Papers by Mona Bagheri gahleh
Archaeological Discovery, 2025
Tepe Sagzabad (2200 BC to 500 BC), located in the northwestern region of
Iran’s central plateau, ... more Tepe Sagzabad (2200 BC to 500 BC), located in the northwestern region of
Iran’s central plateau, lies along a key east-west trade route on the Iranian Plateau.
This site faces numerous challenges, including seasonal floods, and seismic
activity. In 2016, the excavation of Trench 6 unearthed a distinctive vessel
in Context 6006, characterized by a closed head, knob-shaped top, and side
handles. Its unusual form suggests similarities to traditional alembics used in
distillation, sparking debate over its function. Chemical analysis revealed secondary
crystallizations such as gypsum and calcite, likely a result of environmental
weathering, but no dairy lipid residues were found, challenging the theory
of their use in milk production. This study compares Tepe Sagzabad vessels
with similar artifacts, offering insights into the development of early distillation
technology in the region. These findings highlight the complexity of reconstructing
ancient technological systems and emphasize the need for further
research to understand early distillation practices on the Iranian Plateau. This
study serves as a preliminary exploration of distillation-related artefacts in prehistoric
Iran, offering a unique case for future comparative analyses.
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Papers by Mona Bagheri gahleh
Iran’s central plateau, lies along a key east-west trade route on the Iranian Plateau.
This site faces numerous challenges, including seasonal floods, and seismic
activity. In 2016, the excavation of Trench 6 unearthed a distinctive vessel
in Context 6006, characterized by a closed head, knob-shaped top, and side
handles. Its unusual form suggests similarities to traditional alembics used in
distillation, sparking debate over its function. Chemical analysis revealed secondary
crystallizations such as gypsum and calcite, likely a result of environmental
weathering, but no dairy lipid residues were found, challenging the theory
of their use in milk production. This study compares Tepe Sagzabad vessels
with similar artifacts, offering insights into the development of early distillation
technology in the region. These findings highlight the complexity of reconstructing
ancient technological systems and emphasize the need for further
research to understand early distillation practices on the Iranian Plateau. This
study serves as a preliminary exploration of distillation-related artefacts in prehistoric
Iran, offering a unique case for future comparative analyses.