درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

The commercial and cultural relations of Shahr-i Sokhta with neighboring areas have a relatively long and complex history. During the first period of Shahr-i Sokhta, there are many evidences indicating the connection of this large center with the south of Mesopotamia, Elam and the southern parts of the Iranian plateau. There was also an extensive connection between this center and Central Asia, Afghanistan and the Waziristan region that overlooks the Indus valley. Based on archeological evidence, in parallel with the emergence of the social and economic structure and the beginning of urbanization, we see a significant expansion of trade with distant regions. 

In a survey carried out in the Sadrabad area of ​​Zarandieh in June 2020, in addition to the whole village of Sadrabad, its satellite areas were also examined and identified, which led to remarkable results in the archaeological studies of the Iranian plateau, which in addition to other archaeological survey, metal slags were also studied and analyzed there. Slag is the residue of minerals from the smelting, which occurs naturally as a molten silicate or as a mixture of several silicate minerals with compounds of oxides, sulfides, and metals. To detect metal minerals in slag, it is necessary to prepare a polished section from the samples in order to identify its  type . The silicate minerals in the slag are studied with  passing light using a thin section. Gazanak Zarandieh Tepe is located 85 km from Tehran and 75 km from Saveh in Sadrabad Vilage in Zarandieh city of Markazi province. The oldest settlement phase identified in this area is Neolithic (or Pre-pottery Neolithic) and the newest period identified is related to the Safavid era. In this survey, we obtained evidence of smelting and processing of copper, which included pure native copper and slag from smelting of this metal, which by integrating them for laboratory studies, especially the petrographic elemental analysis, which resulted in amazing results. The purpose of petrographic testing on study samples is to identify the components of the slag, the type of material extracted and, if possible, the host rock mineral. Since the study area lacks Chalcolithic age, and the abundance of plum ware, which appeared in the context of Cheshmeh Ali pottery and the transition period according to the speculation of the 2021 season, led us to the question that melting and extraction copper metal in the center of the Iranian plateau has an older history than the dates presented in this article.

In 1994, it was reported that a group of smugglers had been arrested while excavating the hills of Hossein Abad, south of Susa, about 800m south of an area called Siahchal (Donjon). That excavation led to the revelation of half of a stone coffin or a sarcophagus and eventually led to the discovery of two more sarcophagi, which were located 2.5m from each other. The first sarcophagus was constructed in the form of a tomb with bricks of lion stamp patterns. Both sarcophagi are made of sandstones. The mine of these stones does not appear to have existed in Susa. However, the older fabric of Susa had instances of a sand mass, with underground cellars created inside these stones. Hence, the stones from which the sarcophagi were built could probably relate to Susa. No objects or human skeletal representing burial remnants were recovered from inside of the sarcophagi; however, out of Sarcophagus No. 1, some pieces of earthenware and perfume containers (Alabaster) were found. The bricks used in Tomb No. 1 were bearing lion patterns, as the pieces of earthenware and marble perfume bottles, numerous examples of which were reported from there, demonstrate they could reasonably be attributed to the Achaemenid dynasty.  

The Sistan region has played a prominent role in establishing and expanding civilization in the eastern region of Iran in different historical periods. The region’s favorable environmental conditions, including abundant water, fertile soil, and diverse flora and fauna, attracted various ethnic groups to settle and achieve significant advancements by constructing numerous cities and settlements. Over its documented existence, Sistan with a rich collection of historic buildings and archeological sites has experienced three periods of extensive settlement and three periods of non-settlement, commonly referred to as gap periods. Multiple factors have contributed to the development of Sistan socially and settlement wise. This article aims to identify the influential factors in the cycle of formation and collapse of civilizations in Sistan by examining geographical, historical, and archaeological factors. Among these, water availability, political considerations, and other natural and human-related aspects stand out as the main contributors to this cyclic pattern.