Department of Archaeology

Soha Chay Tepe is located on the right bank of the Sojasrud River and lies within the province of Zanjan, in
Western Iran. During excavation, one cultural period and two architectural phases have been distinguished,
contemporary to the Middle Chalcolithic period (Dalma tradition). More complex activities in Chalcolithic
period are well studied and accepted by researchers, however analyzing pottery according to stylistic attributes
revealed more details about systematic pottery production of this period in the west of Iran. A total of 96 pottery
samples was chemically analyzed with portable XRF device in order to detect clustering pattern. Results have
revealed meaningful similarities concerning composition between the sampled groups in regards to their decoration
style. It showed that the potters of Soha Chay Tepe might have made distinct operation decisions for their
various pottery style productions. Portable XRF with relative internal calibration used in this study confirmed
that it has high potential in compositional studies of ceramic regarding to more detailed questions.

Current genetic data are equivocal as to whether goat domestication occurred multiple times or was a singular process. We generated genomic data from 83 ancient goats (51 with genome-wide coverage) from Paleolithic to Medieval contexts throughout the Near East. Our findings demonstrate that multiple divergent ancient wild goat sources were domesticated in a dispersed process that resulted in genetically and geographically distinct Neolithic goat populations, echoing contemporaneous human divergence across the region. These early goat populations contributed differently to modern goats in Asia, Africa, and Europe. We also detect early selection for pigmentation, stature, reproduction, milking, and response to dietary change, providing 8000-year-old evidence for human agency in molding genome variation within a partner species.

According to the Sassanid traditions, every major Iranian kust (province) was to be administered by a prince or a member of the royal family. Sakestan (the present Sistan Province), a very vast province of that period of time, was governed by the crown prince who would be given the title of Sakanshah after resuming this responsibility. The continuous presence of the Sassanid princes in the Sistan Province led to the urbanization of this region.
  The oldest city of Sistan, popularly referred to by Muslim historians and geographers as Ram Shahrestan or Abarshahr (lit. metropolis), was the capital of the Sassanid Dynasty. Jeihani, Estakhri, Ibn-e Howqal, etc., have given a brief description of this city in their writings. According to early Islamic geographers, since the river that passed by the city dried up suddenly it was abandoned towards the end of Sassanid era following which the capital was transferred to another place called Zarang.
  Owing to differences of opinion among the geographers as well as the existence remains of various ancient sites in the vast plains of the Sistan Province that belong to the Sassanid era it is rather difficult to ascertain the exact location of Ram Shahrestan.
  In this study efforts have been made to identify the real location of Ram Shahrestan on the basis of the historical evidences as well as the systematic archeological surveys carried out in the Sistan basin. Besides, the research tries to throw light on the early settlements in the region and the final abandonment of Ram Shahrestan on the basis of archeological findings. Accordingly, Tappeh Shahrestan, 25 km south of Zabol (The center of the Sistan Province in eastern Iran) is supposed to be the real location of Ram Shahrestan; an area frequently inhabited from the third century BC until the end of the sixth century AD.

Sistan, in the eastern half of Iran, is one of the most important archaeological regions from where archaeological sites belonging to the Bronze Age onwards have recovered in abundance. During the Achaemenids, this region was known as Dranka/Zranka that remarkably covered a vast area and population. Greeks called this vast territory as Drangiana. According to Greek historians, Drangiana consisted of two main parts: the northern part was Prophtasia and the southern was known as Agriaspǽ/ Ariaspǽ. It is said that Alexander the Great spent the winter in Ariaspǽ while on his way to conquer India. Greeks called the people of Ariaspǽ as Evergetǽ (donor). They not only helped Syrus the Great in his war against Massagetai at a time when he was suffered food shortages in the Iranian desert but, they also welcomed of Alexander the Macedonian in the winter when he was going to conquer India. So, I tried to determine the actual location of Evergetǽ realm in old Drangiana (Sistan) using historical approach which is based on Greek documents as well as archaeological surveys. During a systematic archeological survey carried out by a large team of archaeologists in the south half of Drangiana (now; Sistan) we identified about 110 Achaemenid era sites also providing further evidences for the significance in connection with the post achaemenids. So, the Evergetǽ domain can be distinguished in the delta of Rude Biaban that is currently deserted and uninhabited. If it is excavated in some of the sites, will get a lot of information of late Achaemenids and Greeks in this region.

Kooh-e Khajeh (Kajeh Mountain), with 120m height and 2-2.5km in diameter, is located at Hamoon Lake like an island. Since the archaic era, due to its specific geopolitical location, religious sacredness, and the natural beauty especially at the times of water-richness at Hamoon, this place caused the formation of settlements. Based on an intensive archaeological survey conducted in this region, seventeen sites have been identified of which thirteen possess earthenware. Through typological and chronological studies of potteries found at surface level, two era of settlement have been identified in this Mount: one refers to the pre-Islam era beginning from 3 rd century B.C. until the end of Sassanians; the second belongs to the Islamic era particularly on the basis of glazed potteries scattered on the surface as well as some structures built during 6 th and 8 th century Hegira. The buildings and structures related to the pre-Islam era include palaces, defensive forts and citadels, and temples, whereas; the buildings of the Islamic era are exclusively related to some religious places such as shrines, mausoleums and cemeteries.

Covering the body against various natural factors (heat, coldness, and wind) as well as doctrine, cultural, and social factors has been prevalent since old ages and with the passage of time and changes of conditions it has undergone many alterations and transformations. Iranian clothing in Parthian period following the conquest of Iran by Alexander the Macedonian and due to the effects of Hellenistic beliefs and culture has been transformed in a way that in addition to protecting the body against the natural factors and observing ethical and cultural issues, aesthetical element, shape, and color of garment have been highly considered too. With respect to the wide territory of the Parthian dynasty, this period are divided into two extensive groups of the eastern and western territories which are different to some extent from the artistic aspect. Sistan, in the east of Iran, by having abundant works remained from Parthian period, particularlyPalace of Koh-e Khajeh,represents the special Iranians' culture of clothing in the eastern territory. Through investigating the frescos in the Palace of Koh-e Khajeh, one can realize the different types of common clothing in this region and the neighboring areas during the Parthian period; and also, we can specify the extent to which Greek clothing has affected the clothing during the Parthian period and then it helps to differentiate it from the local and native garments. Investigating and study of frescos in the Palace of Koh-e Khajeh suggest that its inhabitants' clothing in addition to imitating the color and form of Greeks' clothinghas been also influenced by natural and local factors of the region and religious beliefs.

Haetumant Rāyvmand is the eleventh wonderful and exceptional piece of land or country created by Ahura Mazda hence, this is the most ancient name that still remains in the literatures of Sistan. Haetumant, apart from the fact that it is paralleled to Hirmand River, is also known as the land of Sistan. This river has been praised quite often in the holy Avesta and considered one of the holiest rivers in the Zoroastrian religion. One of the reasons of this river being holy is its charisma or the presence of Xwarnah estuary in it. The charisma that it illuminates any heart and one gets into his hand; he will not only be a pious and great but will achieve his aspirations.
  As such, based on Avesta and Sassanid-Pahlavi texts, Zoroastrian religion took shape in the land of Haetumant. Messiahs of this religion, too, would set their feet on this piece of land. A large number of religious dignitaries also emerged on this land and that could have been possible with the blessing of charismatic presence of divine light in Haetumant River. Apart from Haetumant, eight other tributaries on this land have been mentioned in the holy Avesta, most of them have conformity with the present names of Sistan River.
  Kiansiyeh (Hamun) Lake and Ošidam Ošida (Kuh-e—Khwajeh) are other natural phenomena that exist on the land of Haetumant and have been remembered many times in Avesta.
Studying Avesta texts and analysis each of its paragraphs that have direct or indirect relation to Sistan as well as collation them to Pahlavi texts is the purpose of this manuscript in order to show that Zoroaster, the Iranian prophet has emigrated from his original land to Sistan. He received Manthra (afflatus) on Khwaja Mount (Ušidam Ušida) by protection of Goštaspa, the governor who accepted Zoroastrian religion in this country. After stabilization of the faith, the Zoroastrian clergymen promulgated the new religion to other Arian lands, including the west of Iran.

According to the Sassanid traditions, every major Iranian kust (province) was to be administered by a prince or a member of the royal family. Sakestan (the present Sistan Province), a very vast province of that period of time, was governed by the crown prince who would be given the title of Sakanshah after resuming this responsibility. The continuous presence of the Sassanid princes in the Sistan Province led to the urbanization of this region.
  The oldest city of Sistan, popularly referred to by Muslim historians and geographers as Ram Shahrestan or Abarshahr (lit. metropolis), was the capital of the Sassanid Dynasty. Jeihani, Estakhri, Ibn-e Howqal, etc., have given a brief description of this city in their writings. According to early Islamic geographers, since the river that passed by the city dried up suddenly it was abandoned towards the end of Sassanid era following which the capital was transferred to another place called Zarang.
  Owing to differences of opinion among the geographers as well as the existence remains of various ancient sites in the vast plains of the Sistan Province that belong to the Sassanid era it is rather difficult to ascertain the exact location of Ram Shahrestan.
  In this study efforts have been made to identify the real location of Ram Shahrestan on the basis of the historical evidences as well as the systematic archeological surveys carried out in the Sistan basin. Besides, the research tries to throw light on the early settlements in the region and the final abandonment of Ram Shahrestan on the basis of archeological findings. Accordingly, Tappeh Shahrestan, 25 km south of Zabol (The center of the Sistan Province in eastern Iran) is supposed to be the real location of Ram Shahrestan; an area frequently inhabited from the third century BC until the end of the sixth century AD.

Situated at a distance of fourteen kilometers south-east of Zabol, the capital of the Sistan Province of Iran, Tapa Gowri stands about eight meters higher than its surroundings and covers an area of 5600 sq m. Since, from the archeological point of view, very little information was available on art of pottery and the ceramics of the Sistan region pertaining to the Parthian era in the year 2006, it was decided to take on the task of excavating and making testing pits and trenches in this mound in order to determine the exact typology of the ceramics of this region made during the period under study.
The excavations in trench H-8 continued up to a depth of 280 cm and resulted in finding a silver coin minted in the name of Parthamaspates (116 AD), the Roman client king of Iran. Besides this coin two thick layers of potsherd were discovered, which can be classified into three main groups on the basis of their external surfaces; plain ceramic, ceramic with incised designs, and burnished ceramic. These three groups of ceramics may in turn be classified into certain sub-groups on the basis of certain variables. In this research paper each group and their own special technical characteristics, along with their designs, have been presented in a separate section. Generally speaking, the paper merely aims at presenting comprehensive information about the ceramics of eastern Iran, in general, and those of the Sistan region, in particular, made during the later Parthian era and for this purpose the researchers have mainly focused their study on the shapes of these ceramics.