Meysam Labbaf-Khaniki
University of Tehran, Archaeology, Faculty Member
- Archaeology, Material Culture Studies, Rock Art (Archaeology), Landscape Archaeology, Sasanian Archaeology, Sasanian art, and 121 moreSasanian History, Archaeology of Central Asia in Parthian, Kushan and Sasanian times, Historical Archaeology, Near Eastern Archaeology, Social Archaeology, Islamic Archaeology, Iranian Archaeology, Achaemenid History, Ancient Seals and Sealings, Achaemenid archaeology, Archaeology of Khorasan, Sasanian Rock Reliefs, Petroglyphs, Silk Road Studies, Parthian Empire, Islamic History, History of Iran, Archaeology of Central Asia, Iranian Studies, Arsacids, Sasanian Empire, Parthian Archaeology, Zoroastrianism, Sassanian Persia, Iran Archaeology, Persian Gulf archeology, Central Asia, Ancient Near East, Iranian History, Ancient Iran, Islamic Numismatics, Hellenistic and Roman Asia Minor, Pre-Islamic Iran, Sasanian numismatics, Seleucid Empire, Bactria (Archaeology), Ancient Near East (Archaeology), Ancient Iranian Religion, History of the Hellenistic World (Focus: Seleucid Empire), Sasanian Army, Ancient Glass, BMAC Archaeology, Caucasus, Archaeology of the Hellenistic East, Kushan history, Mesopotamian Archaeology, Early Islamic Archaeology, Hellenistic History, Ancient Persia, Afghanistan, Sasanian Iran, Alexander the Great, Achaemenid Persia, Classical Archaeology, Kushan art and architecture, Near Eastern Studies, Central Asian Studies, Sogdian Archaeology, Sarmatians, Islamic Art, Archaeology of the Eurasian steppe belt, Kushan empire (Archaeology), Sasanides, Ancient History, Ancient Turks, Islamic Studies, Hellenistic Bactria, Military History, Cultural Heritage, Mithraism, Arabian Peninsula in Antiquity, Archaeology of Oman, Central Asian Archaeology, Sassanid Empire, Hellenistic Babylonia, Parthia, Commagene, Sacred Landscape (Archaeology), Achaemenid Art and Archaeology, Eurasian Nomads, Nicholas Sims-Williams, Archaeological survey, Sogdian Culture, Persepolis Fortification and Treasury Archives, Late Antiquity, Nishapur, Ancient History of Afghanistan, History and Archaeology of Khorasan, Alans, Borders and Frontiers, Parthian Kingdoms, Art & Archaeology of Iran and Central Asia, Nomadism, Archaeological field survey, Scythians, Ancient Parthian Numismatics, Roman Frontiers (Archaeology), Silk Road, Art History, Iranian Languages, Safavid Persia, Iron Age Iran, Sogdian art, Iranian Huns, Etruscan and pre-Roman archaeology, Medieval Islamic Numismatics, Medes, Bronze Age (Archaeology), Early and Medieval Islamic Art and Architecture, Parthian Pottery, Historical Archaeology of Iran, Turkmenistan, Archaeology of the Silk Road, Art History of Ancient Iran, Ancient Near Eastern History, Sasanian Architecture, Central Asia (History), Frantz Grenet, Spatial analysis (Archaeology), Iranian Art History, and Kushan and Central Asian Studiesedit
- Archaeologistedit
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The Northeast of Iran known as Khorasan enjoys many mountains and plains, which have served as the cradle of many human societies and historical events. Khorasan is covered by the vast plains in the south, whereas in the north it enjoys... more
The Northeast of Iran known as Khorasan enjoys many mountains and plains, which have served as the cradle of many human societies and historical events. Khorasan is covered by the vast plains in the south, whereas in the north it enjoys some high mountain ranges with some small plains sandwiched in between. The northern plains with their
favorable water and soil resources could have drawn human populations, and the site of Rivi situated north of Samalghan plain exemplifies a significant settlement on such plains and explains how such settlements formed and developed. Although the recent agricultural and industrial activities have wreaked havoc on a big part of this site, an accurate investigation into the old aerial photos can suggest some speculations on the original shape of this site in the past. Moreover, the recent
archaeological surveys and excavations provide some invaluable information on the Sasanian settlements in the site of Rivi, according to which in the Sasanian period the northern part of this site housed a
walled town with a circular citadel located south of the town.
favorable water and soil resources could have drawn human populations, and the site of Rivi situated north of Samalghan plain exemplifies a significant settlement on such plains and explains how such settlements formed and developed. Although the recent agricultural and industrial activities have wreaked havoc on a big part of this site, an accurate investigation into the old aerial photos can suggest some speculations on the original shape of this site in the past. Moreover, the recent
archaeological surveys and excavations provide some invaluable information on the Sasanian settlements in the site of Rivi, according to which in the Sasanian period the northern part of this site housed a
walled town with a circular citadel located south of the town.
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Which ancient army boasted the largest fortifi cations, and how did the competitive build-up of military capabilities shape world history? Few realise that imperial Rome had a serious competitor in Late Antiquity. Late Roman legionary... more
Which ancient army boasted the largest fortifi cations, and how did the competitive build-up of military capabilities shape world history? Few realise that imperial Rome had a serious competitor in Late Antiquity. Late Roman legionary bases, normally no larger than 5 ha, were dwarfed by Sasanian fortresses, often covering 40 ha, sometimes even 125-210 ha. The latter did not necessarily house permanent garrisons but sheltered large armies temporarily-perhaps numbering 10,000-50,000 men each. Even Roman camps and fortresses of the early and high empire did not reach the dimensions of their later Persian counterparts. The longest fort-lined wall of the late antique world was also Persian. Persia built up, between the fourth and sixth centuries AD, the most massive military infrastructure of any ancient or medieval Near Eastern empire-if not the ancient and medieval world. Much of the known defensive network was directed against Persia's powerful neighbours in the north-rather than the west. This may refl ect diff erences in archaeological visibility more than troop numbers. Urban garrisons in the Romano-Persian frontier zone are much harder to identify than vast geometric compounds in marginal northern lands. Recent excavations in Iran have enabled us to precision-date two of the largest fortresses of Southwest Asia, both larger than any in the Roman world. Excavations in a Gorgan Wall fort have shed much new light on frontier life, and we have unearthed a massive bridge nearby. A sonar survey has traced the probable terminal of the Tammisheh Wall, now submerged under the waters of the Caspian Sea. Further work has focused on a vast city and settlements in the hinterland. Persia's Imperial Power, our previous project, had already shed much light on the Great Wall of Gorgan, but it was our recent fi eldwork that has thrown the sheer magnitude of Sasanian military infrastructure into sharp relief.
Having passed the western and central parts of the Iranian plateau, the Silk Road enters the vast plain of Sarakhs in north-eastern Iran, after which it cuts through the Transoxiana before reaching China. At the roughly middle point of... more
Having passed the western and central parts of the Iranian plateau, the Silk Road enters the vast plain of Sarakhs in north-eastern Iran, after which it cuts through the Transoxiana before reaching China. At the roughly middle point of this long road, the Sarakhs plain has been hosting caravans from China and Transoxiana to Iran and Mesopotamia. Accordingly, the Sarakhs plain was called by Maqdisi, the famous geographer of the 10th century, “the Gate of Khorasan”. It was nevertheless a gateway not only for travellers, merchants, and pilgrims along the Silk Road, but also for invaders and raiders from the Eurasian steppe, who intended to plunder villages and cities in the Iran plateau from the 3rd millennium BC onwards. Consequently, defending Sarakhs was tantamount to protecting the Iranian Plateau. For the purpose of defending the Sarakhs Plain against the invaders from the north, ancient Iranians erected numerous fortifications in the Sarakhs plain to oversee the Silk Road.
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From the archaeological point of view, pottery contains valuable information about living conditions and economic, social and cultural interactions between peoples who live in a region or beyond in past. Identifying the pottery... more
From the archaeological point of view, pottery contains valuable information about living conditions and economic, social and cultural interactions between peoples who live in a region or beyond in past. Identifying the pottery characteristics and its common styles in the region are the first steps for extracting and analyzing this information. Parthian-Sassanian pottery in the east of Iran consists of prominent features that show transregional interactions along with the persistence of local traditions. The collection of pottery sherds newly found in the Neh plain and the Chaharfarsakh Valley of the Nehbandan county provide indicative properties of the traditional pottery styles in eastern Iran during the Parthian and Sassanian periods. Comparative study of the diagnostic Parthian-Sasanian potteries of Sisatn and southern Khorasan demonstrates a close relationship between the pottery traditions of these two regions. Accordingly, the materials wich used as temper and the style of decorations bear an equal resemblance. This resemblance can be detected also in the form of the ceramics from Nehbandan with those from the historical sites of Sistan. Moreover, almost all of the potteries were manufactured using the wheel and only the sherds belonged to the handles, lids, or spouts are handmade. The study of potteries from the Nehbandan county shows that the historical processes in the Parthian and Sassanian periods and passing important roads such as the ancient Khorasan-Sistan route through the region have had a profound impact on the making and processing methods in the manufacturing of the potteries. This study shows that some styles in the Nehbandan region have indigenous and local traits, following the common pottery patterns in the east of Iran. A considerable number of studied cases are influenced by the prevalent designs in Iran which are comparable to the Parthian-Sassanian cultural centres. This is understandable in the context of historical events and cultural trends during the Parthian-Sassanian period.
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Defensive structures have been applied as the permanent elements of the Iranian urbanism, from the first phases of sedentism in the Neolithic period onwards. Following the Iranian tradition in architecture, Sasanian fortifications having... more
Defensive structures have been applied as the permanent elements of the Iranian urbanism, from the first phases of sedentism in the Neolithic period onwards. Following the Iranian tradition in architecture, Sasanian fortifications having local features were constructed in adaptation with the regional circumstances. Nevertheless, we can find some similarities in the components of the defensive installations. The defensive structures located within the Sasanian territory turned Iran into the unconquerable fortress providing Sasanians with military, political, cultural, and economic dominance over a vast area of the ancient world for more than four centuries.
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Thanks to a favourable geographical condition and the passing of the most important road of Asia across the northern part of the Nishapur Plain, this plain has been permanently settled by peoples from Central Asia and the Iranian plateau.... more
Thanks to a favourable geographical condition and the passing of the most important road of Asia across the northern part of the Nishapur Plain, this plain has been permanently settled by peoples from Central Asia and the Iranian plateau. According to the historical accounts, the Nishapur Plain was one of the political centres and military bases of northeastern Iran and was considered as one of the most important agricultural and industrial centres of Iran as well. These vital potentials of the Nishapur plain set the stage for increasing population, development of urban and rural settlements, and higher agricultural productivity during the Sasanian period. Archaeological investigations show that the location of the Nishapur Plain's settlements relied on the presence of natural resources and cultural facilities. Water and land, as well as the facilities provided by the city of Nishapur, are the factors that define the settlement pattern of the Nishapur Plain's landscape during the Sasanian period. The spatial order of the settlement pattern of the Nishapur Plain and the pottery tradition of the region indicate that the rural settlements of the plain served as the hinterlands of the city of Nishapur, which relied on the exchange of commodities and services throughout its history.m
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Defensive structures have been applied as the permanent elements of the Iranian urbanism, from the first phases of sedentism in the Neolithic period onwards. Following the Iranian tradition in architecture, Sasanian fortifications having... more
Defensive structures have been applied as the permanent elements of the Iranian urbanism, from the first phases of sedentism in the Neolithic period onwards. Following the Iranian tradition in architecture, Sasanian fortifications having local features were constructed in adaptation with the regional circumstances. Nevertheless, we can find some similarities in the components of the defensive installations. The defensive structures located within the Sasanian territory turned Iran into the unconquerable fortress providing Sasanians with military, political, cultural, and economic dominance over a vast area of the ancient world for more than four centuries.
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The valley to the north of Hezar Masjed-Kopet Dagh mountains serve as the northern barriers of the Iranian Plateau, witnessing over the millennia many conflicts between the nomadic people of Central Asia and the settled people of the... more
The valley to the north of Hezar Masjed-Kopet Dagh mountains serve as the northern barriers of the Iranian Plateau, witnessing over the millennia many conflicts between the nomadic people of Central Asia and the settled people of the Iranian Plateau. The Hun Masjed-Kopet Dagh heights is tantamount to a wall to the north of Khorasan, protecting the people of Khorasan from invading northern hoards. However, mountain passes provided a passage that allowed the steppe-dwelling nomads penetrate and plunder the fettle, irrigated farms in the southern foothills of mountain range. It was along these passes that the people of Khorasan built defensive fortifications. Ka lat-e Nader' and Mozdooran are two highland forts that guarded these passages - In Autumn 2016, a joint Iranian-British team surveyed and recorded a major section of these fortifications. Combining the information from historical sources with archaeological finds, as well as dating of the remains indicate that building defensive structures has been going on in this region for a long time. While we can extract some information from Pahlavi sources and the 19th century photographs point to pre-Islamic constructions, the results of archaeological work point to post-Afsharid period.
Keywords: Khorasan, Kalat, Mozdooran, Defensive landscape, fortifications.
Keywords: Khorasan, Kalat, Mozdooran, Defensive landscape, fortifications.
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The Kalat region is located in north-eastern Iran between the Kopetdagh and Hezarmasjid mountain ranges, which act as natural defensive features. Overlooking the main routes passing through these ranges, the strategic town and... more
The Kalat region is located in north-eastern Iran between the Kopetdagh and Hezarmasjid mountain ranges, which act as natural defensive features. Overlooking the main routes passing through these ranges, the strategic town and fortifications near Kalat have played an important role in both the mythology and history of Khorasan. At least one middle Persian manuscript and several Islamic period historians and travellers testify to the defensive significance of Kalat throughout history.
Archaeological surveys carried out in April 2012 and October 2016 in the Kalat region have succeeded in identifying abundant evidence to support the textual accounts, confirming the important role of this region in the defensive landscape of north-eastern Iran.
Monuments explored include linear walls following the crest of steep mountain ridges, guarded by chains of watchtowers, a large hilltop fortress (the Arg-e Forud), and gorge-blocking barriers that likely controlled movement into and out of the region. These features
were recorded through a pedestrian survey and remote sensing (drone photography and analysis of satellite imagery). This methodology proved a useful way of navigating the steep and sometimes difficult terrain of the region. Moreover, test trenching in two areas of Kalat’s fortifications have provided us with interesting information about the dating of the occupation of some of these features.
Using the historical documents and archaeological findings, this paper will introduce the fortification system of Kalat and place it within the defensive landscape of greater northeastern Iran.
Archaeological surveys carried out in April 2012 and October 2016 in the Kalat region have succeeded in identifying abundant evidence to support the textual accounts, confirming the important role of this region in the defensive landscape of north-eastern Iran.
Monuments explored include linear walls following the crest of steep mountain ridges, guarded by chains of watchtowers, a large hilltop fortress (the Arg-e Forud), and gorge-blocking barriers that likely controlled movement into and out of the region. These features
were recorded through a pedestrian survey and remote sensing (drone photography and analysis of satellite imagery). This methodology proved a useful way of navigating the steep and sometimes difficult terrain of the region. Moreover, test trenching in two areas of Kalat’s fortifications have provided us with interesting information about the dating of the occupation of some of these features.
Using the historical documents and archaeological findings, this paper will introduce the fortification system of Kalat and place it within the defensive landscape of greater northeastern Iran.
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Discovering the Sasanian stuccoes in Bandian under Mehdi Rahbar's direction can be considered as a turning point in archaeology of the Sasanian art and murals of eastern Iran. The various elements of the Bandian's stuccoes contain... more
Discovering the Sasanian stuccoes in Bandian under Mehdi Rahbar's direction can be considered as a turning point in archaeology of the Sasanian art and murals of eastern Iran. The various elements of the Bandian's stuccoes contain important information about the style and producing techniques of the eastern stuccoes. Thus, the details of Bandian's stuccoes pave the way to interpret and date of similar stuccoes of the same cultural sphere. Recent excavations at Qale Dokhtar-e Bazeh Hur revealed another significant collection of the Sasanian stuccoes similar to the Bandian's in form and style. The close similarities between the stuccoes of Qale Dokhtar and Bandian suggest that stucco decoration was a common tradition in the Khorasanian architecture which was applied within the monuments and royal buildings not only as ornamentation but as a media narrating the historical events which occurred in the eastern territory of the Sasanian empire.
Keywords: Bandian, Qale Dokhtar-e Bazeh Hur, Stucco, Khorasan, Sasanian Period
Keywords: Bandian, Qale Dokhtar-e Bazeh Hur, Stucco, Khorasan, Sasanian Period
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The Bazeh-Hur archaeological project carried out in May–June 2017 led to identifying the limits of the settlement is bounded by chahartaq and Qale Dokhtar respectively in the north and south. The investigations have also shed significant... more
The Bazeh-Hur archaeological project carried out in May–June 2017 led to identifying the limits of the settlement is bounded by chahartaq and Qale Dokhtar respectively in the north and south. The investigations have also shed significant lights on the structure and plan of a columned building abutting the eastern side of the chahartaq. Excavations at this area revealed some remains of the round columns that might have once supported the ceiling of a 16-columned building. Considering the comparable Sasanian monuments, the unearthed columned building of Bazeh Hur was served as an ayvān or reception hall dating back to the second half of the Sasanian period.
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Based on the archaeological evidence, the southern part of Asia, including fertile regions of Anatolia, Mesopotamia, Iran, India, and China, cradles of the great civilizations, was the ideal destination for northern emigrants from the 3rd... more
Based on the archaeological evidence, the southern part of Asia, including fertile regions of Anatolia, Mesopotamia, Iran, India, and China, cradles of the great civilizations, was the ideal destination for northern emigrants from the 3rd millennium BC to the early 20th century AD. The emigrants were mostly nomads of the northern part of Asia, an area covered with vast rainless deserts and steppes. During severe famine, which resulted from the dominant climatic conditions of the region, the nomads had to invade the wealthy southern settlements, and therefore the populations of villages or cities of southern Asia fortified their settlements with defensive installations, including ramparts, towers, ditches, etc. The defensive walls were the most important defensive structures that separated the southern settlements from the northern invaders, and were constructed whenever and wherever in Asia the differences between geographic advantages led to struggles between the north and south. This paper introduces the concept of a Long Wall of Asia; that walls, in combination with the natural barriers, formed a long and formidable defensive barrier extending from the east to the west of Asia. The Long Wall of Asia is over 10000 km in length and represents the close interaction between history, geography, and material culture in the formation of the defensive landscape of southern Asia.
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Due to the extensive territory including the fertile plains and the productive population, the Sasanids could attain the powerful and wealthy situation during the late antiquity. Nevertheless, the vast territory caused some problems... more
Due to the extensive territory including the fertile plains and the productive population, the Sasanids could attain the powerful and wealthy situation during the late antiquity. Nevertheless, the vast territory caused some problems regarding threatening the political integration of Iran. The eastern provinces locating far from the capital of the Sassanid government were in a very exposed position to invaders coming from Hephthalites as well-known groups of the invading nomads were considered as the main enemy of Sassanid in the eastern Iran. Hephthalites could occasionally determine the international relationships between Iran and its neighbours. Moreover, they played an important role in the formation of the cultural and artistic practices of the eastern Sassanid. In order to recognise the Hephthalites' influence on the Sassanid Iran, we need firstly to study their ethnical attributes and lifestyles and secondly to know the borders of their territory throughout history. In pursuing these purposes, the paper, while relying on the historical documents, would explain the history of Hephthalites in eastern Iran and describe their material cultures indicating their history and culture. Synchronised study of history, geography, and material culture of the Hephthalites would help us to introduce a new approach to history and archaeology of the eastern Iran in Sassanid period.
Research Interests: Central Asian Studies, Central Asia (History), Central Asian Buddhism, Central Asian History (Area Studies), Sasanian History, and 11 moreCentral Asia, Archaeology of Central Asia, Sasanian Archaeology, History of Khurasan (Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asia), Art & Archaeology of Iran and Central Asia, Archaeology of Central Asia in Parthian, Kushan and Sasanian times, Culture of Khorasan, Hephtalites, Archaeology of Khorasan, History and Archaeology of Khorasan, and Art & Architecture History of the Greater Khurasan
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The first season of archaeological activity at the Bazeh-Hur chahartaq has shed new light on the original plan of the building and led to the identification of some of the features surrounding it. The excavations showed that unlike its... more
The first season of archaeological activity at the Bazeh-Hur chahartaq has shed new light on the original plan of the building and led to the identification of some of the features surrounding it. The excavations showed that unlike its current appearance, the western taq (arch) of the main building was originally blocked by a wall; parallel to the southern taq, a portico or ayvan served as the main entrance; and access to the northern room was provided through two narrow doorways in the northern wall. Excavations in the north-eastern area have also resulted in the discovery of the remains of two columns and a small part of a wall abutting the north-eastern corner of the chahartaq.
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Geography, history, and the material culture provide the three bases for definition and determination of a cultural landscape. The region of Maymand in northwestern of Kerman province as the interacting-ground of the three aforementioned... more
Geography, history, and the material culture provide the three bases for definition and determination of a cultural landscape. The region of Maymand in northwestern of Kerman province as the interacting-ground of the three aforementioned factors is considered as a cultural landscape. The geographic diversity, historical events and 2500-years-old cultural vestiges have prepared the necessities for the formation of a dynamic cultural landscape. The archaeological survey findings show the process of change and evolution in lifestyles of the people who have been living in the Maymand region from ancient times to modern era. This process has been affected by geographic conditions on the one hand and has influenced the region’s history on the other hand. In addition to the complicated and multilinear historical processes having determined the characteristics of the Maymand’s landscape, the village of Maymand has played the focal role in the changing and evolution of the region. Identifying the factors which were acting in the evolution of the cultural landscape of Maymand, would help us to find the true way to indicate and solve the current problems.
Research Interests: Historical Archaeology, Landscape Archaeology, Iranian Archaeology, Settlement Patterns, Cultural Landscapes, and 10 moreAchaemenid Persia, Sasanian History, Nomadism, Achaemenid History, Sasanian Archaeology, Sedentary-Nomadic Interaction, Meymand Cave Village, Meymand, Sedentary Behaviour, and Defensive Architecture
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Research Interests: Sasanian History, Archaeology of Central Asia, Sassanian Persia, Sassanid Empire, Sasanian art, and 14 moreSasanian Archaeology, Sasanian Iran, Sasanian Army, Sassanid Archaeology, Sasanian Rock Reliefs, Culture of Khorasan, Achaemenid, Parthian, and Sasanian History; International Relations and Diplomacy between Roman-Byzantine and Persian Empires, Sasanid Empire, parthian and Sassanian, Khorasan, Archaeology of Khorasan, History and Archaeology of Khorasan, Sassanian Studies, and Khorasan Archaeology
Abstract As the chief communication channel between eastern and western civilizations, Silk Road has played the significant role in the events that have shaped Northeastern Iran’s history. Silk Road has provided a conducive way for... more
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As the chief communication channel between eastern and western civilizations, Silk Road has played the significant role in the events that have shaped Northeastern Iran’s history. Silk Road has provided a conducive way for commercial exchanges in one hand, and was in used by invader nomads in order to plunder of northeastern Iran during many decades in other hand. The contacts have lead to interaction between various cultures and caused to extend populations along the Silk Road. Some metropolises such as Nishapur shows very well the significant role of Silk Road in human settlements’ formation process. Nishapur has developed continuously in the steady interaction with Silk Road and the city has caused to flourish Silk Road during millenniums. We can find some aspects of the process through studying historical documents and archaeological analysis.
Keywords: Nishapur, Silk Road, Archaeology, History, Trade, Administrative Geography
As the chief communication channel between eastern and western civilizations, Silk Road has played the significant role in the events that have shaped Northeastern Iran’s history. Silk Road has provided a conducive way for commercial exchanges in one hand, and was in used by invader nomads in order to plunder of northeastern Iran during many decades in other hand. The contacts have lead to interaction between various cultures and caused to extend populations along the Silk Road. Some metropolises such as Nishapur shows very well the significant role of Silk Road in human settlements’ formation process. Nishapur has developed continuously in the steady interaction with Silk Road and the city has caused to flourish Silk Road during millenniums. We can find some aspects of the process through studying historical documents and archaeological analysis.
Keywords: Nishapur, Silk Road, Archaeology, History, Trade, Administrative Geography
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The Sasanian settlements located Persian Gulf shores proving the economic-political sovereignty of Iran over Persian Gulf through preislamic era denotes commercial relations between Iran and other regions. The remains of Sasanian sites... more
The Sasanian settlements located Persian Gulf shores proving the economic-political sovereignty of Iran over Persian Gulf through preislamic era denotes commercial relations between Iran and other regions. The remains of Sasanian sites and scattered ceramic sherds help us to reconstruct historical socio-political organization of the Persian Gulf sphere and recognize the interactions between ancient ports and cities. In the paper after a historical introduction about Sasanian Persian Gulf we have studied the archaeological evidences of Sasanian settlements in both Persian and Arabian shores of Persian Gulf.
Keywords: Sasanian period, Persian Gulf, Sasanian history, archaeological analysis
Keywords: Sasanian period, Persian Gulf, Sasanian history, archaeological analysis
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Studying the pottery of Sassanian Iran provides possibilities for archaeologists to challenge the local tradition in ceramic production, in one hand and understanding the stylistic interplay between regional ceramic complexes in other... more
Studying the pottery of Sassanian Iran provides possibilities for archaeologists to challenge the local tradition in ceramic production, in one hand and understanding the stylistic interplay between regional ceramic complexes in other hand. Moreover, it helps archaeologist via interpreting the type and style of pottery to recognize socio-economic interactions between cultural spheres. Nevertheless, the Sassanian pottery from Northeastern Iran has been studied in few researches limited to some interim reports of archaeological excavations or surveys. In this paper, after describing the indicative attributes of ceramics of Northeastern Iran and classification of Sassanian ceramics, I suggest some indications for Sassanian pottery and review the local traditions in ceramic production. Ceramic sherds obtained from the four major late- Sassanian sites including Nishapur, Bandian, Tape Hisar, and Toreng Tape construct the foundation of the interpretation and comparison with other assemblages initiate pottery tradition of Iran during late-Sassanian period. Aforementioned sites belong to second half of Sassanian period and understanding the late-Sassanian pottery helps us to solve crucial problem of recognition differences between early Islamic and late Sassanian pottery.
Keywords: Northeastern Iran, Late-Sassanian period, Ceramic, Classification, Pottery attributes, Nishapur, Bandian, Tureng tape, Tape Hisar
Keywords: Northeastern Iran, Late-Sassanian period, Ceramic, Classification, Pottery attributes, Nishapur, Bandian, Tureng tape, Tape Hisar
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Due to the geographic advantages, the extent region in center of Asia including northeastern Iran and northern Afghanistan has been attracted the populations since the first immigrations date to the 3rd millennium BC. The region was... more
Due to the geographic advantages, the extent region in center of Asia including northeastern Iran and northern Afghanistan has been attracted the populations since the first immigrations date to the 3rd millennium BC. The region was traditionally defined as the Great Khorassanwas situated on the chief route of Asia, Silk Road and was enjoying fertile plains and temperate climate. The favorable conditions of Khorassan have caused to formation settlements and to attract nomads who was migrating in central Asia in order to achieving a better life’s condition. Their arrival to Khorassan was sometimes associated with cruelly invasions. However because of the physiographic conditions of northeastern Iran, it was not easily possible to access fertile plains and pastures of central Khorassan for many groups of northern nomads and invaders. The major natural barrier was a wall-like range in northeastern Iran named KopetDagh Mountains. KopetDaghprovides a natural wall extended from the east to the west of Khorassan. Nevertheless morphological attributes such as gorges and passes make some passageways across the KopetDaghrange. Crossing the KopetDagh moreover is possible through the eroded ridges. The traversable locations were controlled by defensive installations. An important type of the installations was the defensive walls restricting entrance to Khorassan and preventing sudden attacks to settlements.
The aforementioned geographical conditions were extended to the other regions of Asia causing the southern Asia’s populations to construct some similar walls along northern borders.However, a wall composed of physiographical features and architectural structures was stretched from Black Sea in the west to Yellow Sea in the east of Asia. The wall is introduced as The Long Wall of Asia and described in present paper for the first time. The Long Wall of Asia including the defensive walls of Khorassan with a total length of more than 11,000 kilometers demonstrate clearly the interaction between humans and the environment along history.
The aforementioned geographical conditions were extended to the other regions of Asia causing the southern Asia’s populations to construct some similar walls along northern borders.However, a wall composed of physiographical features and architectural structures was stretched from Black Sea in the west to Yellow Sea in the east of Asia. The wall is introduced as The Long Wall of Asia and described in present paper for the first time. The Long Wall of Asia including the defensive walls of Khorassan with a total length of more than 11,000 kilometers demonstrate clearly the interaction between humans and the environment along history.
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Research Interests: Archaeology, Museum Studies, Iranian Archaeology, Palaeolithic Archaeology, Islamic Studies, and 17 moreNeolithic Archaeology, Chalcolithic Archaeology, Iranian Art History, Islamic History, Sasanian History, Iron Age (Archaeology), BMAC Archaeology, Parthian Empire, Khorasan Prehistory, Sasanian Archaeology, Archaeology of Central Asia in Parthian, Kushan and Sasanian times, Culture of Khorasan, Parthian Archaeology, Achaemenid, Parthian, and Sasanian History; International Relations and Diplomacy between Roman-Byzantine and Persian Empires, History of Archaeology In Iran, History and Archaeology of Khorasan, and Khorasan Archaeology
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Dear colleagues, "History and the World" is a scientific yearbook at the Institute of History and International Relations at the University of Natural and Humanities in Siedlce. The first volume appeared in 2012. In the interests of the... more
Dear colleagues, "History and the World" is a scientific yearbook at the Institute of History and International Relations at the University of Natural and Humanities in Siedlce. The first volume appeared in 2012. In the interests of the magazine's history. "History and the World" published materials science staff of the Institute, but does not close his column in front of authors from outside. It addresses the issues related to the scope of the research carried out by researchers of the Institute. Writing system is typically composed of three divisions: articles, source, and reviews and discussions. "History and the World" has the ambition to keep present the results of their study and become the leading journal of the historical region of Siedlce.