The Study of the Factors Affecting the Formation and Spatial Distribution of the Underground Troglodytics of Teymareh, Khomeyn

Articles in Press

Authors

1 Department of Archaeology, Tarbiat Modares University

2 Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Humanities, Tarbiat Modares University

3 universit of tehran

4 Department of Bioarchaeology, Institute of Archaeology, University of Warsaw

10.22084/nb.2025.28849.2651

Abstract

Teymareh, as a part of the old Teymareh district, corresponds to Khomeyn in today's administrative and political geography. 8 underground troglodytes were identified in the archeological surveys,. The archaeological findings in Tahyagh and Robat Aghaj indicate the use of them in the mid-Islamic centuries and the excavators have provided theories about the functions and reasons for the construction of them. However, despite the significant number of troglodytes identified, no analytical studies have been done so far such as the reason for their formation, uses of them, and reasons for their abundance in this area. In this research, an attempt was made to answer this question: What are the reasons and factors for the formation of underground troglodytes in the geographical area of Teymareh and How is the spatial distribution of underground troglodytes in this region in relation to the landscape? In this research, the discovered artifacts from the two excavated troglodytes Tahyagh and Robat Aghaj were studied, and other troglodytes in the upper Teymareh region were compared with these two troglodytes. Also, the context of the formation and the factors affecting the spatial distribution of the troglodytes in connection with the landscape were studied using the GIS and based on the content of the historical resources. This study confirms the existence of above-the-ground sites in the vicinity of some troglodytes at the same time as each other. Comparing the spatial distribution of the troglodytes to the landscape including the slope, height above the sea level, location of rivers, and the usage of land demonstrates that the troglodytes were constructed in favorable places for irrigated agriculture. As a result, the inhabitants of troglodytes can be interpreted as people whose economy was based on agriculture, who lived in the plains to be close to their lands, and who had built troglodytes as shelters for strategic reasons.

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Archaeological Research of Iran

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 06 May 2025

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