Archaeological Survey of the Bakun Settlements in Fasa District, Fars, Iran

Author

Abstract

Bakun is one of the most important prehistoric cultures in the Fars province spanning the era 4800 B.C to 4000/3900 B.C. During this period, many changes occurred in technological developments, social and economic context and the type of the pottery and its distribution which led to a homogeneous culture throughout the Fars. Most of the Bakun studies have been focused on Kur River Basin while other areas have not been precisely surveyed. In this paper, author will try to assessment all of the Bakun sites which have been found in Fasa. Fasa is located at 29° 24″ to 28° 31″ N and 54° 15″ to 53° 20″ E in central east of Fars province. It comprising a land area of 4303/8 Km2. This county is bounded by Shiraz and Estahban in north, south to Jahrom and Zarindasht, east to Darab and from west to Sarvestan and Jahrom. Until 1956 counties of Darab, Estahban and Neiriz were districts of Fasa as it was included five Dehestan : Poshtkouh (Roniz and Jangal), Balakouh (Fasa and its villages), Shibkouh (area between Sanan and Gerbayegan), Sheshdeh and Qarebolgh and Nobandegan. Fasa now is comprised of four districts: Markazi (central) District, Shibkouh District, Sheshdeh and Qarebolagh District and Nobandegan District. Fasa also has three cities: Fasa (center of Shahrestan), Zahedshahr (center of Shibkouh), Erfanshahr or Sheshdeh (center of Sheshdeh and Qarebolagh). The Shahrestan is very mountainous with only two-fifths being characterized by flatlands laying at around 1100 m above sea level. The most important plains of Fasa are: Fasa, Nobandegan, Sheshdeh and Qarebolagh, Gerbayegan (nude land), Miyan Jangal and Shibkouh. Fasa’s climate is amongst the most temperate in the highland region. Indeed, it is considered to lie within the moderate climatic area of Fars. Its winters are moderately cold with temperatures between 1-13˚C, and hot, dry summers (22-40˚C). Fasa receives considerable seasonal precipitation, with yearly rainfall varying between 200 to 400 mm, most of which falls in winter. There are no perennial rivers in Fasa but the winter precipitation from the mountains creates seasonal streams. The first extensive archaeological survey in Fasa carried out by Aurel Stein in 1934. A more intensive archaeological survey, directed by Miroschedji was conducted in Fasa and Darab in 1971-72. About 51 prehistoric sites were found in Miroschedji’s survey which 42 sites had Bakun material. In 2009, an Iranian mission directed by Ali Asadi re-surveyed Fasa and found 26 Bakun sites. The result of these surveys shows a sharp rise in the number of 5th millennium B.C sites; as the number of sites from 15 sites in Neolithic period raised to 42 in the Bakun period. In other words, number of the sites in Bakun period were tripled. In this period most of the Fasa areas were occupied for the first time and new settlements were established. Based on current data, after Kur River Basin, most of the Bakun sites are located in Fasa district. In this paper, author make an endeavor to analysis the settlement patterns of the Bakun period in Fasa. Hence, all of the Bakun sites have been studied from various aspects such as: access to water resources, fertilize soil, vegetation, land use and elevation from sea level. It seems that accessing to water resources have had more efficient role in distribution of the sites. Fertilize soil for agriculture and vast pasture for herding, were also more effective in distribution of the Bakun sites. According to the distribution pattern of the sites, it is likely, subsistence economy have been based on the agriculture (Early and Middle Bakun period) and animal husbandry (late Bakun period).

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

- اسدی، احمدعلی، 1388، «الگوهای استقراری و کاربری اراضی در دشت بستک، هرمزگان»، مجله‌ی باستان‌شناسی و تاریخ، سال بیست و سوم، شماره اول، پاییز و زمستان 1387، شماره پیاپی 45، صص 31-3.
- اسدی، احمدعلی، 1388، «بررسی شهرستان فسا»، اداره‌ی کل میراث‌فرهنگی، صنایع‌دستی و گردشگری فارس (منتشر نشده).
- اسفندیاری، آذرمیدخت، 1385، «درآمدی بر باستان‌شناسی غربال‌بیز مهریز»، سومین همایش تاریخ معماری و شهرسازی ایران: بم، سازمان میراث‌فرهنگی، صنایع‌دستی و گردشگری کشور، جلد اول، صص: 535-525.
- توللی، فریدون، 1338، «شهرستان باستانی فسا و کاوش‌هایی که اداره‌ی کل باستان‌شناسی در آن انجام داده است»، نشریه‌ی باستان‌شناسی، شماره 1 و 2، صص 62- 48.
- رجبی، نوروز، 1389، «گزارش مقدماتی کاوش و لایه‌نگاری تل خسرو یاسوج»، مرکز اسناد پژوهشکده باستان‌شناسی (منتشر نشده).
- رضازاده، جلیل، 1387، از پسا تا فسا، انتشارات فانوس اندیشه.
- علیزاده، عباس 1392، «آمیزش معیشت‌های متضاد و مکمل، کشاورزی و دامداری کوچ‌نشینی در جنوب غربی ایران»، مجله‌ی باستان‌شناسی ایران، شماره 3، صص 41-74.
- محمداسماعیل، زهرا، 1389، «پایش تغییرات کاربری اراضی کرج با استفاده از تکنیک سنجس از دور»، مجله‌ی پژوهش‌های خاک، جلد 24، شماره 1، صص 81-88.
- منصوری، مجید، اسدی، احمدعلی، 1391، «گزارش مقدماتی بررسی محوطه‌های پیش‌ازتاریخی دشت فسا در سال 1388»، استان فارس، مجله‌ی پیام باستان‌شناس، سال نهم، شماره هفدهم، بهار 1391، صص 74-57.
- نوروزی، رضا، 1384، بررسی باستان‌شناسی فیروزآباد، انتشارات دانشنامه فارس.
- نیساری، سیروس، 1350، کلیات جغرافیایی ایران، تهران.
- نیکو، مصطفی، 1378، «برنامه‌ریزی برای توسعه‌ی کشاورزی، مطالعه‌ی موردی شهرستان فسا»، پایان‌نامه‌ی کارشناسی‌ارشد دانشگاه تهران، دانشکده ادبیات و علوم انسانی، گروه جغرافیا (منتشر نشده).
- هژبری‌نوبری، علیرضا، سرداری، علیرضا، فاضلی‌نشلی، حسن، خطیب‌شهیدی، حمید، 1391، «توسعه‌ی فرهنگی جوامع شمال فارس در دوره باکون: تپه مهرعلی»، مجله‌ی مطالعات باستان‌شناسی، شماره‌ 2، دوره 4، پاییز و زمستان، (شماره پیاپی6) صص 83-101.
 
- Alizadeh, A., 2006, The Origins of State Organizations in Prehistoric Highland Fars, Southern Iran, Excavation at Tal-e Bakun, Oriental Institute Publications, Vol. 128, The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago.
- Best. R. H., 1999, “Landuse and living space, Methuen”, Pp. 19-20.
- Carter, R., Challis, K., Priestman, S., Tofighian, H., 2006, “The Bushehr Hinterland results of the first season of the Iranian-British Archaeological Survey of Bushehr Province”, November-December 2004, Iran 44, 63-103.
- Delougaz, P., Kantor, H., 1996, Chogha Mish Volume 1: The First Five Seasons of Excavations 1961–1971, The University of Chicago–Oriental Institute Publications. A. Alizadeh (ed.) Vol 10.
- De Miroschedji, P., 1973, “Prospections archéologiques dans les vallées de Fasa et de Darab: rapportpréliminaire, Ministry of culture and arts”, National research centre for history of art and archaeology. PP. 1-13.
- De Miroschedji, P., 1974, “Tepe Jalyan, une Necropole du IIIe millenaire av. J.-C.”, au Fars oriental (Iran). In: Arts asiatiques. Tome 30, 1974. Pp. 19-64.
- Dittmann, R., 1984, Eine Randebene des Zagros in der Frühzeit: Ergebnisse des Behbahan-Zuhreh Surveys, Berliner Beiträge zum Vorderen Orient Band 3, Dietrich Riemer Verlag, Berlin.
- Egami, N. & Masuda, S., 1962, Marv-Dasht I: The Excavation at Tal-i-Bakun 1956, Tokyo University Iraq-Iran Archaeological Expedition Reports, 2, Institute of Oriental Culture of the University of Tokyo, Tokyo.
- Egami, N., Masuda, S. & Gotoh, T., 1977, “Tal-i Jarri A: A preliminary report of the excavations in Marv Dasht, 1961 and 1971,” Orient 8: 1-14.
- Egami, N. & Sono, T., 1962, Marv-Dasht II: The Excavation at Tall-i-Gap 1959, Tokyo University Iraq-Iran Archaeological Expedition Reports, 3, Institute of Oriental Culture of the University of Tokyo, Tokyo.
- FAO Soils Bulletin 32, 1981, A framwork for land evaluation, FAO Publication, Rom, p. 66.
- Goff, C., 1963, “Excavations at Tall-i Nokhodi”, Iran I: 43-70
- Goff, C., 1964, “Excavations at Tall-i Nokhodi, 1962”, Iran II: 41-52.
- Gotch, P., 1968, “A Survey of the Persepolis Plain and Shiraz Area”, Iran 6: 168-170.
- Gotch, P., 1969, “The Persepolis Plain and Shiraz: Field Survey 2”, Iran 7: 190-192.
- Hejebri Nobari, A., Rezaei, M. H., Vahdatinasab, H., Khademi Nadooshan, F., 2012, “Results from a survey of Chalcolithic settlements in the plain of Kazeroun, Iran”, Antiquity: 086, Project Gallery.
- Helwing, B.; Seyedin, M., 2010, “Bakun Period Sites in Darre-ye Bolāghi, Fars, in Robert A”, Carter and Graham Philip, (eds.) Beyond the Ubaid, Studies in Ancient Oriental Civilization, No. 63, Oriental Institute of University of Chicago, Chicago. PP: 277-92.
- Herzfeld, E., 1929, “Prehistoric Persia I: A Neolithic Settlement at Persepolis; Remarkable New Discoveries,” Illustrated London News 84: 892-893.
- Langsdorff, A. & McCown, D.E., 1942, Tall-i-Bakun A: Season of 1932, Oriental Institute Publications, LIX. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
- Nissen, H., Zagarell, A., 1976, “Expedition to the Zagros Mountains, 1975,” Proceedings of the IVth Annual Symposium on Archaeological Research in Iran, Tehran, pp. 159-189.
- Petrie, C., Weeks, L., Potts, D., Roustaei, K., 2006, “Perspectives on the Cultural Sequence of Mamasani, The Mamasani Archaeological Project Stage One: A report on the first two seasons of the ICAR–University of Sydney Joint Expedition to the Mamasani District, Fars Province, Iran,” Iranian Center for Archaeological Research, Tehran, pp. 169-196.
- Potts, D. & Roustaei, K., 2006, “The Mamasani Archaeological Project Stage One: A report on the first two seasons of the ICAR–University of Sydney Joint Expedition to the Mamasani District, Fars Province, Iran,” Iranian Center for Archaeological Research, Tehran.
- Sardari, A., 2012, “Northern Fars in the Bakun Period: Archaeological Evidence from the Eghlid District, Archäologische Mitteilungen aus Iran und Turan” (AMIT) 44, in prin.
- Stein, A., 1936, An archaeological tour in the Ancient Persis, Iraq, in, 111—225. 1937, Archaeological reconnaissances in North Western India and South Eastern Asia.
- Sumner, W., 1994, “The evolution of tribal society in the southern Zagros mountains, Iran, Chiefdoms and Early States in the Near East: The Organizational Dynamics of Complexity”, Prehistory Press, Madison, WI, 47-65.
- Vanden berghe, L., 1952, “Archeologische opzoekingen in de Marv Dasht vlakte (Iran)”, Jaarbericht Ex Oriente Lux 12, 211-220.
- Voigt, M.M., Dyson, R.H., 1992,” Chronology of Iran Ca. 8000-2000 BC., In Chronologies of Old World Archaeology”, In Ehrich, R. W., (ed.), I & II, Chicago University Press, Chicago: 122-178; 125-153.
- Zagarell, A., 1982, The prehistory of the Northeast Baùhtiyāråi Mountains, Iran: The rise of a highland way of life, In Kommission bei Ludwig Reichert Verlag (Wiesbaden).
- Zeidi, M., McCall, B., Khosrozadeh, A., 2006, “Survey of Dasht-e Rostam-e Yek and dasht-e Rostam-e Do, The Mamasani Archaeological Project Stage One: A report on the first two seasons of the ICAR–University of Sydney Joint Expedition to the Mamasani District, Fars Province, Iran”, Iranian Center for Archaeological Research, Tehran, pp. 147-168.

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics