The Analysis of Yaniq Culture at Tappeh Gourab of Malayer, Based on Stratigeraghical Excavation

Authors

Abstract

Tappeh Gourab is located at E 34˚, 13‘, 29.3“ and N 48˚, 52’, 00.4”, 1823 meters above sea level and close to the Gourāb Village a Suffragan of Malayer town in Hamadan province, adjacent to the link road Arak-Malayer. The archaeological investigations carried out by Ali Khaksar in 2006 aiming to determine stratigraphy and limit of the site during which remarkable results were achieved. The site has been registered on the National Heritage List with No.1042 in 1984. Then in 2006 archeological excavations were done. Tappeh Gourab was identified in 1962 and Mehdi Rahbar according to the pottery comparisons, attributed the site to Sassanid era; meanwhile the site was investigated by Mr. Ahmad Kabiri. He believed there are remains of prehistoric periods (mid-4th millennium B.C.) and in the higher floors the 1st millennium potteries are attested. There were also multi-Islamic era potteries of particularly Ilkhanid era on top of the site. Archaeological excavation of the Tappeh Gourab were done in two apart tranches to determine the limit of the cultural deposit area and offering the boundary. Determining the limit of the site, 14 test trenches were excavated in different directions. As a result, the actual dimensions of the site was about 200 × 340 m were identified over the area that represents 8.3 hectares. Stratifying the site, three tomography  trenches were established. The Northeast trench is known as the main stratigraphic trench. The stratigraphic trench in the northeastern part of the site, in an sloppy area close to vertical direction was established with basic dimensions of 2 × 2 m in the northeast - southwest order. The tranche 1 is an step trench and 1.5 × 1.5 meter in diameter, placed in front of stratigraphic trench in the northeastern part of the site. Trench 14 is located at the Northern part of the site. It is 1.50 × 1.90 m. In three trenches 29.68 meters of the deposits via 3 trenches were excavated led to discover 53 catalogs, 7 structures, 7 Features and 4 locus.
Providing the absolute dating, totally 13 C14 samples have been taken of which 6 samples are from the Yaniq culture deposit and dating of samples was conducted in the laboratory Oxford University. According to the evidences of absolute chronology, pottery and architectural evidences of Tappeh Gourab, 8 cultural periods can be specified: Middle Chalcolithic, Early Bronze Age, Iron III(?)/ Achamenid (?), Parthian, Sassanid, Early Islamic, Seljuk and Ilkhanid.
Deposit related to the Early Bronze Age is 5.80 m without gap from the Middle and Late Chalcolithic. Because of the architectural structures associated with the Iron Age III / Achamenid, the upper part of Early Bronze Age deposits (K 24-36) were disturbed. Yaniq data of Tappeh Gourab is comparable with those from Tappeh Pisa, Godin Tepe, Yaniq Tape, Gol Tepe, Eastern Anatolia, Asvan Kale, South Anatolian Plateau, Mus in Turkey, Sos Hoyuk, Büyüktepe Höyük. Comparing the C14 analysis from Tappeh Gourab and the current dating of Godin Tepe, it seems that some reviews on the dating of Yaniq culture in Central Zagros is necessary.

Keywords

References

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