An Investigation of the Sasanian Ceramics Recovered from Zeroavad II Archaeological Site, Davoudabad, Markazi Province

Abstract
Zeroavad Tepe II, situated in Davoudabad, Markazi Province, is recognized as one of the significant Sasanian sites in the Iranian Central Plateau. It underwent one season of archaeological excavation in 2022, revealing a plethora of cultural artifacts, particularly potsherds. Given the pivotal role of ceramics in archaeological studies, this article focuses on the analysis of 86 potsherds sampled from a total of 918 pieces recovered during the excavation of Sasanian deposits of the mound. Initially, the sherds were categorized and classified based on their technical specifications and form. This study, as a fundamental research, follows a descriptive-analytical approach. The research methods consists of two parts: library research and field studies focusing on ceramics. The findings indicate that the most frequently identified forms at Zeroavad Tepe II are jars, bowls, pots, plates, and trays, in order of frequency. The predominant decorative motifs are engraved designs. It is worth noting that the majority of the ceramics have been properly fired, suggesting that the kiln temperature was carefully controlled during the firing process. Furthermore, the comparative analysis reveals that the pottery from this region shares similarities with other areas such as Cham Ruteh, Sirm Shāh, Qal’eh Yazdgerd, Qal’eh Gori, Ecbatana (Hegmataneh), Veliran, Tesmijan, Vigol and Harasgan, and Berdankun. Additionally, the ceramics recorded in Mah Neshan in Zanjan, North Khuzestan and Mian Ab in Shushtar, as well as the Abu Sharifah site in Iraq, also exhibit resemblances. Apart from its regional characteristics, the Sasanian ceramics from Zeroavad Tepe II indicate the closest resemblance to the western Iran and the Iranian Central Plaetau.
Keywords: Classification, Typology, Chronology, Sasanian Ceramic, Zeroavad Tepe, Davoudabad.
Introduction
Zeroavad Tepe is one of the lesser-known Sasanian archaeological sites in Iran. It is located in the town of Davoudabad, Markazi Province. Davoudabad is a part of Arak County, and has been mentioned multiple times as Rostaq Farahan in historical writings by Islamic geographers and historians like Hassan Ebn Qomi (Qomi, 2006: 320). The archaeological complex of Zeroavad consists of mound I and II, with the latter being located four and a half kilometers northwest of Davoudabad amidst agricultural fields.
Pottery stands out as the most abundant cultural material uncovered in archaeological studies. When recovered in situ, this cultural material aids in establishing the chronology of that deposit it belongs. Moreover, it plays a crucial role in unveiling the cultural and commercial ties between various regions (Khosrowzadeh et al., 2020: 119). Given the limited information available on Sasanian ceramic from Iranian Central Plateau, our aim is to create a structured framework for distinguishing the unique characteristics of the Sasanian ceramics in this region in comparison to neighboring areas and beyond, utilizing descriptions, documentation, and typology of the sherds recovered from Zeroavad Tepe II. 
Archaeological research heavily relies on pottery findings to establish relative and absolute chronology and understand cultural interactions among societies. Hence, the primary objective of this article is to conduct a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative analysis of Sasanian potteries recorded at Zeroavad Tepe II. This analysis will involve the classification, typology, and comparative chronology of the potsherds, providing valuable insights into the historical context of the site.
Research Questions: The research endeavors to address several questions, as follows: Which other cultural areas do the Sasanian pottery of Zeroavad Tepe II show the greatest connection with? What types of pottery are typically found at this site? What technical details can be provided about the pottery at Zeroavad Tepe II, such as production quality, techniques, and firing levels?
Research Methods: This study is a fundamental research and utilizes a descriptive-analytical approach. The research methodos consist of two main components: Field research, which involves exploration, selection, and sampling design along with photography, and library research that focuses on analyzing and comparing the cultural characteristics of pottery samples recovered from the excavation of Zeroavad Tepe II with those from contemporaneous sites.
Research Background
The Davoudabad region was examined by Gholam Shirzad in 2008, Javad Alaei Moghadam in 2012, and again in 2017. Additionally, some articles have recently been published regarding Sasanian ceramics. These include the work of Labaf Khaniki (2008) on Sasanian pottery in Northeastern Iran, a study by Mohammadi Far and Tahmasabi (2014) on the classification of Sasanian ceramics in Seymareh Valley, a case study on Qal’eh Seirm Shāh, as well as research projects in Seymareh Valley such as the manor house of Roe and the residential house of Cham Ruteh (Niyakan, 2019; Sharifi, 2018, 2019). Other studies encompass the research by Habibi and Heydari Kamal (2014) on Sasanian pottery in the West of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, based on samples from the archaeological survey of Farsan, and the work of Bagh Sheikhi and colleagues (2018) in an introductory article highlighting the identification of Sasanian and Islamic ceramics in the Shirkuh Naein area.
Classification and Typology of Sasanian Pottery from Zeroavad Tepe II
The excavation of the Zeroavad II revealed various cultural artifacts, including potsherds from different contexts. In the recent study, out of the numerous Sasanian potsherds collected through screening, 86 distinct pieces were chosen for further analysis, classification, typology, and chronological assessment. The examined potteries were predominantly of the plain type, with no glazed examples identified. The  containers were categorized into jars (42%), bowls (28%), pots (20%), plates (7%), and troughs (3%) based on their shapes and frequency.
Comparing the cultural material of neighboring regions is a common method used to determine the presence or absence of connection between cultural societies. Ceramic, among other artifact, holds a significant position due to its unique physical characteristics and wide range of techniques, decorations, and styles. In fact, ceramic serves as the primary tool for establishing relative chronology (Bagh Sheikhi et al., 2019: 98-99).
The findings from the comparative typological and chronological examination of the potsherds from Zeroavad Tepe II indicate a clear resemblance to the finds from the neighboring areas. They also indicate similarities in supra-regional scale. Notably, a significant similarity is noted with the western regions of Iran and the Central Plateau, as well as with the ceramics from Qal’eh Yazdgerd (12%), Hegmataneh (10%), and Mahoor Siah Site (9%), as shown in Table 14.
Comparatively, the Sasanian potteries unearthed at Zeroavad Tepe II exhibit similarities to those found in other cultural areas, encompassing the West and Northwest of Iran, the Central Plateau, and the Southwest of Iran (Table 14). 
Conclusion
Various  forms of pottery, such as jars, bowls, pots, plates, and troughs, were recovered from Zeroavad Tepe II. Through a comparative analysis, similarities were found between some of the finds and those found from other Sasanian sites in different regions of Iran, including the Central Plateau (Veliran, Mahoor Siah, Wigol and Harasgan, Hesar, Qal’eh Gabri, Buin Zahra, and Tasmijan), the west (Seyram Shāh, Hegmataneh, Qal’eh Gori, Lare Lare II, Takht-e Soleyman, Qal’eh Yazdgerd, Mahneshan, Sonqor, Dehgolan, and Qorveh) and Southwest (Berdankun Site, Farsan, North of Khuzestan, and Mian Ab in Shushtar) of Iran. Furthermore, there are indications of similarities with certain localities outside Iran, such as Abu Sharifah in present-day Iraq (Map 1). The pottery samples from the Zeroavad II have been subjected to comparative typological and chronological analysis. The results of this analysis clearly demonstrate the similarity between these samples and those from the neighboring and more distant areas. Among the studied samples, the most significant cultural similarity is observed with the western regions of Iran and the Central Plateau. Additionally, the pottery from Zeroavad II exhibits remarkable similarity with the ancient Hegmataneh Tepe in Hamadan Province, Qal’eh Yazdgerd in Kermanshah Province, and the Mahoor Siah region in Markazi Province. Based on these findings, Zeroavad II can be identified as one of the Sasanian sites in the Arak region, preserving the pottery traditions of that period.