Manna

Mannea is the most important state, which was established before Median kingdom and ruled on vast part of northwestern Iran for several centuries. Manneaen were from Hurrian race and language and probably entered the region about 1500 B.C. In their political life although they suffered many inva-sions from Assyria and Urartu, they kept their political and cultural independence and expended their power and realm in next period. In spite of this historical fact and available archaeological data, up to the present time no notable study about Mannea has been conducted and therefore basic aspects of Manneaen culture have remained unknown. The present study undertakes to accomplish this.

Rabat Tepe, an ancient site in northwestern Iran near the Little Zab River, reveals insights into two distinct periods from the Iron Age. The primary focus of excavations has been on the layers dating back to the first millennium BC. Notable discoveries at Rabat include a striking pebble mosaic pavement, fortified walls, and various decorative bricks. The site’s size, architectural remains, and uncovered artifacts point to its significant role during the first millennium BC. Through multiple excavation seasons, researchers have gleaned valuable information about the site’s layout and historical eras. Evidence suggests that a thick wall once enclosed the entire area, around 3 meters in width. Artifacts found at Rabat share similarities with those from Qalaichi, a well-known Mannaean site. While initially attributed to Mannaean culture, this association is now under debate. Excavations between 2006 and 2008 unearthed inscribed bricks inscribed with Neo-Assyrian cuneiform script. These findings sparked discussions and identified Rabat with ancient cities like Paddir/Šurdira and Hubushkia, although these identifications face significant challenges. Rabat was an independent religious-royal city-state.

The first millennium BC is very important from the point of view of archeology and the study of the cultural developments of the Iranian plateau. In the time range of the first half of the second millennium BC to the first half of the first millennium BC, the simultaneity and closeness in time and place of the New Ilam, Samatore and Manna governments and the geographical area of ​​the western belt of the Iranian plateau has caused that these governments undoubtedly Different artistic, social and political influences have left each other and the works discovered by these regimes have not been devoid of these influences and impressions. In this research, which is a type of descriptive-analytical study and in order to collect its data, reference-field methods were used, to study and compare the metal weapons of these governments and the influence of each of them on the other and that in each The rule of what kind of metals are used and also what aspects and applications of the exposed metals in each of them have been discussed. In this study, the weapons examined in the northwestern areas under the Manna government had differences in terms of shape and form from other areas in the west of Iran at that time. Its kind of metalworking art has had more effects on the type of metalworking of Samatore governments directly and Manna government indirectly.