab, the site of “Chakha” next to the estuary (gulf) of Chakha has been the remains of the old port of Hormoz.
Keywords: Old Hormouz, Site of Chakha, Minab City, Archaeological Survey.

Introduction
Most scholars believe that old Hormuz was located in present-day Minab (le Strange, 2012: 341); But its exact limits are not clear. Various researchers have introduced areas such as Kohestak, Moghistan and Ebrahimi as well as Bandar Tiab as the place of old Hormoz (Vosoughi, 1384: 148; Ebrahimi, 1384: 45). A number of ancient geographers have pointed to something that could solve this problem, and in fact raises another issue: “The residence of merchants is located in the surrounding villages, about two Farsang from Hormuz.” (Istakhri, 2004: 99). Ibn Hawql has also mentioned the existence of merchants’ houses in the surrounding villages and diyats without mentioning the journeys (Ibn Hawql, 1987: 76-78); Moghaddasi (1385: 688) and the Author of Hudood al-Alam (1362: 127) also mentioned the location of the city of Hormuz in one Mil and a half Mile of the sea or the Great Sea, respectively. Considering this, it seems that old Hormoz had two parts: port and residential. As a result, finding the location of old Hormuz depends on finding its port. With this introduction, the main question of the present study is that based on archaeological data and historical sources, where was the port of old Hormoz? The study area has historically been called Hormouz, Hormoz and Minab. There are two views on the spelling of the word Hormuz; One is that it is composed of two parts: “Hour” means “estuary” or bay and “Mouz, Mogh” is the name of Mughestan province. The second view, which is derived from the word “Ourmazd” or “Hormozd” name of the Zoroastrian God (Nowruzi, 1390: 5-6). The date of construction of old Hormoz or Hormoz Barri (Minab) is attributed to Ardeshir Babakan (Saeedi, 1386: 45). Minab city with an area of 5135 square kilometers (statistical yearbook of Hormozgan province, 1396: 50) is located in the southeast of Hormozgan province and from the north with Rudan city and from the northwest with Bandar Abbas city. It is limited to Jask city from the southeast and Kerman province from the northeast.

Discussion
Based on archaeological evidence from 36 sites of the Islamic period in Minab city and analysis of the content of historical geographical sources about Hormoz, it seems that the Chakha or Chakha site in Bandzarak village in the central part of Minab city is more adaptable to the old Hormoz than other sites. Accordingly, first a general description of the Chekha site and then arguments for locating the old Hormoz port based on textual sources and matching them with archaeological evidence will be provided. Chakha site has been identified and introduced by Sarlak in the second season of archaeological studies of Minab plain in winter 1384 and spring 1386 (Sarlak, 1385). In 1390, Nowruzi in this area with the aim of determining frontage, began to excavate (Nowruzi, 1390). Although in his opinion, due to the monthly and daily tides of sea water and flooding of parts of the area, it is not possible to accurately determine the area and privacy of this area, but its approximate area can be estimated at about 40 hectares (Nowruzi, 2011). However, it is difficult to identify archaeological evidence during the day when seawater is low. This area is completely covered with coastal sand soil.
In addition to architectural evidence, artifacts such as bricks, coins, bones, various stones and pottery can be seen on the surface of the Chekha at high tide. The pottery fragments of this site are divided into two groups: unglazed (54 pieces) and glazed (180 pieces). Unglazed pottery samples are divided into two categories: “unadorned” and “decorated”. Unglazed, unadorned pottery in the Chekha area has a clay paste in a buff, red, or gray color range. With the exception of two handmade pieces, all parts in this group are spinning. The unglazed and simple type of pottery with gray paste, which has the largest number in this group of pottery, includes parts belonging to open-mouthed containers, laver, trays and lids. The glazed pottery pieces of the Chekha site also include various types, “ monochrome glazed”, “ monochrome glazed with carved decoration”, “ splash glaze”, “ painted in black under turquoise glaze”, “ blue and white”, “ moulded decoration under monochrome glaze”.

Conclusion
According to historical and geographical information, old Hormoz did not have a cohesive urban structure and consisted of two parts: the port where ships docked and few residential houses and urban facilities, and the other part where it is located. Rest and accommodation of travelers and businessmen who are located in the surrounding villages with different distances from the port from three kilometers to about 12 kilometers. The results of this research using archaeological research and excavations in historical sources and texts on the subject of the location of ancient Hormoz showed that the ancient site of Chekha in the southernmost part of Minab city according to its location, extent and time period were the remains of the old port of Hormoz. Saying that this area is located next to the largest estuary or bay located on the coast of Minab city, its area is estimated at about 40 hectares and based on studies conducted for the activity mentioned in the texts and its time period seems appropriate. Pottery was used from the first century AH to the ninth century AD, but its peak occurred in the Middle Ages. On this basis, we can present an image of old Hormoz, in which the ancient sites located within a radius of 12 km of the Chekha area are the remains of the same villages and hamlets that formed the residential part of the old city of Hormoz.

Acknowledgment
The authors feel obliged to express their gratitude to the anonymous reviewers of the journal who graciously accepted the task and enriched the content of the article with their constructive suggestions.

Observation Contribution
The authors of this paper pledge that this paper is the result of an original research and the results of other peoples researches have been used only citing the source.

Conflict of Interest
This article is a part of the MA dissertation of the first author, and the following authors have actively participated in the writing of this article as a supervisor and consultant.

Abstract
In recent decades, our knowledge about the Parthian period has increased significantly thanks to the valuable field researches mainly in the form of archaeological surveys. The target area of this research, Abbar and Darram districts, in Tarom Olia of Zanjan province, is also one of the areas where no information was available about its condition in the Parthian period. This research study 12 Parthian sites of the area, in order to answer questions such as the quality and quantity of settlements, The influence of climatic and environmental factors on the formation of sites, the characteristics of cultural materials and especially the typology of pottery, the differences and commonalities with the surrounding areas and the reconstruction of the historical and cultural image of the region in the Parthian period. The Parthian sites of the region were studied based on factors such as height, land slope, soil quality, and access to water sources and communication routes. Studying of Parthian potteries, including three groups of decorated, common and fillide, indicate that the pottery tradition of the region, in addition to having local characteristics, was influenced by the pottery traditions of the north, northwest and West of Iran, which indicates inter-regional connections and the role of Tarom region as a bridge between different parts of North-West Iran. The Parthian settlements were mainly formed near permanent water sources such as Ghezel-Ozan River and in low-slope, low-altitude and fertile lands. Due to the hydrological condition of the Tarom Valley and the abundance of water resources, all the Parthian sites access to sufficient water. According to the settlement pattern, it seems that the majority of the population of the area had a livelihood based on agriculture and gardening, in which the Darram Castle with an area of about 20 hectares played a key role in the area.
Keywords: Tarom Olia, Abbar, Darram, Archaeological Survey, Parthian Settlements.

Introduction
Zanjan province has long been one of the important areas for the formation of human sites in the northwestern part of Iran’s plateau due to its climatic conditions and geographical location as a communication corridor between the central plateau and the northwest of Iran. Tarom County, located in the northernmost part of Zanjan province, has the potential for the formation and relative development of human settlements. A season of archaeological survey in the area of Abbar and Darram in Upper Tarom County identified 12 Parthian sites based mainly on the typology of pottery, including Pavehrud, Dam, Foqlake 1, Foqlake 2, Emamzadeh, Vaznehsar, Darram, Oghlanqalasi, Govarqale 1, Govarqale 2, Govarqale 3, and Kuhkan Olya. This research, conducted through field and library studies, aims to investigate the Parthian sites in the region, exploring questions about the quantity and quality of Parthian sites, the influence of climatic and environmental factors on their formation, the typology of cultural materials (mainly pottery), and their differences and commonalities with surrounding areas. The Parthian pottery from the studied sites can be classified into three groups: decorated pottery, plain pottery, and Fillide pottery.

Environmental effects on formation of the Tarom Parthian sites
1. Water sources: In the Tarom region, along with the permanent flow of the Qezel-Uzan River, there are rich underground water sources, such as wells, canals, springs, tributaries, seasonal rivers, and channels, providing favorable conditions for the formation of human societies. In the studied area, nine sites are located less than 500 meters from rivers like Sherfan-Rud, Abbar, Nokian, Qeshlaq-Rud, and Vaznehsar, while two sites are situated less than 10 meters from Qezel-Uzan itself. Due to the hydrological conditions of the valley and the abundance of water sources, all sites in Abbar and Darram had access to sufficient water and were located near permanent water sources.
2. Hypsometry: The Parthian settlements in this area are located at different heights above sea level. Oghlanqalasi, at an altitude of 408 meters, and Dam, at an altitude of 1288 meters, are the lowest and highest Parthian sites in the study area, respectively. Overall, the Parthian sites in the region can be categorized into two groups based on altitude: those below 700 meters and those above 900 meters. There are 9 Parthian sites (75%) below 700 meters and only three sites (25%) above 900 meters. The first group is situated in valleys between mountains near rivers, while the second group is located on highland slopes.
3. Land slope: There appears to be a direct correlation between the elevation of Parthian sites in Abbar and Darram and the slope of the land. All nine Parthian sites in Abbar and Darram below 700 meters have slopes of less than 10 degrees, indicating that 75% of the sites are on low slopes and altitudes. Among the sites in Abbar and Darram, only 3 sites (25%) between 900 and 1300 meters have relatively steep slopes of 20 to 30 degrees. The slopes of the sites vary in direction, mainly north to south and west to east, highlighting the importance of sunlight in the formation of Parthian settlements in Abbar and Darram.
4. Land use: All Parthian sites below 700 meters with slopes less than 10% have fertile soil suitable for agriculture. The largest lowland and alluvial lands in the survey area are located on the northern edge of Qezel-Uzan, in the eastern and northwestern parts of Darram Castle. These lands have good access to water from the Siah Rud River to the north and the Ghezel Uzan River to the west.
5. Communication ways: Due to the topography of the area, communication routes have remained relatively unchanged over different periods, limited to inter-mountain valleys along rivers. The Parthian sites in this region are mainly aligned in a northwest-southeast direction along Qezel-Uzan or in valleys of sub-rivers perpendicular to the Qezel-Uzan River valley. The main modern communication road in the region follows a similar route along Qezl-Ozen. The proximity of Parthian sites to modern roads suggests that ancient roads likely followed a similar path.

Conclusion
In total, the sites located at an altitude of less than 700 meters, with an average size of 3.3 hectares, have good conditions for agricultural and horticultural activities due to easy access to water sources, good soil, and suitable slope. Additionally, sites located at a height of more than 900 meters above sea level, with an average area of 0.79 hectares, are situated in the middle of valleys and on sloping surfaces near tributary rivers, with rich pastures and water resources, making them favorable for animal husbandry activities. Moreover, the size and density of Parthian sites in the lower areas are much greater than in the higher areas. Considering that the size and density of the sites indicate the population living in the region, it appears from the results of our study that the dominant population of Abbar and Darram in the Parthian period had a subsistence economy based on agriculture and horticulture.
Among the identified Parthian sites, the site of Darram Castle, with an area of about 20 hectares, is a massive fortification structure on the northern bank of Qezel-Uzan. Given some features of Darram Castle such as its large size, fortification, easy access to permanent water sources, and access to agricultural land, it seems that Darram Castle played a key role throughout the study region in the last centuries of the Parthian period. The results of the study indicate that the pottery tradition in the region, in addition to being influenced by internal and local factors, was influenced by neighboring regions in the north, northwest, and west of Iran.

Abstract
The slag sites under study are located in Khatam County, Yazd Province. In the archaeological surveys of Khatam County in 1400 AH, twelve metal smelting sites were identified through abundant metallic slag, and each of these sites was sampled. Petrographic analysis revealed that the predominant slag is iron, with only one instance of copper slag. The sites where metal smelting occurred, attributed to historical and Islamic periods based on pottery, exhibited evidence of iron smelting and its compounds in eleven samples. These samples contain metallic minerals such as wustite, marcasite, hematite, and magnetite. Marcasite and wustite minerals are related to smelting furnace processes and are products of mineral substances. It appears that in some mines in the region, magnetite and hematite are the predominant minerals, while in others, hematite is the predominant mineral, with a smaller amount of magnetite, which is evident in these primary minerals within the slag. Another sample related to copper slag exhibited small vesicular structures and limited copper ore minerals (chalcopyrite, digenite, and metallic copper) within the slag matrix. Alongside these primary minerals, there is a flow-like green glassy component indicating high furnace heat. The analytical results show that the MgO content in the samples is less than the amount of lime. Therefore, the limestone in this area is mainly ordinary limestone and not dolomite. Chemical analysis revealed that metal workers in this area were more successful at producing sponge iron.
Keywords: Archaeological Survey, Slag, Iron, Ancient Mining, Khatam.

Introduction
Iran has long been recognized as a center for mining and metal smelting. Archaeological evidence indicates that northern and central Iran are among the oldest centers of metallurgy in the world. The presence of rich mineral reserves in Iran, among other factors, has influenced the growth of mining and metalworking in this region (Momenzadeh, 2005). Due to the existence of various metal ores and advanced cultures in Iran, this area can be identified as one of the main hubs of technological innovation in the field of ancient mining and metalworking. Khatam County, located in the southern part of Yazd Province, holds particular significance in the realm of iron slag. One of the earliest efforts to produce steel worldwide took place in this region (Alipour et al., 2021). Considering the evidence of steel production in this area, it is essential (Alipour, 2017) to understand the role Khatam played in iron production during the Islamic and Sassanian periods. To investigate this matter, 12 sites in Khatam County were selected for studying iron slag. The main objective of this research includes petrographic and geochemical analysis of the slag to identify the type of extracted metal(s) and the extraction process and production of metal(s) at these sites. Additionally, the provision of necessary minerals for mining in this area is also under scrutiny. Historical and field research methods were employed for this study, involving the collection of data and archaeological investigations; field studies, such as topographic mapping, photography, identification of sites and metal smelting furnaces; and examination of samples using polarizing microscopes and XRF devices. This research has addressed primary inquiries related to the type of metals in slag, the mining process, and metal production at Khatam’s iron slag sites. Overall, Khatam County held significant importance in the production of metals during ancient and Islamic times. This region is recognized as one of the ancient mining and metalworking centers, and further research into the history and mining processes in this area could provide additional insights into the history of metalworking in Iran.

Discussion
Based on XRF chemical analyses of the slag, the results indicate that the majority of the mineral content in these slags consists of iron ore, with only one case showing the presence of copper. The CaO concentrations in these slags range from 3.59 to 28.41%, and an increase in CaO leads to the production of calcium-rich olivine. The type of slag (flow, permeable, massive, or furnace bottom) significantly impacts the results of chemical analysis and the ratio of oxides of the main elements (metallic oxides and silica). Additionally, the high amount of CaO facilitates the formation of a calcium-rich silicate phase. Petrographic microscopy studies confirm these findings, revealing observable olivine phases and primary silicate phases with metallic iron minerals such as magnetite and hematite. Due to the silica content, the addition of limestone to the smelting process increases the amount of duplex iron (Fe3O4). Consequently, silica stabilizes triplex iron oxide (hematite), while limestone stabilizes spinel iron oxide (magnetite). Moreover, microscopic examinations primarily reveal metallic minerals such as magnetite and metallic iron. Furthermore, sponge iron, like many other ancient civilizations in the region under study, was produced. The production of this type of iron requires less technical knowledge than other types of iron (Abbasnejad, 2009).
Surveying the region revealed that plants such as pistachios and wild almond produce high-quality charcoal. Since blacksmiths have no idea about using additional limestone in the furnace, the smelted slags were highly adhesive, leading to significant iron loss. The use of limestone in iron removal creates slags with fine properties that are easily separated from the iron (Abbasnejad, 2009). A good slag resulting from smelting should contain 30 to 40% limestone. Tests conducted on iron ore in this region show limestone percentages ranging from 3.59 to 28.41%. The slag analysis results also indicate a small amount of limestone, averaging approximately 11.38%. The deficiency of these two elements in slag, as they play crucial roles in reducing smelting heat and separating iron from slag, can indicate high iron levels and the inadequacy of slag (adhesiveness, viscosity, high density), resulting in low-quality sponge iron. The percentage of Fe2O3 ranges from 23.20 to 74.25%, and the percentage of Al2O3 ranges from 0.003 to 0.94%. The percentage of MgO in the tested slags is less than 0.003%. According to the mineral analysis, the most important iron minerals in this region include hematite (Fe2O3) and magnetite (Fe3O4). Due to technical flaws in these furnaces, sponge iron contains impurities such as silica, phosphorus, aluminum oxide, manganese oxide, and other metallic oxides, as confirmed by various tests conducted on ore and slag.

Conclusion
Eleven samples from the metal smelting site showed evidence of iron smelting and its compounds. In these samples, metallic ores such as wustite, marcasite, hematite, and magnetite are observed. Marcasite and wustite ores are related to smelting furnace processes and are mineral byproducts. It seems that in some mines in the region, magnetite and hematite are predominant, while in others, hematite is less prevalent, and magnetite dominates. Additionally, in the sample related to copper smelting slag, small and limited vesicles of copper ores (covellite, digenite, and metallic copper) are observed alongside a part of the green glassy matrix, indicating high furnace heat. This primary mineral evidence is observed in the slags. Considering the changes in the calcium oxide (CaO) concentration, it can be inferred that this substance was added during smelting operations to aid in smelting and reduce the temperature of the furnace materials. The microscopic results of some slags reveal primary minerals, mostly hematite and magnetite metallic ores, indicating a magmatic origin for the utilized minerals. The percentages of silica (SiO2), magnesium, and aluminum in these slags are relatively low. Analyses of these slags and iron stones from this region show that a deficiency of CaO and SiO2 leads to iron loss in the slag while increasing the iron content within it.
Based on this research, it is likely that iron ore was extracted from mines near the site and was subsequently transported to this location. Given the presence of iron mines at distances of 8, 10, and 15 kilometers from these sites, these mines are likely the source of these slags. Regarding the archaeology of the region, historical references indicate that the area held significance and prominence in various historical periods, particularly during historical and Islamic eras. However, due to insufficient information about the archaeology of the region and the lack of precise dating of these sites, accurate dating of these sites is unfeasible.