Qareh Tepe in Sagzabad is the only Iron Age site in the Qazvin Plain that has been extensively ex... more Qareh Tepe in Sagzabad is the only Iron Age site in the Qazvin Plain that has been extensively excavated. Unfortunately, due to the destruction of the upper layers of this mound, the information from the end of the second and first millennia BC of the area is insufficient. A new cemetery, in the east of Qareh Tepe, was found in the archeological excavations during 2016. The graves in this cemetery belonged to the first half of the first millennium and the end of the second millennium BC. Since cemeteries are valuable archaeological contexts to study various social aspects, the finds from this new cemetery could provide valuable information on the social structure of the resident society in the area during the timeframe mentioned. According to the existing theoretical models about social evolution, the present study aimed to evaluate the archaeological findings and compare them with the information obtained from the Neo-Assyrian accounts. The results revealed the existence of a hierarchical society with the transmission of hereditary social status at least since the end of the second millennium BC in the area. Furthermore, the finds from the first half of the first millennium BC indicated evidence of the separation of the cemetery space, emphasis on genealogy, population growth, sizeable mudbrick buildings, extensive trans-regional relations, and the intensification of metal production in the area. These findings indicated the increasing social complexities at the beginning of the first millennium BC. In addition, in their accounts, some Neo-Assyrian kings mentioned a place called "Bit-Kapsi"; this place was probably in the Qazvin Plain. "Bit-Kapsi" was a kind of regional polity or chiefdom during the 8th century BC in the area. The archaeological evidence indicates increasing social complexities at the beginning of the first millennium BC in the area, which could be associated with the emergence of "Bit-Kapsi".
Copts are famous artists that are responsible for producing woven fabrics with warm and brilliant... more Copts are famous artists that are responsible for producing woven fabrics with warm and brilliant colors. During this period, we see the effectiveness of textiles as a means of expressing social status, communication and aesthetic values, which arises from their widespread integration into daily-life from a practical, social and economic-political point of view. Generally, the most important role of Coptic textiles was clothing, which in addition to the functional aspect in burials, provides a clear picture of the diversity of products, weavers skills and social status of individuals. Due to the importance of this fact, the method of covering and a strong desire for fashion is noteworthy. Meanwhile, change in style and weaving techniques follow the reflection of economic and industrial needs, in addition to supplying domestic and foreign markets, it served military needs as well. In this regard, a thorough understanding of the political as well as the import or export of the textiles, requires examination of the many occupations such as the weaving centers, economic factors and aspects of social life that lead to their production and use of the textiles at all levels of society. Therefore, what we are discussing with a historical-analytical approach in this essay is not restricted to the functions, finding place of the textile and the export of the textiles produced beyond the borders of the province but also the multilateral exchange of cultures are considered too. It can be clearly seen in the widespread popularity of some motives and decorative tapestry. This is because in the continuously evolving their production, coptic weavers not only managed to link the heritage of antique, late classical style in Egypt and Sassanian Persia to what the Arab conquerors brought, but also succeeded in leaving an enormous influence in the region of the Roman Empire and thus through the trade of textiles, succeeded in offering their art and textiles industry far and wide. Keywords: Textiles, Coptic Egypt, linen, Tunic, Textile Centers.
The beginning of the Parthian dynasty and the identity of Arsaces I as the head of this dynasty i... more The beginning of the Parthian dynasty and the identity of Arsaces I as the head of this dynasty is one of the most mysterious parts of Parthian history. Based on the analysis of the written sources regarding the identity of Arsaces, these sources can be divided into two different historiographical traditions: one by Apollodorus and his followers Justin and Strabo, and the other by Arrian and his followers (Photius, Zosimus, Syncellus, Dio). Meanwhile, a narrative has been more welcomed among Parthian history and archeology researchers. According to this narrative, Arsaces was a Scythian who was the head of the Aparni tribe of the Dahae union. Then, based on this version of the origin of the Parthians, in the middle of the 3rd century BC, Arsaces took advantage of the confusion of the Seleucid empire in the west and together with the Aparni, captured the Seleucid state of Parthia and and provided the foundation for the formation of the Parthian Empire. The main reference and the most effective spreader of the concept of nomadic and Scythian Parthians is Strabo. He was inspired by the older Hellenistic historians in understanding the origin of the Parthians, however, none of them lived before the second century BC. In this research, the researchers based on archaeological evidence and analysis of written sources, say that the Arrian historiography tradition and his followers based on the fact that Arsaces was a native Parthian are closer to the political and social realities of the Parthian period, and we argue that Arsaces I was never able to create a kingdom comparable to the Seleucid Empire, he just managed a tributary state under the rule of the Seleucids. The establishment of the Parthian kingdom based on local and Parthian elements could have taken place only after the reign of Antiochus III (223/2-187b.c). In fact, there is no direct or indirect evidence for the Parthian Empire in Iran in the 3rd century b.c. If the early Parthian kingdom had essentially a territorial foundation, it could not have been anything more than a regional power. Keywords: Arsacid, Parthian, Scythian, Arsaces, Written Surces, Parthia.
Background: Zooarchaeology shares close ties with Comparative Anatomy of Veterinary
Medicine. Thi... more Background: Zooarchaeology shares close ties with Comparative Anatomy of Veterinary Medicine. This scientific discipline involves the study of the bones of various animals, using anatomical information to explore the place and role of these animal species in life and human survival, thereby enriching our knowledge about the interaction of humans and their ecosystems. Objectives: Using available anatomical information, this study investigated the typology of bone remains and animal teeth in the area of Qareh Tepe, Segzabad (Qazvin Province, Iran). Another goal was to detect the abnormal effects created by humans or animals in bones, such as cuts, burns, or chewing effects by carnivorous animals. By extracting this information, it is possible to analyze the livelihood economy of that historical site correctly. Methods: A total of 1110 bone and teeth samples excavated in 2017 were analyzed. The samples were transferred to the Osteology Lab of the Anatomy Department of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran City, Iran. Anatomical studies were conducted in several stages based on the excavated samples. Results: Among the detected animal samples, the highest percentage (30.09%) was related to sheep samples, and then the samples of small ruminants (26.94%) (which could not be separated). The percentages of gazelle, Asian water buffalo, wild boar, and chicken were trivial and less than 1%. In this study, abnormal symptoms were detected in the phalanges of the Caspian horse. Conclusion: One of the remarkable points about the small ruminant samples separated at the species level in this study is that the number of sheep samples detected surpassed that of goats. It seems that the conditions for keeping sheep were more suitable. The number of Perissodactyla, especially horses, shows a significant increase compared to the Neolithic periods and the beginning of the complexity of Iron Age I technology. This finding indicates the use of horses and donkeys in agriculture and transportation activities. Keywords: Anatomy, Zooarchaeology, Bones, 3D Modeling
Qazvin Plain is a broad cirque located in the NW part of the Iranian Central Plateau,
extending f... more Qazvin Plain is a broad cirque located in the NW part of the Iranian Central Plateau, extending for c. 60km along the NW-SE axis (along the Alborz Mountains) and c. 30km along the NE-SW axis. North to the village of Sagzabad a complex of archaeological sites has been found, including the cemetery called Qareh Tepe (35◦49′00′′N, 49◦57′08′′E) (Figure 1), which covers more than 5 hectares and contains Iron Age II and III strata (c. 1200-600 BCE according to the local pottery sequence) (Trębicka et al. 2019). Osteological analysis of human remains from Qareh Tepe was conducted according to the protocol proposed by Brickley and McKinley (2004). e sex of adult individuals was based on dimorphic morphologies of the pelvis (Phenice 1969; Buikstra & Ubelaker 1994) and skull (Acsádi & Nemeskéri 1970; Buikstra & Ubelaker 1994). e age-at-death of subadults was based on development and eruption of teeth (AlQahtani et al. 2010), as well as the diaphyseal lengths and epiphysis fusion status (Scheuer et al. 2010).
Classification and Typology of second iron age potteries derived from archaeological excavations ... more Classification and Typology of second iron age potteries derived from archaeological excavations of Qareh Tepe of Sagzabad in Qazvin using Radius, Tangent and Curvature (RTC) functions of the outer profile of pottery َAbstract: One of the critical tasks of archaeological studies is to illustrate in detail the geometric properties of pottery fragments. The illustrations are presented as classification and typological concepts for the potteries of a historical period. They are used to investigate the cultural and social structures of that period. Nowadays, most similar studies are conducted by numerical methods and mathematical modeling. This research examines the feasibility of using these methods and algorithms in the classification and typology of ancient potteries. What is important at first glance is introducing a set of geometric properties of the outer profile of the pottery fragments, which are entered to the algorithms in the form of RTC functions. These functions show unique features for an outer profile which are used in the classification and typology of the fragments. The classification of samples is accomplished based on RTC functions and by using an Artificial Neural Network (ANN). The samples are categorized in bowl, jug and jar classes with nearly 95% accuracy. The designed ANN is a three-layer network with one hidden layer that includes two neurons. Network outputs are numeric codes 0, 1 and 2 which refer to bowl, jug and jar profiles, respectively. In the following, by correcting the erroneous samples and out of a total of 209 pottery designs, 128 (61.2%), 42 (20.1%) and 39 (18.7%) samples were placed in bowl, jug and jar categories, respectively. After classification, the typology of the available samples within each class is also performed by the Neighbor Joining (NJ) algorithm. According to the NJ algorithm, the bowl, jug, and jar samples are distinguished by 83, 22 and 27 types, respectively. The accuracy of the typology method is also evaluated between 95 and 97%. Keywords: Pottery, Iron age, RTC functions, Artificial Neural Network, Neighbor Joining algorithm
Social History Studies, Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies (IHCS), 2022
Recently archaeological excavations in the eastern cemetery of Qara tepe, Sagzābād, have uncovere... more Recently archaeological excavations in the eastern cemetery of Qara tepe, Sagzābād, have uncovered graves related to the late second millennium and the first half of the first millennium B.C. (Iron ages 2 and 3). Thankfully, with the excavation of this cemetery, we have obtained some findings based on which we can reconstruct part of the social aspects of the life of the societies of the first millennium BC in the region. Graves are one of the most important archaeological contexts for discovering prestige goods. There are many questions and ambiguities in the field of prestige goods, changes in their type and value over time, and how they were distributed in the region in the Iron Ages 2 and 3. Given the theoretical discussions raised about prestige and prestige goods and the results of the excavations in this cemetery, finds such as sea shells, decorative beads made of carnelian and antimony, cylindrical seals of the neo-Assyrian style, cylindrical seals with geometric designs, and iron ornaments and tools can be considered as prestige goods. The evidence of this cemetery indicates the elites' efforts in the first millennium B.C. to maintain their social prestige by achieving new categories of prestige goods. As a sign of .......
During the four seasons of excavation (2015-2019) in the newly-discovered Iron Age II and III eas... more During the four seasons of excavation (2015-2019) in the newly-discovered Iron Age II and III eastern cemetery of Qareh Tepe in Sagzabad, 40 cylinder seals were found in the trench 12 in 10 graves. All of these seals have been made from faience. According to the style and composition, they are divided into two distinct types; Local and Neo-Assyrian style. Local style includes abstract animals with long horns, human and animal, undulating ladder-patterned lines, and the oblique square with a diagonal line of the crosshatching. The procession of great bird seals that they have clearly been inspired by the Assyrian type, it can be said that they are probably a local version of an Assyrian type that were made in Iran. Presenting scenes of hunting, Neo-Assyrian style seals also show the expansion of the Assyrian cultural sphere to this region of Iran. Since all of these seals have been found from Qareh Tepe, and many of them have been discovered in women's graves and some even in the graves of infants, they can be strong evidence of punctuation to administrative use, these seals were used in personal ornament necklaces and had possibly a religious function at the beginning of the Iron Age III.
رودخانه حاجی عرب یک رودخانه فصلی در جنوب استان قزوین است. این مطالعه جهت بررسی رسوبات
این رودخان... more رودخانه حاجی عرب یک رودخانه فصلی در جنوب استان قزوین است. این مطالعه جهت بررسی رسوبات
این رودخانه و تعیین رخسارههای رسوبی آن صورت گرفته است. از چهار گمانه و با بیشینه عمق ۳.9متری
تعداد 75نمونه از اطراف تپه باستانی قرهتپه برداشت شده است. دانه بندی رسوبات به روشهای الک
خشک، الک تر و الک شیکر لیزری انجام شده است. بررسی رسوبات این رودخانه به شناسایی سه دسته
رخساره رسوبی منجر شد که عبارتند از: رخسارههای گلی ( ، )Fl ,Fm ,Frماسهای ()Sm ,Sp ,Sl ,Sh
و گراولی ( ،)Gh ,Gcm ,Gms ,Gci ,Gmg ,Gmmکه در قسمتهای مختلف محیط رودخانهای ته-
نشست کردهاند. براساس رخسارههای شناسایی شده، عناصر ساختاری خارج کانال ( ،)FFماسه با اشکال
لایهای ( ،)SBبار گراولی و اشکال لایهای ( ،)GBجریان گراویتهای ( )SGو کانال ( )CHدر این حوضه
رسوبی شکل گرفتهاند. مدلهای رسوبی این رودخانه شامل رودخانههای مآندری با بار ریزدانه، مآندری با
بار ماسهای، بریدهبریده با بسترگراولی و بریدهبریده گراولی کمعمق میباش
In determining the boundaries of Qara Tapeh Saghzabad and Tapeh Qabristan in July 2016, evidence ... more In determining the boundaries of Qara Tapeh Saghzabad and Tapeh Qabristan in July 2016, evidence of a cemetery in the east of Qara Tapeh and southwest of Tapeh 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 Tapeh, 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.
Journal of the British Institute of Persian Studies, 2021
Sardasht is a mountainous region located in the northern part of the Zagros. The Little Zab river... more Sardasht is a mountainous region located in the northern part of the Zagros. The Little Zab river, has had an important role in the formation of archaeological sites in the region. During field studies conducted along the eastern bank of the Iranian Little Zab we found seven pithos cemeteries, as well as archaeological sites that belong to multiple cultures. Unfortunately, all the cemeteries have been disturbed by illegal excavations and many pithos cemeteries have been destroyed. We were able to recover a significant amount of ceramic material, including glazed potsherds and sherds of the fine orange “Clinky ware” characteristic of the Parthian period, as well as glass, agate and clay beads. This paper presents the evidence from the newly discovered Parthian cemeteries in Sardasht, and compares their characteristics with other known Parthian pithos cemeteries such as those at Mingeçevir, Germi, Kangavar, Taq-e Bostan, Marivan and the Acropolis and the Royal City of Susa. A comparative study on the shape of the pithoi and other finds indicates a close similarity between the pithos cemeteries of Sardasht with the cemeteries at Germi and Taq-e Bostan. Considering these comparisons, we believe that the Sardasht cemeteries date to the first and second centuries AD.
This article presents the results of a die study of the coinage of Uncertain
Mint 65 issued under... more This article presents the results of a die study of the coinage of Uncertain Mint 65 issued under Seleucid rulers Antiochus III Megas and Seleucus IV Philopator. The article proposes a likely sequence of issues for the mint and its probable die usage. Based on the close associations of the coins of Uncertain Mint 65 with the mints of Seleucia on the Tigris, Susa, and Antioch in Persis, as well as the evidence of the numerous coins of the mint in the Avicenna Museum, Hamadan, the article proposes to relocate this mint from Commagene or Northern Syria to eastern Mesopotamia or the far northwest of Persia
Qareh Tepe in Sagzabad is the only Iron Age site in the Qazvin Plain that has been extensively ex... more Qareh Tepe in Sagzabad is the only Iron Age site in the Qazvin Plain that has been extensively excavated. Unfortunately, due to the destruction of the upper layers of this mound, the information from the end of the second and first millennia BC of the area is insufficient. A new cemetery, in the east of Qareh Tepe, was found in the archeological excavations during 2016. The graves in this cemetery belonged to the first half of the first millennium and the end of the second millennium BC. Since cemeteries are valuable archaeological contexts to study various social aspects, the finds from this new cemetery could provide valuable information on the social structure of the resident society in the area during the timeframe mentioned. According to the existing theoretical models about social evolution, the present study aimed to evaluate the archaeological findings and compare them with the information obtained from the Neo-Assyrian accounts. The results revealed the existence of a hierarchical society with the transmission of hereditary social status at least since the end of the second millennium BC in the area. Furthermore, the finds from the first half of the first millennium BC indicated evidence of the separation of the cemetery space, emphasis on genealogy, population growth, sizeable mudbrick buildings, extensive trans-regional relations, and the intensification of metal production in the area. These findings indicated the increasing social complexities at the beginning of the first millennium BC. In addition, in their accounts, some Neo-Assyrian kings mentioned a place called "Bit-Kapsi"; this place was probably in the Qazvin Plain. "Bit-Kapsi" was a kind of regional polity or chiefdom during the 8th century BC in the area. The archaeological evidence indicates increasing social complexities at the beginning of the first millennium BC in the area, which could be associated with the emergence of "Bit-Kapsi".
Copts are famous artists that are responsible for producing woven fabrics with warm and brilliant... more Copts are famous artists that are responsible for producing woven fabrics with warm and brilliant colors. During this period, we see the effectiveness of textiles as a means of expressing social status, communication and aesthetic values, which arises from their widespread integration into daily-life from a practical, social and economic-political point of view. Generally, the most important role of Coptic textiles was clothing, which in addition to the functional aspect in burials, provides a clear picture of the diversity of products, weavers skills and social status of individuals. Due to the importance of this fact, the method of covering and a strong desire for fashion is noteworthy. Meanwhile, change in style and weaving techniques follow the reflection of economic and industrial needs, in addition to supplying domestic and foreign markets, it served military needs as well. In this regard, a thorough understanding of the political as well as the import or export of the textiles, requires examination of the many occupations such as the weaving centers, economic factors and aspects of social life that lead to their production and use of the textiles at all levels of society. Therefore, what we are discussing with a historical-analytical approach in this essay is not restricted to the functions, finding place of the textile and the export of the textiles produced beyond the borders of the province but also the multilateral exchange of cultures are considered too. It can be clearly seen in the widespread popularity of some motives and decorative tapestry. This is because in the continuously evolving their production, coptic weavers not only managed to link the heritage of antique, late classical style in Egypt and Sassanian Persia to what the Arab conquerors brought, but also succeeded in leaving an enormous influence in the region of the Roman Empire and thus through the trade of textiles, succeeded in offering their art and textiles industry far and wide. Keywords: Textiles, Coptic Egypt, linen, Tunic, Textile Centers.
The beginning of the Parthian dynasty and the identity of Arsaces I as the head of this dynasty i... more The beginning of the Parthian dynasty and the identity of Arsaces I as the head of this dynasty is one of the most mysterious parts of Parthian history. Based on the analysis of the written sources regarding the identity of Arsaces, these sources can be divided into two different historiographical traditions: one by Apollodorus and his followers Justin and Strabo, and the other by Arrian and his followers (Photius, Zosimus, Syncellus, Dio). Meanwhile, a narrative has been more welcomed among Parthian history and archeology researchers. According to this narrative, Arsaces was a Scythian who was the head of the Aparni tribe of the Dahae union. Then, based on this version of the origin of the Parthians, in the middle of the 3rd century BC, Arsaces took advantage of the confusion of the Seleucid empire in the west and together with the Aparni, captured the Seleucid state of Parthia and and provided the foundation for the formation of the Parthian Empire. The main reference and the most effective spreader of the concept of nomadic and Scythian Parthians is Strabo. He was inspired by the older Hellenistic historians in understanding the origin of the Parthians, however, none of them lived before the second century BC. In this research, the researchers based on archaeological evidence and analysis of written sources, say that the Arrian historiography tradition and his followers based on the fact that Arsaces was a native Parthian are closer to the political and social realities of the Parthian period, and we argue that Arsaces I was never able to create a kingdom comparable to the Seleucid Empire, he just managed a tributary state under the rule of the Seleucids. The establishment of the Parthian kingdom based on local and Parthian elements could have taken place only after the reign of Antiochus III (223/2-187b.c). In fact, there is no direct or indirect evidence for the Parthian Empire in Iran in the 3rd century b.c. If the early Parthian kingdom had essentially a territorial foundation, it could not have been anything more than a regional power. Keywords: Arsacid, Parthian, Scythian, Arsaces, Written Surces, Parthia.
Background: Zooarchaeology shares close ties with Comparative Anatomy of Veterinary
Medicine. Thi... more Background: Zooarchaeology shares close ties with Comparative Anatomy of Veterinary Medicine. This scientific discipline involves the study of the bones of various animals, using anatomical information to explore the place and role of these animal species in life and human survival, thereby enriching our knowledge about the interaction of humans and their ecosystems. Objectives: Using available anatomical information, this study investigated the typology of bone remains and animal teeth in the area of Qareh Tepe, Segzabad (Qazvin Province, Iran). Another goal was to detect the abnormal effects created by humans or animals in bones, such as cuts, burns, or chewing effects by carnivorous animals. By extracting this information, it is possible to analyze the livelihood economy of that historical site correctly. Methods: A total of 1110 bone and teeth samples excavated in 2017 were analyzed. The samples were transferred to the Osteology Lab of the Anatomy Department of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran City, Iran. Anatomical studies were conducted in several stages based on the excavated samples. Results: Among the detected animal samples, the highest percentage (30.09%) was related to sheep samples, and then the samples of small ruminants (26.94%) (which could not be separated). The percentages of gazelle, Asian water buffalo, wild boar, and chicken were trivial and less than 1%. In this study, abnormal symptoms were detected in the phalanges of the Caspian horse. Conclusion: One of the remarkable points about the small ruminant samples separated at the species level in this study is that the number of sheep samples detected surpassed that of goats. It seems that the conditions for keeping sheep were more suitable. The number of Perissodactyla, especially horses, shows a significant increase compared to the Neolithic periods and the beginning of the complexity of Iron Age I technology. This finding indicates the use of horses and donkeys in agriculture and transportation activities. Keywords: Anatomy, Zooarchaeology, Bones, 3D Modeling
Qazvin Plain is a broad cirque located in the NW part of the Iranian Central Plateau,
extending f... more Qazvin Plain is a broad cirque located in the NW part of the Iranian Central Plateau, extending for c. 60km along the NW-SE axis (along the Alborz Mountains) and c. 30km along the NE-SW axis. North to the village of Sagzabad a complex of archaeological sites has been found, including the cemetery called Qareh Tepe (35◦49′00′′N, 49◦57′08′′E) (Figure 1), which covers more than 5 hectares and contains Iron Age II and III strata (c. 1200-600 BCE according to the local pottery sequence) (Trębicka et al. 2019). Osteological analysis of human remains from Qareh Tepe was conducted according to the protocol proposed by Brickley and McKinley (2004). e sex of adult individuals was based on dimorphic morphologies of the pelvis (Phenice 1969; Buikstra & Ubelaker 1994) and skull (Acsádi & Nemeskéri 1970; Buikstra & Ubelaker 1994). e age-at-death of subadults was based on development and eruption of teeth (AlQahtani et al. 2010), as well as the diaphyseal lengths and epiphysis fusion status (Scheuer et al. 2010).
Classification and Typology of second iron age potteries derived from archaeological excavations ... more Classification and Typology of second iron age potteries derived from archaeological excavations of Qareh Tepe of Sagzabad in Qazvin using Radius, Tangent and Curvature (RTC) functions of the outer profile of pottery َAbstract: One of the critical tasks of archaeological studies is to illustrate in detail the geometric properties of pottery fragments. The illustrations are presented as classification and typological concepts for the potteries of a historical period. They are used to investigate the cultural and social structures of that period. Nowadays, most similar studies are conducted by numerical methods and mathematical modeling. This research examines the feasibility of using these methods and algorithms in the classification and typology of ancient potteries. What is important at first glance is introducing a set of geometric properties of the outer profile of the pottery fragments, which are entered to the algorithms in the form of RTC functions. These functions show unique features for an outer profile which are used in the classification and typology of the fragments. The classification of samples is accomplished based on RTC functions and by using an Artificial Neural Network (ANN). The samples are categorized in bowl, jug and jar classes with nearly 95% accuracy. The designed ANN is a three-layer network with one hidden layer that includes two neurons. Network outputs are numeric codes 0, 1 and 2 which refer to bowl, jug and jar profiles, respectively. In the following, by correcting the erroneous samples and out of a total of 209 pottery designs, 128 (61.2%), 42 (20.1%) and 39 (18.7%) samples were placed in bowl, jug and jar categories, respectively. After classification, the typology of the available samples within each class is also performed by the Neighbor Joining (NJ) algorithm. According to the NJ algorithm, the bowl, jug, and jar samples are distinguished by 83, 22 and 27 types, respectively. The accuracy of the typology method is also evaluated between 95 and 97%. Keywords: Pottery, Iron age, RTC functions, Artificial Neural Network, Neighbor Joining algorithm
Social History Studies, Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies (IHCS), 2022
Recently archaeological excavations in the eastern cemetery of Qara tepe, Sagzābād, have uncovere... more Recently archaeological excavations in the eastern cemetery of Qara tepe, Sagzābād, have uncovered graves related to the late second millennium and the first half of the first millennium B.C. (Iron ages 2 and 3). Thankfully, with the excavation of this cemetery, we have obtained some findings based on which we can reconstruct part of the social aspects of the life of the societies of the first millennium BC in the region. Graves are one of the most important archaeological contexts for discovering prestige goods. There are many questions and ambiguities in the field of prestige goods, changes in their type and value over time, and how they were distributed in the region in the Iron Ages 2 and 3. Given the theoretical discussions raised about prestige and prestige goods and the results of the excavations in this cemetery, finds such as sea shells, decorative beads made of carnelian and antimony, cylindrical seals of the neo-Assyrian style, cylindrical seals with geometric designs, and iron ornaments and tools can be considered as prestige goods. The evidence of this cemetery indicates the elites' efforts in the first millennium B.C. to maintain their social prestige by achieving new categories of prestige goods. As a sign of .......
During the four seasons of excavation (2015-2019) in the newly-discovered Iron Age II and III eas... more During the four seasons of excavation (2015-2019) in the newly-discovered Iron Age II and III eastern cemetery of Qareh Tepe in Sagzabad, 40 cylinder seals were found in the trench 12 in 10 graves. All of these seals have been made from faience. According to the style and composition, they are divided into two distinct types; Local and Neo-Assyrian style. Local style includes abstract animals with long horns, human and animal, undulating ladder-patterned lines, and the oblique square with a diagonal line of the crosshatching. The procession of great bird seals that they have clearly been inspired by the Assyrian type, it can be said that they are probably a local version of an Assyrian type that were made in Iran. Presenting scenes of hunting, Neo-Assyrian style seals also show the expansion of the Assyrian cultural sphere to this region of Iran. Since all of these seals have been found from Qareh Tepe, and many of them have been discovered in women's graves and some even in the graves of infants, they can be strong evidence of punctuation to administrative use, these seals were used in personal ornament necklaces and had possibly a religious function at the beginning of the Iron Age III.
رودخانه حاجی عرب یک رودخانه فصلی در جنوب استان قزوین است. این مطالعه جهت بررسی رسوبات
این رودخان... more رودخانه حاجی عرب یک رودخانه فصلی در جنوب استان قزوین است. این مطالعه جهت بررسی رسوبات
این رودخانه و تعیین رخسارههای رسوبی آن صورت گرفته است. از چهار گمانه و با بیشینه عمق ۳.9متری
تعداد 75نمونه از اطراف تپه باستانی قرهتپه برداشت شده است. دانه بندی رسوبات به روشهای الک
خشک، الک تر و الک شیکر لیزری انجام شده است. بررسی رسوبات این رودخانه به شناسایی سه دسته
رخساره رسوبی منجر شد که عبارتند از: رخسارههای گلی ( ، )Fl ,Fm ,Frماسهای ()Sm ,Sp ,Sl ,Sh
و گراولی ( ،)Gh ,Gcm ,Gms ,Gci ,Gmg ,Gmmکه در قسمتهای مختلف محیط رودخانهای ته-
نشست کردهاند. براساس رخسارههای شناسایی شده، عناصر ساختاری خارج کانال ( ،)FFماسه با اشکال
لایهای ( ،)SBبار گراولی و اشکال لایهای ( ،)GBجریان گراویتهای ( )SGو کانال ( )CHدر این حوضه
رسوبی شکل گرفتهاند. مدلهای رسوبی این رودخانه شامل رودخانههای مآندری با بار ریزدانه، مآندری با
بار ماسهای، بریدهبریده با بسترگراولی و بریدهبریده گراولی کمعمق میباش
In determining the boundaries of Qara Tapeh Saghzabad and Tapeh Qabristan in July 2016, evidence ... more In determining the boundaries of Qara Tapeh Saghzabad and Tapeh Qabristan in July 2016, evidence of a cemetery in the east of Qara Tapeh and southwest of Tapeh 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 Tapeh, 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.
Journal of the British Institute of Persian Studies, 2021
Sardasht is a mountainous region located in the northern part of the Zagros. The Little Zab river... more Sardasht is a mountainous region located in the northern part of the Zagros. The Little Zab river, has had an important role in the formation of archaeological sites in the region. During field studies conducted along the eastern bank of the Iranian Little Zab we found seven pithos cemeteries, as well as archaeological sites that belong to multiple cultures. Unfortunately, all the cemeteries have been disturbed by illegal excavations and many pithos cemeteries have been destroyed. We were able to recover a significant amount of ceramic material, including glazed potsherds and sherds of the fine orange “Clinky ware” characteristic of the Parthian period, as well as glass, agate and clay beads. This paper presents the evidence from the newly discovered Parthian cemeteries in Sardasht, and compares their characteristics with other known Parthian pithos cemeteries such as those at Mingeçevir, Germi, Kangavar, Taq-e Bostan, Marivan and the Acropolis and the Royal City of Susa. A comparative study on the shape of the pithoi and other finds indicates a close similarity between the pithos cemeteries of Sardasht with the cemeteries at Germi and Taq-e Bostan. Considering these comparisons, we believe that the Sardasht cemeteries date to the first and second centuries AD.
This article presents the results of a die study of the coinage of Uncertain
Mint 65 issued under... more This article presents the results of a die study of the coinage of Uncertain Mint 65 issued under Seleucid rulers Antiochus III Megas and Seleucus IV Philopator. The article proposes a likely sequence of issues for the mint and its probable die usage. Based on the close associations of the coins of Uncertain Mint 65 with the mints of Seleucia on the Tigris, Susa, and Antioch in Persis, as well as the evidence of the numerous coins of the mint in the Avicenna Museum, Hamadan, the article proposes to relocate this mint from Commagene or Northern Syria to eastern Mesopotamia or the far northwest of Persia
The Seleucids, like the Ptolemies and the other Hellenistic kings, paid great attention to their ... more The Seleucids, like the Ptolemies and the other Hellenistic kings, paid great attention to their coinage, following directly the Alexander's coinage. An attic standard coinage system which become a global coinage system by Alexander was highly noticed by the eastern territories, especially the Mesopotamia, Iran and the West, whose economic system was based on the system of barter trade with systematically being employed in the eastern satrapies’ economy up to the late Seleucid period and Over time, it superseded the economy of commodity trading. Therefore, the main questions here are; although a major part of the economic system in the east of the Seleucids Empire was based on commodity trading, how much of the Seleucid economy depended on the coinage that unlike the eastern territory, it was well known in the western territory of the empire? How has the commodity-based economy changed from the Achaemenid period to the period of Seleucid? Is the coinage system of Seleucid influenced by the coinage system of the Achaemenid satrapies? Despite the political changes from the Achaemenid period to the Seleucid period and the many battles that existed over Alexander's power as well as succession, Have there been any changes in the amount of elements used in coins? According to the questions raised, 482 coins of the Bou Ali Museum in Hamadan and 35 coins in Sanandaj Museum were investigated and studied which consisted of coins from Achaemenid, Macedonian and Seleucid periods. Given the goals and the current questions, firstly on the basis of classical economic resources, the coinage and their significance in the economic system of Seleucid was discussed and then using the inscriptions and written documents relating to this period the amount of revenues and coin-related costs were identified in the empire. In order to discover how the coinage system of the Seleucid kings is influenced by Achaemenid Satrapies and Alexander, first of all analyzing the various systems of coinage from Achaemenid to Seleucid and the differences between them was studied and then using the PIXE analysis (PIXE) or "X-ray emission through proton-induced excitation", The concentrations of the elements in the Achaemenid coins, Alexander’s local and royal coins, Diadokhoi and Seleucids were studied. The coins of five Seleucid main mints (Antioch on the Orontes, Seleucia in the Tigris, Babylon, Susa and Ecbatana) were also analyzed through PIXE method for pinpointing the concentration of elements and better understanding of economic conditions. It is indicated by the results from the surveys that the coins of the Hamadan collection are in perfect accordance with the Attic system of coinage being always coincided with the political and economic changes of the Seleucid period from beginning to end. Despite the major differences between coinage goals, coin applications, coinage systems, economic policies and coins, and ultimately the Achaemenid administrative system with Seleucids, the concentrations percentage of elements used in their coins have been the same. The analysis of Seleucid coins has also presented that the politics of Seleucid coinage from the Alexander time to the Seleucid period has a steady policy and trend and all elements of the coins have been controlled throughout the empire in the eastern and western territories. The economic conditions of various rulers also did not affect the change in valuable elements of coins until Demetrius I period and the main changes begin after Demetrius I.
In 2016, geophysical surveys and archaeological soundings for demarcating a protective core and b... more In 2016, geophysical surveys and archaeological soundings for demarcating a protective core and buffer zone for the sites of Qara-Tappeh and Sagzabad resulted to the discovery of a vast graveyard to the east of Qara-Tappeh, west and south of Tappeh Qabrestan datable to the late Iron II-early Iron III period. In 2018, after conducting geophysical survey in the southern part of Tappeh Qa-brestan, a 10x10m trench was defined and excavated. During the excavation operation, a mud-brick paved area revealed some 90 cm below surface in which 10 graves found dug in an alluvial deposit. All the graves were regularly oriented West-East with the bodies unexceptionally deposed in flexed position on their sides. Preliminary analysis of the finds show that females are buried on the left and male on the right side of their bodies. All the graves contained burial-good of Iron Age II-III period including characteristic pottery vessels, personal ornaments, and weapons which are relatively contemporary to the material from graves of eastern graveyard of Qara-Tappeh. This paper presents a report of the excavation operation and analyses burial rites and practices of the Iron Age Western graveyard of Qara-Tappeh.
16th Annual Symposium on the Iranian Archaeology, 2017
The Newly Discovered Cemetery of Iron II and III Periods
in Qareh Tepe of Segezabad
Abstract
Qar... more The Newly Discovered Cemetery of Iron II and III Periods in Qareh Tepe of Segezabad
Abstract Qareh Tepe of Sagezabad is one of the most important and distinguished sites in Qazvin plain. There have been carried out numerous excavations in Qareh Tepe and the other sites in Qazvin plain but the cultural features of Iron III and Achaemenid Periods have not received proper attention. The original border of this tepe was measured and determined in 2016 through archaeo-geophysical and sounding operations that yielding remarkable results. The area increased from 12 to 27 hectares under alluvial soils in perimeter area of site. The evidence obtained indicates an important and extensive site belonging to the late period of this site. There was also discovered a cemetery of high significance that, according to the excavations carried out in 2016 and the cultural material found inside the graves, belongs to Iron II and III periods. Remarkable evidence was found in this cemetery reflecting the cultural features of this particular period, including deranged graves, infants buried next to adults, infants buried in pithos and clay crocks, bodies in ash heap, etc. There burial is in three layers more details of which require additional excavations. Keywords: Qazvin plain, cemetery, Iron III, Achaemenid, Qareh Tepe, Segezabad.
16th Annual Symposium on the Iranian Archaeology, 2016
Educational Excavation at Qareh Tepe Segzabad, focusing on Iron III and Achamenid (?) Layers, 2nd... more Educational Excavation at Qareh Tepe Segzabad, focusing on Iron III and Achamenid (?) Layers, 2nd season Abstract: Considering my goal at excavation of Segz Abad (Qareh Tepe) (2016) and concentration on levels of Iron Ages II, III, and Achaemenid, and disturbance of surficial levels, there was an attempt to excavate surrounding area of the site, under alluvial levels to reach intact levels of the site. Therefore, there is a summary of details of excavation:
Trench 1A In order to understand nature of the architectural structure of 1394 excavation, we excavated trenches 1A and 1B during the 3rd season, where there were only alluvium levels to 265 cm depth. From then, there were ambiguous remains of architecture to 281 depth as two mud brick wall and a floor of fine cobbles. The recovered potsherds date usually to Iron Age III and Achamenid periods.
Trench 1B We saw alluvium layers at southwestern angle of the trench to 305 cm depth. There were revealed the first in situ mud bricks at 294 cm depth, next to southern wall and 24 cm to western wall. The structure consisted of two rows of mud bricks.
Trench 8 According archaeo-geophysical surveys, the trench excavated as 2×10 m east-westwardly. In order to economize time, two pioneer test trenches opened as 200×80 cm at east and west of the trench. The excavations continued at test trench A to 6 m depth and at test trench B to 1.5 m depth. There were revealed 9 contexts from two test trenches A and B, all of alluvial sedimentations.
Trench 9 Through demarcation of Qareh Tepe we faced to remains of a mud brick structure dated to Iron Age III. In order to understand nature of the structure, we decided to excavate Trench 9 as 5×5 m dimension. We faced to remains of a mud brick structure at 173 cm depth. The mud bricks vary in size. We postponed the excavation to next season.
Trench 7 Following demarcation of the mound we faced to an Iron Age II burial at east of the site. The trench opened at 5×2.5 m at farmlands. The first in situ mud bricks appeared at 184 cm depth while covered the trench surficially in addition to the burial. We faced to a disturbed burial with two disposals at 187-233 cm depth, one for an adult and the second for an infant. A disposal of animal appeared under the infant one. Excavations continued to recover human remains (metatarsal 2 and 3, metatarsus), which indicate another burial at this point.
Trench 10 Considering results of archaeo-geophysical project, the trench opened at east of Qareh Tepe, firstly as a 2×2 pit, then expanded to 4×4 m following excavation and discovering burials. There were appeared accumulations of ashes full of Potsherds of Iron Ages II and III that continued to 170 cm depth at west of the trench. There were remains of a vat burial of an infant and traces of a disturbed burial at depth 116 and 150 cm depth. There was an intact burial at 176-180 cm depth. The excavation continued to discovering a mud brick structure that relatively covered southern half of the trench. Undoubtedly, the mud brick structure was a burial structure that consisted of two burials.
Trench 11 The trench opened at east of the site, regarding archaeo-geophysical results. It was 3×3 m and expanded following excavations and appearance of burials. We faced to ashes full of grey wares of Iron Ages II and III at 100 cm depth at parts of east and west of the trench. There were different burials in the trench. There was a kitchenware at 116 cm depth at southern part of trench containing bones of infant. Furthermore, there were 4 burials in Trench 11 within the ash context, whereas only two burials excavated; one in a compact fetus figure position and the other is semi open fetus position.
Findings There were recovered clay spindles, slag, and grindstone. There were several spindles and fragmentary vessels with especial application from Trench 9. Objects from Trench 7 include 5 clay vessels and few bronze and iron points and dagger. There were recovered gray and kitchen wares from Trench 10 from upper levels of burials at the structure that postponed for future excavations. There were a bronze bracelet and a necklace with 275 beads at the first burial of Trench 11. At the second burial there were two gray wares. There were grape seeds about 50 cm away along legs of the dead.
Conclusion The 3rd season of excavation at Qareh Tepe carried out following two aims of training students and study later levels of Iron Ages II, III, and Achamenid (?). Concentration on cultural layers at surrounding areas of the site revealed structures from Iron Age III, however, thickness of upper alluvial levels prevented more detailed investigation of the structures, for lack of time. Following demarcation of the site, there were traces of a vast cemetery of Iron Ages II and III, while trenches 7, 10, and 11 hopefully presented significant position of the cemetery, whereas future seasons of excavation open horizons to cultural characteristics of this new cemetery.
Keywords: Iron Age, Segzabad, Qareh Tepe, Burial, Achaemenid, Archaeo-Geophysics
Qareh Tepe of Sagezabad is one of the most important and distinguished sites in Qazvin plain. The... more Qareh Tepe of Sagezabad is one of the most important and distinguished sites in Qazvin plain. There have been carried out numerous excavations in Qareh Tepe and the other sites in Qazvin plain but the cultural features of Iron III and Achaemenid Periods have not received proper attention. The original border of this tepe was measured and determined in 2016 through archaeo-geophysical and sounding operations that yielding remarkable results. The area increased from 12 to 27 hectares under alluvial soils in perimeter area of site. The evidence obtained indicates an important and extensive site belonging to the late period of this site. There was also discovered a cemetery of high significance that, according to the excavations carried out in 2016 and the cultural material found inside the graves, belongs to Iron II and III periods. Remarkable evidence was found in this cemetery reflecting the cultural features of this particular period, including deranged graves, infants buried next to adults, infants buried in pithos and clay crocks, bodies in ash heap, etc. There burial is in three layers more details of which require additional excavations. Keywords: Qazvin plain, cemetery, Iron III, Achaemenid, Qareh Tepe, Segezabad.
Zoology is one of the most important branches of ecology that studies and analyzes animal remai... more Zoology is one of the most important branches of ecology that studies and analyzes animal remains in archeological sites in order to show the roles played by animals in the survival of human and also to reveal the interactions between human and ecology. Studying the animal remains and bones and categorizing them into different groups has made the identification of climate conditions, animal dispersal, their population, subsistence economy, nutrition diets, etc. possible.
One of the most significant archeological sites in Iran is Qareh Tepe of Segezabad. This paper tends to study more than 5000 pieces of animal bones found through excavations in 2014, 2015 and 2016 in this site. The layers within which the pieces of bones were found belong to Iron Age III and probably Achaemenid Periods, a majority of which have been successfully identified. It comprises of different types like small and large ruminators, small and big one toed hoofed, carnivores, wild boars, etc. The small ruminators outnumbered all the other types and played a major role in the subsistence economy of Qareh Tepe of Segezabad during Iron Age III and Achaemenid Periods. The large ruminators and the one toed hoofed come next.
Keywords: Subsistence Economy, Archaeozoology, Iron Age III, Achaemenid Qareh Tepe, Segezabad.
Qareh Teppe of Segzabad is one of the most important sites in the Qazvin plain. Many excavations ... more Qareh Teppe of Segzabad is one of the most important sites in the Qazvin plain. Many excavations were been performed at Qareh Teppe and other sites in the Qazvin plain so far, but cultural characters of Iron III Age and Achaemenid period were not been paid attention. Note, we have not knew cultural practices of these period in the Qazvin plain. In 2014, author excavated at Qareh Teppe along with my students and with aim of research on the Iron III and Achaemenid (upper) layers. We selected place of trenches 1, 2 and 3 around site because the illegal excavations had terribly destructed upper layers of Qareh Teppe surface. Although, trench 4 and operation 1 selected on the site surface and same aims. The parts of mud-brick and pise structures and many local and typical trans-local potsherds and etc were been found that belonged to Iron III Age and probably Achaemenid period. In addition, we faced with special alluvial layers in trench 3 that are very important in order to reconstruct natural conditions contemporary or after abandonment site.
Qareh Teppe of Segzabad is one of the most important sites in the Qazvin plain. Many excavations ... more Qareh Teppe of Segzabad is one of the most important sites in the Qazvin plain. Many excavations were been performed at Qareh Teppe and other sites in the Qazvin plain so far, but cultural characters of Iron III Age and Achaemenid period were not been paid attention. Note, we have not knew cultural practices of these period in the Qazvin plain. In 2014, author excavated at Qareh Teppe along with my students and with aim of research on the Iron III and Achaemenid (upper) layers. We selected place of trenches 1, 2 and 3 around site because the illegal excavations had terribly destructed upper layers of Qareh Teppe surface. Although, trench 4 and operation 1 selected on the site surface and same aims. The parts of mud-brick and pise structures and many local and typical trans-local potsherds and etc were been found that belonged to Iron III Age and probably Achaemenid period. In addition, we faced with special alluvial layers in trench 3 that are very important in order to reconstruct natural conditions contemporary or after abandonment site.
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Keywords: Textiles, Coptic Egypt, linen, Tunic, Textile Centers.
Keywords:
Arsacid, Parthian, Scythian, Arsaces, Written Surces, Parthia.
Medicine. This scientific discipline involves the study of the bones of various animals, using
anatomical information to explore the place and role of these animal species in life and human
survival, thereby enriching our knowledge about the interaction of humans and their ecosystems.
Objectives: Using available anatomical information, this study investigated the typology of bone
remains and animal teeth in the area of Qareh Tepe, Segzabad (Qazvin Province, Iran). Another goal
was to detect the abnormal effects created by humans or animals in bones, such as cuts, burns, or
chewing effects by carnivorous animals. By extracting this information, it is possible to analyze the
livelihood economy of that historical site correctly.
Methods: A total of 1110 bone and teeth samples excavated in 2017 were analyzed. The samples
were transferred to the Osteology Lab of the Anatomy Department of the Faculty of Veterinary
Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran City, Iran. Anatomical studies were conducted in several
stages based on the excavated samples.
Results: Among the detected animal samples, the highest percentage (30.09%) was related to
sheep samples, and then the samples of small ruminants (26.94%) (which could not be separated).
The percentages of gazelle, Asian water buffalo, wild boar, and chicken were trivial and less than
1%. In this study, abnormal symptoms were detected in the phalanges of the Caspian horse.
Conclusion: One of the remarkable points about the small ruminant samples separated at the species
level in this study is that the number of sheep samples detected surpassed that of goats. It seems that the
conditions for keeping sheep were more suitable. The number of Perissodactyla, especially horses, shows
a significant increase compared to the Neolithic periods and the beginning of the complexity of Iron Age I
technology. This finding indicates the use of horses and donkeys in agriculture and transportation activities.
Keywords: Anatomy, Zooarchaeology, Bones, 3D Modeling
extending for c. 60km along the NW-SE axis (along the Alborz Mountains) and
c. 30km along the NE-SW axis. North to the village of Sagzabad a complex of archaeological
sites has been found, including the cemetery called Qareh Tepe (35◦49′00′′N,
49◦57′08′′E) (Figure 1), which covers more than 5 hectares and contains Iron Age II
and III strata (c. 1200-600 BCE according to the local pottery sequence) (Trębicka et
al. 2019).
Osteological analysis of human remains from Qareh Tepe was conducted according
to the protocol proposed by Brickley and McKinley (2004). e sex of adult
individuals was based on dimorphic morphologies of the pelvis (Phenice 1969; Buikstra
& Ubelaker 1994) and skull (Acsádi & Nemeskéri 1970; Buikstra & Ubelaker
1994). e age-at-death of subadults was based on development and eruption of teeth
(AlQahtani et al. 2010), as well as the diaphyseal lengths and epiphysis fusion status
(Scheuer et al. 2010).
َAbstract:
One of the critical tasks of archaeological studies is to illustrate in detail the geometric properties of pottery fragments. The illustrations are presented as classification and typological concepts for the potteries of a historical period. They are used to investigate the cultural and social structures of that period. Nowadays, most similar studies are conducted by numerical methods and mathematical modeling. This research examines the feasibility of using these methods and algorithms in the classification and typology of ancient potteries. What is important at first glance is introducing a set of geometric properties of the outer profile of the pottery fragments, which are entered to the algorithms in the form of RTC functions. These functions show unique features for an outer profile which are used in the classification and typology of the fragments. The classification of samples is accomplished based on RTC functions and by using an Artificial Neural Network (ANN). The samples are categorized in bowl, jug and jar classes with nearly 95% accuracy. The designed ANN is a three-layer network with one hidden layer that includes two neurons. Network outputs are numeric codes 0, 1 and 2 which refer to bowl, jug and jar profiles, respectively. In the following, by correcting the erroneous samples and out of a total of 209 pottery designs, 128 (61.2%), 42 (20.1%) and 39 (18.7%) samples were placed in bowl, jug and jar categories, respectively. After classification, the typology of the available samples within each class is also performed by the Neighbor Joining (NJ) algorithm. According to the NJ algorithm, the bowl, jug, and jar samples are distinguished by 83, 22 and 27 types, respectively. The accuracy of the typology method is also evaluated between 95 and 97%.
Keywords: Pottery, Iron age, RTC functions, Artificial Neural Network, Neighbor Joining algorithm
این رودخانه و تعیین رخسارههای رسوبی آن صورت گرفته است. از چهار گمانه و با بیشینه عمق ۳.9متری
تعداد 75نمونه از اطراف تپه باستانی قرهتپه برداشت شده است. دانه بندی رسوبات به روشهای الک
خشک، الک تر و الک شیکر لیزری انجام شده است. بررسی رسوبات این رودخانه به شناسایی سه دسته
رخساره رسوبی منجر شد که عبارتند از: رخسارههای گلی ( ، )Fl ,Fm ,Frماسهای ()Sm ,Sp ,Sl ,Sh
و گراولی ( ،)Gh ,Gcm ,Gms ,Gci ,Gmg ,Gmmکه در قسمتهای مختلف محیط رودخانهای ته-
نشست کردهاند. براساس رخسارههای شناسایی شده، عناصر ساختاری خارج کانال ( ،)FFماسه با اشکال
لایهای ( ،)SBبار گراولی و اشکال لایهای ( ،)GBجریان گراویتهای ( )SGو کانال ( )CHدر این حوضه
رسوبی شکل گرفتهاند. مدلهای رسوبی این رودخانه شامل رودخانههای مآندری با بار ریزدانه، مآندری با
بار ماسهای، بریدهبریده با بسترگراولی و بریدهبریده گراولی کمعمق میباش
has had an important role in the formation of archaeological sites in the region. During field studies
conducted along the eastern bank of the Iranian Little Zab we found seven pithos cemeteries, as
well as archaeological sites that belong to multiple cultures. Unfortunately, all the cemeteries have
been disturbed by illegal excavations and many pithos cemeteries have been destroyed. We were
able to recover a significant amount of ceramic material, including glazed potsherds and sherds of
the fine orange “Clinky ware” characteristic of the Parthian period, as well as glass, agate and clay
beads. This paper presents the evidence from the newly discovered Parthian cemeteries in
Sardasht, and compares their characteristics with other known Parthian pithos cemeteries such
as those at Mingeçevir, Germi, Kangavar, Taq-e Bostan, Marivan and the Acropolis and the Royal
City of Susa. A comparative study on the shape of the pithoi and other finds indicates a close
similarity between the pithos cemeteries of Sardasht with the cemeteries at Germi and Taq-e
Bostan. Considering these comparisons, we believe that the Sardasht cemeteries date to the
first and second centuries AD.
Mint 65 issued under Seleucid rulers Antiochus III Megas and Seleucus
IV Philopator. The article proposes a likely sequence of issues for the mint
and its probable die usage. Based on the close associations of the coins of
Uncertain Mint 65 with the mints of Seleucia on the Tigris, Susa, and Antioch in Persis, as well as the evidence of the numerous coins of the mint
in the Avicenna Museum, Hamadan, the article proposes to relocate this
mint from Commagene or Northern Syria to eastern Mesopotamia or the
far northwest of Persia
Keywords: Textiles, Coptic Egypt, linen, Tunic, Textile Centers.
Keywords:
Arsacid, Parthian, Scythian, Arsaces, Written Surces, Parthia.
Medicine. This scientific discipline involves the study of the bones of various animals, using
anatomical information to explore the place and role of these animal species in life and human
survival, thereby enriching our knowledge about the interaction of humans and their ecosystems.
Objectives: Using available anatomical information, this study investigated the typology of bone
remains and animal teeth in the area of Qareh Tepe, Segzabad (Qazvin Province, Iran). Another goal
was to detect the abnormal effects created by humans or animals in bones, such as cuts, burns, or
chewing effects by carnivorous animals. By extracting this information, it is possible to analyze the
livelihood economy of that historical site correctly.
Methods: A total of 1110 bone and teeth samples excavated in 2017 were analyzed. The samples
were transferred to the Osteology Lab of the Anatomy Department of the Faculty of Veterinary
Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran City, Iran. Anatomical studies were conducted in several
stages based on the excavated samples.
Results: Among the detected animal samples, the highest percentage (30.09%) was related to
sheep samples, and then the samples of small ruminants (26.94%) (which could not be separated).
The percentages of gazelle, Asian water buffalo, wild boar, and chicken were trivial and less than
1%. In this study, abnormal symptoms were detected in the phalanges of the Caspian horse.
Conclusion: One of the remarkable points about the small ruminant samples separated at the species
level in this study is that the number of sheep samples detected surpassed that of goats. It seems that the
conditions for keeping sheep were more suitable. The number of Perissodactyla, especially horses, shows
a significant increase compared to the Neolithic periods and the beginning of the complexity of Iron Age I
technology. This finding indicates the use of horses and donkeys in agriculture and transportation activities.
Keywords: Anatomy, Zooarchaeology, Bones, 3D Modeling
extending for c. 60km along the NW-SE axis (along the Alborz Mountains) and
c. 30km along the NE-SW axis. North to the village of Sagzabad a complex of archaeological
sites has been found, including the cemetery called Qareh Tepe (35◦49′00′′N,
49◦57′08′′E) (Figure 1), which covers more than 5 hectares and contains Iron Age II
and III strata (c. 1200-600 BCE according to the local pottery sequence) (Trębicka et
al. 2019).
Osteological analysis of human remains from Qareh Tepe was conducted according
to the protocol proposed by Brickley and McKinley (2004). e sex of adult
individuals was based on dimorphic morphologies of the pelvis (Phenice 1969; Buikstra
& Ubelaker 1994) and skull (Acsádi & Nemeskéri 1970; Buikstra & Ubelaker
1994). e age-at-death of subadults was based on development and eruption of teeth
(AlQahtani et al. 2010), as well as the diaphyseal lengths and epiphysis fusion status
(Scheuer et al. 2010).
َAbstract:
One of the critical tasks of archaeological studies is to illustrate in detail the geometric properties of pottery fragments. The illustrations are presented as classification and typological concepts for the potteries of a historical period. They are used to investigate the cultural and social structures of that period. Nowadays, most similar studies are conducted by numerical methods and mathematical modeling. This research examines the feasibility of using these methods and algorithms in the classification and typology of ancient potteries. What is important at first glance is introducing a set of geometric properties of the outer profile of the pottery fragments, which are entered to the algorithms in the form of RTC functions. These functions show unique features for an outer profile which are used in the classification and typology of the fragments. The classification of samples is accomplished based on RTC functions and by using an Artificial Neural Network (ANN). The samples are categorized in bowl, jug and jar classes with nearly 95% accuracy. The designed ANN is a three-layer network with one hidden layer that includes two neurons. Network outputs are numeric codes 0, 1 and 2 which refer to bowl, jug and jar profiles, respectively. In the following, by correcting the erroneous samples and out of a total of 209 pottery designs, 128 (61.2%), 42 (20.1%) and 39 (18.7%) samples were placed in bowl, jug and jar categories, respectively. After classification, the typology of the available samples within each class is also performed by the Neighbor Joining (NJ) algorithm. According to the NJ algorithm, the bowl, jug, and jar samples are distinguished by 83, 22 and 27 types, respectively. The accuracy of the typology method is also evaluated between 95 and 97%.
Keywords: Pottery, Iron age, RTC functions, Artificial Neural Network, Neighbor Joining algorithm
این رودخانه و تعیین رخسارههای رسوبی آن صورت گرفته است. از چهار گمانه و با بیشینه عمق ۳.9متری
تعداد 75نمونه از اطراف تپه باستانی قرهتپه برداشت شده است. دانه بندی رسوبات به روشهای الک
خشک، الک تر و الک شیکر لیزری انجام شده است. بررسی رسوبات این رودخانه به شناسایی سه دسته
رخساره رسوبی منجر شد که عبارتند از: رخسارههای گلی ( ، )Fl ,Fm ,Frماسهای ()Sm ,Sp ,Sl ,Sh
و گراولی ( ،)Gh ,Gcm ,Gms ,Gci ,Gmg ,Gmmکه در قسمتهای مختلف محیط رودخانهای ته-
نشست کردهاند. براساس رخسارههای شناسایی شده، عناصر ساختاری خارج کانال ( ،)FFماسه با اشکال
لایهای ( ،)SBبار گراولی و اشکال لایهای ( ،)GBجریان گراویتهای ( )SGو کانال ( )CHدر این حوضه
رسوبی شکل گرفتهاند. مدلهای رسوبی این رودخانه شامل رودخانههای مآندری با بار ریزدانه، مآندری با
بار ماسهای، بریدهبریده با بسترگراولی و بریدهبریده گراولی کمعمق میباش
has had an important role in the formation of archaeological sites in the region. During field studies
conducted along the eastern bank of the Iranian Little Zab we found seven pithos cemeteries, as
well as archaeological sites that belong to multiple cultures. Unfortunately, all the cemeteries have
been disturbed by illegal excavations and many pithos cemeteries have been destroyed. We were
able to recover a significant amount of ceramic material, including glazed potsherds and sherds of
the fine orange “Clinky ware” characteristic of the Parthian period, as well as glass, agate and clay
beads. This paper presents the evidence from the newly discovered Parthian cemeteries in
Sardasht, and compares their characteristics with other known Parthian pithos cemeteries such
as those at Mingeçevir, Germi, Kangavar, Taq-e Bostan, Marivan and the Acropolis and the Royal
City of Susa. A comparative study on the shape of the pithoi and other finds indicates a close
similarity between the pithos cemeteries of Sardasht with the cemeteries at Germi and Taq-e
Bostan. Considering these comparisons, we believe that the Sardasht cemeteries date to the
first and second centuries AD.
Mint 65 issued under Seleucid rulers Antiochus III Megas and Seleucus
IV Philopator. The article proposes a likely sequence of issues for the mint
and its probable die usage. Based on the close associations of the coins of
Uncertain Mint 65 with the mints of Seleucia on the Tigris, Susa, and Antioch in Persis, as well as the evidence of the numerous coins of the mint
in the Avicenna Museum, Hamadan, the article proposes to relocate this
mint from Commagene or Northern Syria to eastern Mesopotamia or the
far northwest of Persia
Given the goals and the current questions, firstly on the basis of classical economic resources, the coinage and their significance in the economic system of Seleucid was discussed and then using the inscriptions and written documents relating to this period the amount of revenues and coin-related costs were identified in the empire. In order to discover how the coinage system of the Seleucid kings is influenced by Achaemenid Satrapies and Alexander, first of all analyzing the various systems of coinage from Achaemenid to Seleucid and the differences between them was studied and then using the PIXE analysis (PIXE) or "X-ray emission through proton-induced excitation", The concentrations of the elements in the Achaemenid coins, Alexander’s local and royal coins, Diadokhoi and Seleucids were studied. The coins of five Seleucid main mints (Antioch on the Orontes, Seleucia in the Tigris, Babylon, Susa and Ecbatana) were also analyzed through PIXE method for pinpointing the concentration of elements and better understanding of economic conditions.
It is indicated by the results from the surveys that the coins of the Hamadan collection are in perfect accordance with the Attic system of coinage being always coincided with the political and economic changes of the Seleucid period from beginning to end. Despite the major differences between coinage goals, coin applications, coinage systems, economic policies and coins, and ultimately the Achaemenid administrative system with Seleucids, the concentrations percentage of elements used in their coins have been the same. The analysis of Seleucid coins has also presented that the politics of Seleucid coinage from the Alexander time to the Seleucid period has a steady policy and trend and all elements of the coins have been controlled throughout the empire in the eastern and western territories. The economic conditions of various rulers also did not affect the change in valuable elements of coins until Demetrius I period and the main changes begin after Demetrius I.
in Qareh Tepe of Segezabad
Abstract
Qareh Tepe of Sagezabad is one of the most important and distinguished sites in Qazvin plain. There have been carried out numerous excavations in Qareh Tepe and the other sites in Qazvin plain but the cultural features of Iron III and Achaemenid Periods have not received proper attention. The original border of this tepe was measured and determined in 2016 through archaeo-geophysical and sounding operations that yielding remarkable results. The area increased from 12 to 27 hectares under alluvial soils in perimeter area of site. The evidence obtained indicates an important and extensive site belonging to the late period of this site.
There was also discovered a cemetery of high significance that, according to the excavations carried out in 2016 and the cultural material found inside the graves, belongs to Iron II and III periods. Remarkable evidence was found in this cemetery reflecting the cultural features of this particular period, including deranged graves, infants buried next to adults, infants buried in pithos and clay crocks, bodies in ash heap, etc. There burial is in three layers more details of which require additional excavations.
Keywords: Qazvin plain, cemetery, Iron III, Achaemenid, Qareh Tepe, Segezabad.
Abstract:
Considering my goal at excavation of Segz Abad (Qareh Tepe) (2016) and concentration on levels of Iron Ages II, III, and Achaemenid, and disturbance of surficial levels, there was an attempt to excavate surrounding area of the site, under alluvial levels to reach intact levels of the site. Therefore, there is a summary of details of excavation:
Trench 1A
In order to understand nature of the architectural structure of 1394 excavation, we excavated trenches 1A and 1B during the 3rd season, where there were only alluvium levels to 265 cm depth. From then, there were ambiguous remains of architecture to 281 depth as two mud brick wall and a floor of fine cobbles. The recovered potsherds date usually to Iron Age III and Achamenid periods.
Trench 1B
We saw alluvium layers at southwestern angle of the trench to 305 cm depth. There were revealed the first in situ mud bricks at 294 cm depth, next to southern wall and 24 cm to western wall. The structure consisted of two rows of mud bricks.
Trench 8
According archaeo-geophysical surveys, the trench excavated as 2×10 m east-westwardly. In order to economize time, two pioneer test trenches opened as 200×80 cm at east and west of the trench. The excavations continued at test trench A to 6 m depth and at test trench B to 1.5 m depth. There were revealed 9 contexts from two test trenches A and B, all of alluvial sedimentations.
Trench 9
Through demarcation of Qareh Tepe we faced to remains of a mud brick structure dated to Iron Age III. In order to understand nature of the structure, we decided to excavate Trench 9 as 5×5 m dimension. We faced to remains of a mud brick structure at 173 cm depth. The mud bricks vary in size. We postponed the excavation to next season.
Trench 7
Following demarcation of the mound we faced to an Iron Age II burial at east of the site. The trench opened at 5×2.5 m at farmlands. The first in situ mud bricks appeared at 184 cm depth while covered the trench surficially in addition to the burial. We faced to a disturbed burial with two disposals at 187-233 cm depth, one for an adult and the second for an infant. A disposal of animal appeared under the infant one. Excavations continued to recover human remains (metatarsal 2 and 3, metatarsus), which indicate another burial at this point.
Trench 10
Considering results of archaeo-geophysical project, the trench opened at east of Qareh Tepe, firstly as a 2×2 pit, then expanded to 4×4 m following excavation and discovering burials. There were appeared accumulations of ashes full of Potsherds of Iron Ages II and III that continued to 170 cm depth at west of the trench. There were remains of a vat burial of an infant and traces of a disturbed burial at depth 116 and 150 cm depth.
There was an intact burial at 176-180 cm depth. The excavation continued to discovering a mud brick structure that relatively covered southern half of the trench. Undoubtedly, the mud brick structure was a burial structure that consisted of two burials.
Trench 11
The trench opened at east of the site, regarding archaeo-geophysical results. It was 3×3 m and expanded following excavations and appearance of burials. We faced to ashes full of grey wares of Iron Ages II and III at 100 cm depth at parts of east and west of the trench.
There were different burials in the trench. There was a kitchenware at 116 cm depth at southern part of trench containing bones of infant. Furthermore, there were 4 burials in Trench 11 within the ash context, whereas only two burials excavated; one in a compact fetus figure position and the other is semi open fetus position.
Findings
There were recovered clay spindles, slag, and grindstone. There were several spindles and fragmentary vessels with especial application from Trench 9. Objects from Trench 7 include 5 clay vessels and few bronze and iron points and dagger. There were recovered gray and kitchen wares from Trench 10 from upper levels of burials at the structure that postponed for future excavations. There were a bronze bracelet and a necklace with 275 beads at the first burial of Trench 11. At the second burial there were two gray wares. There were grape seeds about 50 cm away along legs of the dead.
Conclusion
The 3rd season of excavation at Qareh Tepe carried out following two aims of training students and study later levels of Iron Ages II, III, and Achamenid (?). Concentration on cultural layers at surrounding areas of the site revealed structures from Iron Age III, however, thickness of upper alluvial levels prevented more detailed investigation of the structures, for lack of time. Following demarcation of the site, there were traces of a vast cemetery of Iron Ages II and III, while trenches 7, 10, and 11 hopefully presented significant position of the cemetery, whereas future seasons of excavation open horizons to cultural characteristics of this new cemetery.
Keywords: Iron Age, Segzabad, Qareh Tepe, Burial, Achaemenid, Archaeo-Geophysics
There was also discovered a cemetery of high significance that, according to the excavations carried out in 2016 and the cultural material found inside the graves, belongs to Iron II and III periods. Remarkable evidence was found in this cemetery reflecting the cultural features of this particular period, including deranged graves, infants buried next to adults, infants buried in pithos and clay crocks, bodies in ash heap, etc. There burial is in three layers more details of which require additional excavations.
Keywords: Qazvin plain, cemetery, Iron III, Achaemenid, Qareh Tepe, Segezabad.
One of the most significant archeological sites in Iran is Qareh Tepe of Segezabad. This paper tends to study more than 5000 pieces of animal bones found through excavations in 2014, 2015 and 2016 in this site. The layers within which the pieces of bones were found belong to Iron Age III and probably Achaemenid Periods, a majority of which have been successfully identified. It comprises of different types like small and large ruminators, small and big one toed hoofed, carnivores, wild boars, etc. The small ruminators outnumbered all the other types and played a major role in the subsistence economy of Qareh Tepe of Segezabad during Iron Age III and Achaemenid Periods. The large ruminators and the one toed hoofed come next.
Keywords: Subsistence Economy, Archaeozoology, Iron Age III, Achaemenid Qareh Tepe, Segezabad.
In 2014, author excavated at Qareh Teppe along with my students and with aim of research on the Iron III and Achaemenid (upper) layers. We selected place of trenches 1, 2 and 3 around site because the illegal excavations had terribly destructed upper layers of Qareh Teppe surface. Although, trench 4 and operation 1 selected on the site surface and same aims.
The parts of mud-brick and pise structures and many local and typical trans-local potsherds and etc were been found that belonged to Iron III Age and probably Achaemenid period. In addition, we faced with special alluvial layers in trench 3 that are very important in order to reconstruct natural conditions contemporary or after abandonment site.
In 2014, author excavated at Qareh Teppe along with my students and with aim of research on the Iron III and Achaemenid (upper) layers. We selected place of trenches 1, 2 and 3 around site because the illegal excavations had terribly destructed upper layers of Qareh Teppe surface. Although, trench 4 and operation 1 selected on the site surface and same aims.
The parts of mud-brick and pise structures and many local and typical trans-local potsherds and etc were been found that belonged to Iron III Age and probably Achaemenid period. In addition, we faced with special alluvial layers in trench 3 that are very important in order to reconstruct natural conditions contemporary or after abandonment site.