Analysis, Classification and Typology of Chalcolithic Pottery of Silakhor Plain-Borujerd

Authors

1 PhD Student, Department of Archaeology, Science and Research Unit, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Associate Professor, Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Archaeology, Iran and a Member of the Faculty of Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Silakhor plain in the north of Lorestan is one of the important areas of Central Zagros, which has many settlements related to the chalcolithic age. Investigations and studies conducted in this plain have so far shown 80 ancient sites related to the chalcolithic age. The data of this research was taken from the survey and identification that took place in 2005 in the Silakhor plain, as well as re-examination and supplementary survey of the authors from this. In this research, 51 representative pottery samples from the chalcolithic age pottery in the area of this site have been studied typologically. In this research an attempt has been made to answer the question that how the typological comparison of chalcolithic age pottery of Silakhor plain can be effective in regulating the chronology of the region. The typology and comparisons made in relation to the pottery of this period in the Silakhor plain show that the common pottery cultures of the chalcolithic age in this area are affected by the developments in the northern regions of Garin-Kouh and Sefid-Kouh (Kangavar Vally). Therefore, the chronology of Kangavar Vally in the chalcolithic can be extended to the Silakhor plain as well as on other hand, the typology of pottery types in this research can be effective in understanding the cultures late chalcolithic period and in the Bronze Age. The typological similarities of the chalcolithic pottery of the Silakhor plain with the pottery of the Godin III period show the chalcolithic and, consequently, the Bronze Age. After studies conducted on the collected pottery, 51 pottery samples, which were more representative, were separated and studied further. In this regard, we have tried to present at least one example of each pottery sample in this article. The collected samples represent that early, middle and late periods of the chalcolithic age in the Silakhor plain.
Keywords: Central Zagros, Silakhor Plain, Chalcolithic Age, Pottery Typology, Chronology.
 
Introduction
Silakhor is a relatively large plain located in Borujerd and Durud cities. The plain is one of the mountainous plains of the Central Zagros region, which is located at an average height of 1500 above sea level. The presence of abundant water resources and fertile soil has made us witness the existence of 80 ancient sites related to the chalcolithic period in the northern half of this plain (Broujerd), (Parviz, 2005). Despite the archaeological investigations and studies that have been conducted in this area in recent years, no targeted study has been conducted regarding the chalcolithic age of this area. In this research, an attempt has been made to analyze the situation of the chalcolithic age of this area through two data sources, the first source of data is related to the survey report that was carried out by Ahmad Parviz in 2005 from Borujerd city (Parviz, 2005). The second source of information is related to the re-examinations that the authors have made in relation to this research of the chalcolithic sites of this area. The purpose of these studies is to firstly examine the chronology of this area in the chalcolithic age based on the typology of the collected pottery and secondly to clarify the settlement status of Silakhor plain (Broujerd) in this period. In order to do this, the pottery findings collected after investigation and study have been separated and some of the representative samples have been presented and typified in this research. The purpose of this work was to outline the general chronology of the Silakhor plain in the chalcolithic age. After the studies conducted on the collected pottery, 51 the pottery samples, which were more representative, were separated and studied further. In this regard, we have tried to present at least on example of each pottery sample in this article. The collected samples represent the three periods of early, middle and late chalcolithic in Silakhor plain. In addition, the identified areas related to the chalcolithic age on GIS maps based on the geographic coordinates (UTM) registered by outputting from GIS software, it is determined how after each of these areas is from the nearest river, and their height compared to open water has Bern recorded. In this research, an attempt has been recorded. In this research, an attempt has been made to answer this question: How can the taxonomic comparison of chalcolithic age pottery and Silakhor plain be effective in regulating the chronology of this region?
 
Pottery Findings from the Main Areas of the Study Site
After examining the sites of the chalcolithic age of the Silakhor plain and collecting pottery related to this period, 51 representative pottery samples of this period were separated for comparison and typology. The purpose of doing this typology is to know the pottery cultures of the study area and also to check the chronology of this medium. From the point of view of typology, the pottery has been comparable with pottery of Kangavar Vally and Mahidasht in the three periods of the early, middle and late periods of the chalcolithic age. To analyze the pottery findings of this research, it is necessary to place the pottery in three periods: early, middle and late. In the chronology of the Kangavar and Mahidasht chalcolithic age each of the mentioned periods is known as Dalma, Sehgabi and Gobin VII and VI. Each of the mentioned periods has its own types of pottery. In this research, all types of common pottery in Kangavar and Mahidasht have not been seen; however, all the studied pottery of Silakhor plain are comparable with the pottery of mentioned northern regions. Undoubtedly, by conducting further investigations in Dilakhor plain, other common pottery can be seen in Kangavar and Mahidasht (Central Zagros) in the chalcolithic age.
 
Conclusion
The typology of the collected pottery (51pottery samples) showed that the common cultures in the Silakhor plain are the same as the common patterns of the northern regions in the Kangavar plain. Therefore, the chronology of Kangavar valley in the chalcolithic age in Silakhor plain can also be generalized. This can be recognized through the types of simple and engraved pottery presented in this research. Three types of pottery from Kangavar valley, Siah Bid and Jaghamaran have been seen among the pottery in Mahidasht. Therefore, it is possible to study the chalcolithic age in Silakhor plain in three periods: early, middle and late. The typological similarities of Silakhor plain pottery with other areas of Central Zagros indicate close connections between eastern Lorestan and the northern part of Central Zagros in the chalcolithic age. Part of these connections seems to be in the direction of the communication corridor that was formed on the northern slopes of Garin Mountain and on the edge of Gamasiab River, which connect the east of Lorestan, Kangavar and Mahidasht. Basically, in the central zeroes, the shape of the unevenness has been effective in the spread of cultures in prehistoric times. The existence of this communication path has undoubtedly had a significant impact on this cultural homogeneity in the chalcolithic age. The presence of various types of pottery in all three periods of the chalcolithic age also shows the continuity of settlement in the Silakhor plain. The homogeneities and similarities of Silakhor plain clay are cleanly evident in the early (Dalma) middle (Sehgabi) and late (Godin VII) chalcolithic age.
 
 

Keywords

Main Subjects


- بلمکی، بهزاد، 1391، «بررسی پدیدۀ افزایش جمعیت در زاگرس‌مرکزی در طول دوران مس‌سنگی». دومین همایش ملی مطالعات باستان‌شناختی غرب ایران، اردیبهشت 1391، همدان.
- بهرامی، محمد؛ و فاضلی‌نشلی، حسن، 1395، «مروری بر وضعیت باستان‌شناسی درۀ خرم‌آباد در دورۀ نوسنگی و مس‌وسنگ». پژوهش‌های باستان‌شناسی ایران، 6 (10): 46-27.
- پرویز، احمد، 1385، «بررسی و شناسایی شهرستان بروجرد». بایگانی ادارۀ کل میراث‌فرهنگی، صنایع‌دستی و گردشگری استان لرستان (منتشر نشده).
- جانجان، محسن؛ بیک‌محمدی، خلیل‌الله؛ و بیک‌محمدی، نسرین، 1393، «بررسی تغییرات فرهنگی و زیست‌محیطی از دورۀ مس‌وسنگی تا پایان عصر آهن مبنتی‌بر الگوهای استقراری (برپایۀ بررسی باستان‌شناختی در بخش زند- ملایر)». مجموعه مقالات همایش واکاوی پنجاه سال باستان‌شناسی ملایر. ادارۀ میراث‌فرهنگی، صنایع‌دستی و گردشگری، صص: 232-215.
- داوودی، داوود، 1385، «بررسی شناسایی و مستندسازی آثار باستانی شهرستان الشتر (دهستان‌های فیروزآباد، یوسفوند و قلعه مظفری». بایگانی ادارۀ کل میراث‌فرهنگی، صنایع‌دستی و گردشگری استان لرستان (منتشر نشده).
- داوودی، داوود، 1386، «بررسی و شناسایی و مستندسازی آثار باستانی شهرستان الشتر (دهستان دوآب)». بایگانی اداره کل میراث‌فرهنگی، صنایع‌دستی و گردشگری استان لرستان (منتشر نشده).
- سایت فرمانداری شهرستان بروجرد، 1399، http://borujerd-gov.ir.
- سعیدی هرسینی، محمدرضا، 1385، «بررسی و تحلیل داده‌های باستان‌شناختی حوضۀ رودخانه گاماسیاب در دوران نوسنگی». رسالۀ دکتری باستان‌شناسی، دانشکدۀ علوم انسانی، دانشگاه تربیت‌مدرس، تهران: زمستان 1385 (منتشر نشده).
- طلایی، حسن، 1393، ایران پیش‌ازتاریخ: عصر مس‌سنگی. چاپ سوم، تهران: سازمان مطالعه و تدوین کتب علوم انسانی دانشگاه‌ها (سمت).
- عبدالهی، مصطفی؛ و سرداری‌زارچی، علیرضا، 1392، «شرق زاگرس‌مرکزی در دورۀ نوسنگی بر‌اساس کاوش‌های باستان‌شناسی تپه قلاگپ». مجله پژوهش‌های باستان‌شناسی ایران. 3 (4): 138-117.
- گاراژیان، عمران؛ عادلی، جلال؛ و پاپلی‌یزدی، لیلا، 1384، «الگوی استقرار در دشت خاوه و منطقۀ میربگ زاگرس‌مرکزی براساس بررسی‌های باستان‌شناختی منطقه». مجله پیام باستان‌شناس. 4: 48-21.
- مترجم، عباس؛ و شریفی، مهناز، 1397، «فرآیند گذار از سنت‌های فرهنگی نوسنگی جدید به مس‌وسنگ قدیم در پسکرانۀ شرق زاگرس‌مرکزی، پژوهش‌های باستان‌شناسی ایران، دورۀ 8 (16): 102-83.
- منادی، علی، 1400، «بررسی تطور فرهنگی جوامع دشت سیلاخور (بروجرد و درود) در دورۀ مس‌و‌سنگ برمبنای بررسی‌های باستان‌شناسی». دانشکدۀ ادبیات و علوم انسانی، دانشکدۀ ادبیات و علوم انسانی دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد علوم تحقیقات، تهران (منتشر نشده).
- منادی، علی؛ ولی‌پور، حمیدرضا؛ و نقشینه، امیرصادق، 1400، «تحلیل الگوهای استقراری عصر مس‌وسنگ در دشت سیلاخور با استفاده از تحلیل‌های GIS». مطالعات باستان‌شناسی پارسه، 5 (15): 71-57.
- نیکنامی، کمال‌الدین؛ میرقادری، محمدامین؛ و گراوند، مرتضی، 1396، «غاربتخانه: شواهدی نو از جوامع کوچ‌رو در زاگرس‌مرکزی از نیمۀ هزارۀ چهارم پیش‌ازمیلاد تا پایان عصر مفرغ-کوهدشت، لرستان». پژوهش‌های باستان‌شناسی ایران، 7 (1): 64-47.
- واندنبرگ، لویی، 1379، باستان‌شناسی ایران باستان. ترجمۀ عیسی بهنام، چاپ دوم، تهران: انتشارات دانشگاه تهران.
- ویت، مری . م.؛ و دایسون، رابرت هنری، 1382، گاهنگاری ایران از حدود هشت‌هزار سال تا دوهزار پیش‌ازمیلاد. ترجمۀ اکبرپور فرج و احمد چایچی‌امیرخیز، کرمان: انتشارات نسل باران.
 
- Abdollahi, M. & Sardari Zarchi, A., 2014, “Eastern Central Zagros During the Neolithic Period: Based on the Excavation at Tappeh Qelā Gap”. Pajhohesh-Ha-Ye Bastanshenasi Iran, 3 (4): 117-138 (in Persian).
- Bahrami, M. & Fazeli Nashali, H., 2016, “The Archaeology of Khorramabad Valley during the Neolithic and Chalcolithic Period”. Pajhohesh-Ha-Ye Bastanshenasi Iran, 6 (10): 27-46 (in Persian).
- Balmaki, B., 2014, “A Look at the Cultural Developments of the Nahavand Plain and the Introduction of its Key Areas During the Chalcolithic Period”. in: Proceedings of the Nahavand Archaeological Conference (Commemoration of Mehdi Rahbar), Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Hamedan province, Pp: 91-110 (in Persian).
- Boroujard Governorate website, 2020, http://borujerd-gov.ir (in Persian).
- Davoodi, D., 2006, “Survey, identification and register ancient relics Aleshtar county (rural district Firozabad, Yosoufvand and Ghaleh Mozafari)”. Iran: Archive administration of cultural heritage in Louristan Province (unpublished (in Persian)
- Davoodi, D., 2007, “Survey, identification and register ancient relics Aleshtar county (rural district Doab)”. Iran: Archive administration of cultural heritage in Louristan Province (unpublished) (in Persian).
- Dayson, R., 1969, “A Decade in Iran”. Expedition, 11: 2.
- Goff Mead, C., 1971, “Luristan Before the Iron Age”. Iran, 9: 131-152.
- Gopnik, H., 2011, “The Median Citadel of Godin Period II”. in: On the High Road, the History of Godin Tape, Iran, Ontario: Royal Ontario Museum.
- Gopnik, H. & Rothman, M. S., 2011, On the High Road, the History of Godin Tape, Iran. Ontario: Royal Ontario Museum.
- Henrickson, E. F., 1983, “Ceramic Styles and Cultural Interaction in the Early and Middle Chalcolithic of Central Zagros”. Iran doctoral dissertation, Toronto: department of anthropology university of Toronto.
- Hole, F., 2007, “Cycles of Settlement in the Khorramabad Valley in Luristan, Iran”. in: Settlement and Society Essays Dedicated to Robert Mccormick Adams. Edited by: Elizabeth C. Stone, Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, University of California, Los Angeles and The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, Pp: 63-82.
- Howell, R., 1979, “Survey of excavations in Iran: Survey of the Malayer plain David Stronach 1978”. Journal of the British institute of Persian Studies, Iran, Journal of Persian studies, 17: 143-159.
- Niknami, K.; Mirghaderi, M. A. & Garavand, M., 2017, “Gharbatkhaneh: New Evidences of Nomadic Communities in Central Zagros from the Middle of the 4th Millennium BC to the End of the Bronze Age - Kohdasht, Lorestan”. Pajhohesh-Ha-Ye Bastanshenasi Iran, 7 (15): 47-64 (in Persian).
- Levin, L. D. & Young, T. C., 1986, A Summary of the Ceramic Assemblage of the Central Western Zagros from the Middle Neolithic to the Late Third Millennium B.C, Colloques international aux CNRS prehistoric  de La Mesopotamie. 17-18-19 Decamber 1984, Paris.
- Parviz, A., 2006, “Archeaological Survey Borujerd County”. Iran: Archive administration of cultural heritage in Louristan Province (Unpublished, in Persian).
- Rothman, M. S. & Badler, V. R., 2011, “Contact and Development in Godin Period VI’. in: On the High Road, the History of Godin Tape, Iran. Ontario: Royal Ontario Museum.
- Saeedi Harsini, M. R. & Chaichi Amirkhiz, A., 2005, “Report of Survey establishments Chalcolitic age and Bronze Age Nahavand plain (basin Gamasiab River)”. Archive Iranian center for archaeological research (Unpublished, in Persian).
- Stine, S. O., 1940, Old routs in western Iran. New York, Green Wood Press.
- Talai, H., 2014, Prehistoric Iran: Chalcolithic Age. third edition, Tehran: Samt.
- Vandenberg, L., 2000, Archeology of ancient Iran. Translate by Eisa Behnam, Tehran: Press of Tehran University.
- Voigt, M. & Dyson, R., 2003, The Chronology of Iran, 8000 - 2000 B.C. translated by: Akbar Porfaraj and Ahmad Chaichi Amirkhiz, Kerman: Nasl Baran press (in Persian).
- Young, T. C., 1967, “The migration into the Zagros”. Iran, V: 1-34.
- Young, T. C., 1975, “An archaeological survey of the Kangavar Valley”. Proceeding of the 3RD annual symposium on archaeological research in Iran, 3: 23-30.