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An Analytical Study on the Bronze Age Cultures of Harsin, Kermanshah Province (Iran)

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An Analytical Study on the Bronze Age Cultures of Harsin, Kermanshah Province (Iran) International Journal of the Society of Iranian Archaeologists Vol. 2, No. 4, Summer- Autumn 2016 An Analytical Study on the Bronze Age Cultures of Harsin, Kermanshah Province (Iran) Parisa Naseri University of Shahrekord Mohammad Eghbal Chehri Islamic Azad University Received: May, 30, 2016 Accepted: October, 21, 2016 Abstract: Despite the fact that the prehistoric period and particularly the Bronze Age in Central Zagros have been well studied and identified to some extent, no systematic research has been conducted by foreign or Iranian archeologists on the subject of Harsin County. A total of 29 sites belonging to the Bronze Age have been identified in the archeological investigation of the region between 2002 and 2010. Based on the surface findings, all of these sites belong to the Middle and Late Bronze Age. Furthermore, it was discovered that most of these sites formed on the banks of permanent and seasonal rivers and lakes. As for the extent of residential sites of Bronze Age in the region and their location, it is implied that there were rather important and large sites along with small villages, indicating close relationships with the neighboring regions at the end of the third millennium and the beginning of the second millennium B.C. (Middle Bronze Age). The significance of the current study lies in the fact that no evidence was obtained from the Early Bronze Age (Yanik Culture), while the region has maintained numerous cultural relationships with the neighboring areas such as Kangavar with ceramics such as Godin III, Mahidasht and Lorestan from the Middle to Late Bronze Age. In addition to discussing several assumptions, as well as the analysis and typology of ceramics, it was found that only geometric patterns are visible on painted potteries of Bronze Age in Harsin County. Surprisingly, the most striking similarity has been witnessed among the region’s potteries, Lorestan potteries and eastern Pish-e Kuh. A large number of ceramics probably had local and native patterns. Keywords:Bronze Age, Harsin County, pottery. Introduction Spanning from approximately 3000 B.C. until 1500 B.C., the second millennium B.C. The geographical distribution of Bronze Age of the Central Zagros is similar to Godin phases Godin III ceramics can be determined based on limited III-IV bearing the tradition of monochromic painted Godin data (Talai 2007:103). pottery which has lasted more than a millennium as the most As a matter of fact, the term “Lorestan” and Lorestan important Central Zagros pottery tradition in Bronze Age bronze artifacts, as used by archaeologists, reflects a Central Zagros and has spread along this area (Henrickson wider geographical area with its northern side limited 1986, 1987b). Specific to this era, the archaeological data to Kermanshah and Harsin regions (Potts 2013: 203). have been obtained from important sites such as Giyan Therefore, Harsin County has played a key role as an Tepe, Godin Tepe, Jamshidi Tepe, Cheshme Mahi , Chogha important bridge between Kermanshah and Lorestan in Sabz and Sorkh Dom in Lorestan over a long period of respect of the cultural exchanges among different areas of time (Talai 2007: 13). The majority of the data related to Central Zagros. According to the archaeological surface the Bronze Age of this region originate from Godin Tepe findings obtained from the sites, one of the most thriving and Giyan Tepe covering the Bronze Age timeline (approx. eras, particularly in the prehistoric period, belongs to the 3000 to 1450 B.C.) in phases III-IV in addition to one part Bronze Age which has not been studied despite the rich of layer II of Tepe Giyan (Contenau 1935). With respect archaeological findings. to Godin III, the layers have been divided into six phases, where III6 is considered the most ancient phase of period Parisa Naseri III (Henrickson 1987b: 205-206). Although the sequence Department of Archaeology, University of Shahrekord, Chāhār of Godin III reveals a particular culture at Central Zagros Mahāl va Bakhtiyāri, Iran. spanning an entire millennium, a short-term gap of one [email protected] to two centuries is noticed between phases 3-4 and 4-5. Mohammad Eghbal Chehri Nevertheless, the sequence and continuity of Godin III has Department of Archaeology, Islamic Azad University, Central provided the basis for chronology of cultural development Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran. in Central Zagros from the half of third millennium to the [email protected] 26 Vol. 2, No. 4, Summer- Autumn 2016 International Journal of the Society of Iranian Archaeologists Research Questions and Hypotheses Research Background The Bronze Age of the region has never been studied In Harsin region, numerous archaeological field works despite the rich archaeological findings and the significant have been conducted by Iranian and foreign archeologists, extent of sites. This research is significant because those resulting in discovery of many sites from Paleolithic cultures have remained almost unknown. The questions period to the late Islamic era. The first survey of Harsin and hypotheses were formulated as follows: was conducted by Godard in 1931 (Hole 1987). Later on, Stein referred to the review and speculation of a few sites 1. How can one interpret the pottery findings of Bronze of Bronze Age between Telyab and Damaviz areas (Stein Age sites in the region obtained from the archaeological 1940: 355). A number of ancient sites at Harsin County surveys conducted in the Harsin County? were photographed by Schmidt in 1936 (Schmidt 1940). Carlton Coon excavated Bisitun cave in 1949 (Coon 2. Why has the Yanik culture not progressed towards 1951.). The first systematic approaches were adopted by the Bronze Age sites in Harsin, in the form of a nomadic Prehistory Project of Iran under the supervision of Robert culture, between 3000 B.C. and 2700 B.C.? Braidwood along with the former members of Jarmo project of Iraq between 1959 and 1960. The team dealt with the The era between the Middle Bronze Age and the surface investigation of the caves and prehistoric sites of late Bronze Age reflected cultural relationships with the Kermanshah Province and proceeded with the excavations neighboring areas of Kangavar and Godin III, Mahidasht by Bruce Howe in Warwasi rock shelter (Braidwood 1961: and Lorestan, among which the most striking resemblance 3-6). was observed between patterns on the potteries of the In 1965, Smith and Young identified Khar Cave in region and the potteries of Bronze Age in Lorestan and Bisitun, which reflected the upper Paleolithic period Eastern Pish-e Kuh. (Young and Smith 1966). Smith’s excavations in Ganj Darreh Tepe revealed Neolithic material in 1967, 1969, Given that no single piece of gray pottery of Yanik kind 1971 and 1974 (Smith 1976). Investigation into Harsin was was found, it is believed that the nomadic culture of Yanik conducted by Smith and Mortensen in 1977 (Smith and did not influence the region. The reason could be behind Mortensen 1980). Concerning the Bronze Age, Damaviz the social structure and lifestyle in the sites of Old Bronze was explored along the road from Harsin to Khoramabad, Age in Harsin. Considering the fact that the settlement while Smith made some speculations about a part of the pattern of the sites from this period are all small with low Bronze Age sites (Vanden Berghe 1959: 93-94). Motarjem cultural deposits and low height, there were semi-nomadic and Mohammadifar carried out a study to discover and and pasture-exploring communities not affected by the document the archeological remains and monuments at people of Yanik culture. Harsin in 2002 (Motarjem and Mohammadifar 2002). Finally, the overview project of the region was completed Methodology by Chehri in 2010 (Chehri 2010). The research method was hypothetical-deductive, Geographical location of Harsin involving a review of relevant studies. In order to examine the hypotheses, this paper explored the surface findings Harsin is located 45 km southeast of Kermanshah. The after outlining the situation of the region. Accordingly, the county is bounded to the north by Sahneh County, to the east Bronze Age cultures of the region were first identified and by Nahavand County, to the south by Lorestan Province, studied based on the pottery findings and then the potteries and to the west by Kermanshah County. The county is were compared with excavated sites like Godin III in subdivided into two different districts of plain in the south order to establish a relative chronology and regional or and mountains in the north (Figure 1). The most important trans-regional link. The statistical sample of this research mountains of the region include Parow, Shirez and Gonban consisted of data obtained from archeological surveys and in the north, Golzard in the east, Siahkamar, Zarinkooh, review projects conducted in Harsin County. During the Imamzade and Chaman Ismael mountain in the south and two seasons of archeological survey at the region carried Derazkooh in the west (Motarjem and Mohammadifar out by Motarjem and Chehri in 2002 and 2010 (Motarjem 2002: 1). The highest peak of Parow is called Sheikh-Ali- and Mohammadifar 2002; Chehri 2010), it was discovered khan, 3,375 meters high, while the peak located in the that 29 sites had cultural material of Bronze Age, which north of Bisotun is 2,794 meters high (Rahimi 2000: 1-2). forms our statistical sample. This paper intended to explore Shirez Mountain of Harsin is 2,708 meters high (Armed the evolution of Bronze Age in the region based on the Forces Geographical Organization 2000) and the area has pottery findings obtained from field inspection and then a cold semi-arid climate. Harsin is 1,582 meters above sea examine the settlement patterns of the region. level. As a matter of fact, water is abundant in this province 27 International Journal of the Society of Iranian Archaeologists Vol.
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