مطالعۀ نقش عوامل محیطی و جغرافیایی در پراکندگی محوطه‌های دورۀ ماد

Abstract
The analysis of site distribution suggests that the Median territory, at its maximum extent, encompassed a substantial area that included western and northwestern Iran, eastern Asia Minor, and portions of northern Mesopotamia extending to northeastern Iran and southern Turkmenistan. As a result, the attributes of the associated material culture are unlikely to be consistent throughout this extensive region. The broad dispersion of Median sites, coupled with the geographical and cultural heterogeneity of the area, poses considerable challenges for archaeological investigations pertaining to this period. It is logical to assume that geographical and environmental elements significantly influenced the distribution of these sites and the development of the cultural landscape. Nevertheless, comprehensive studies exploring the effects of geographical, environmental, and spatial conditions on the placement of Median sites remain lacking. This research aims to analyze various environmental and geographical characteristics of Median sites and evaluate the influence of these factors on site distribution through the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial analysis. Our findings indicate that various environmental and geographical characteristics may serve as key criteria for selecting locations of establishments during Median period. Significantly, the primary factors include accessibility to transportation routes, especially the Great Khorasan Road, and the availability of surface water resources. Continued archaeological investigations into the Median period, coupled with further analysis of cultural attributes and the discovery of additional Median sites, will enhance the depth and precision of studies regarding the cultural landscape and the elements that influenced its formation.
Keywords: Median Period, Cultural Landscape, Geographic Information System (GIS), Spatial Analysis, Site Selection.
 
Introduction
The Iron Age III (850–550 BCE) in Iran and its neighboring regions, chronologically corresponding to the Median period, has always been surrounded by considerable historical and archaeological ambiguities and questions. Overall, investigations into the culture and archaeology of this era encounter specific limitations and challenges. These issues primarily stem from the scarcity of written documentation and references from the time, inconsistencies in historical records, and a lack of systematic methodologies in archaeological field work, compounded by the scattered nature of material evidence. Although Median-period sites are widely distributed across various geographical and climatic regions, a thorough examination of how geographical conditions and factors influence site selection and the spatial attributes of these settlements has yet to be undertaken. This article seeks to explore the impact of environmental and geographical elements on the development and distribution of Median sites.
 
Materials and Methods
This study seeks to explore the cultural landscape of locations associated with the Median period, examining the environmental and geographical elements that shaped this landscape through a landscape archaeology framework, which emphasizes the relationship between human societies and their environment, while also employing spatial analysis techniques within a Geographic Information System (GIS). The objective of the research is to elucidate the spatial distribution and evaluate the degree to which environmental factors impacted the distribution and site selection of Late Iron Age (Median) settlements.
 
Data
Until quite recently, our knowledge about the archaeology of the Median period was restricted to some scanty information and the findings recovered from Nūsh-i Jān (Malayer), Godin (Kangavar) and Bābā Jān (Nūrābād). However, the archaeological knowledge regarding this period has been expanded during the past two decades. In recent years, several studies have been conducted on the Median sites. These studies and excavations have not only led to the discovery of more Median sites in western and northwestern Iran but have also expanded the extent of the Median territory from the west into eastern Asia Minor and parts of northern Mesopotamia. Furthermore, archaeological investigations in the Central Iranian Plateau (Eastern Media) have identified Median sites in areas such as Qom, Qazvin Plain, Isfahan, and Tehran and Rey plains. To the east, recent excavations in Semnan and Khorasan have uncovered evidence of Median settlements. Additionally, excavations beyond Iran’s modern borders in Turkmenistan have revealed Median sites, further extending the Median territory to the east. These discoveries have provided new insights into Median archaeology and have helped define the geographical dispersion of the associated culture, from the western regions to the eastern boundaries.
In order to compile a reliable inventory of sites from the Median period and assess the impact of natural and geographical factors on them, this study has aimed to include, as far as possible, all sites with definitive evidence of the Median period preferably those identified through archaeological excavations and for which published, accessible, and citable information is available. The analysis is limited to sites with precise geographic coordinates. Consequently, many sites identified during archaeological surveys, for which detailed results have not been published or made fully accessible, are not considered in this research. 
 
Discussion
Spatial analysis indicates that the formation of Median-period sites was influenced by factors such as elevation, access to surface water resources, and slope. However, communication routes and access to natural passageways were likely the most significant factors in the distribution of these sites.
The strategic position of Media and the main trade route in the region, namely the Great Khorasan Road, point to the great importance of communication and trade between Mesopotamia and Central Asia during the Median period. It appears that the Medes monopolized the affairs of the trade routes between Mesopotamia and Khorasan, hence the reason for the fact that they brought a great deal of wealth to the region. It is reasonable to assume that a significant portion of the Medes’ income in major cities such as Rey and Hamadan came from taxes or levies collected from merchants and traders. In return for these payments, the Medes would have probably provided security for the important transportation routes. Prior to the formation of the independent Media, it was the Assyrians who monitored, controlled and provided security for parts of the Great Khorasan Road in western Iran. Subsequently, the Assyrian trade networks were affected due to the disobedience of the local rulers, especially the Medes, in the Zagros region. This is also confirmed by environmental and geographical data, which also demonstrate the significance of communication networks in the dispersion and location of the index areas of the Median period.
 
Conclusion
This study, using a landscape archaeology approach and spatial analysis in a Geographic Information System (GIS), examines the geographical factors influencing the distribution pattern of Median-period sites and the impact of environmental conditions on the cultural landscape of the Median territory. The analysis reveals that variables related to landforms and topography such as elevation, slope, proximity to rivers and surface water flows, and the location of sites in relation to natural passageways and communication routesplayed a significant role in the distribution of these sites. Notably, access to communication routes was crucial in the selection of Median settlement sites. Most identified sites, even in areas with less favorable natural conditions, are located along the main east-west route, the Great Khorasan Road, and its branches.