Parthian Archaeology

این کاتالوگ به معرفی کتیبه‌های صخره‌ای یونانی در ایران می‌پردازد و علاوه بر ارائه ترجمۀ فاسی آنها شرح مختصری نیز از این نوشته‌ها ارائه می‌دهد.
This catalog introduces Greek rock inscriptions in Iran and, in addition to providing their Persian translation, also provides a brief description of these writings.

This volume of the Atlas of the Ancient Near East (OCAVOA) collects 15 contributions by members of the three Units composing the PRIN 2017 ‘Eranshahr: Man Landscape and Society in Arsacid and Sasanian Iran. Texts, material culture, and society from Arsaces to Yazdegard III. Three case studies: Pars, Pahlaw and Khuzestan’ (2017PR34CS). These papers were presented during the conclusive workshop of the project, held in Ravenna on February 22-23, 2024. The project was conceived in 2017 and launched in 2018, representing a collaborative effort by a multidisciplinary team of scholars from Sapienza University of Rome, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, and Turin University, as well as several international partners. The project aimed to study the long millennium bridging two important transition periods in the history of western Asia, the first marking the passage from the Seleucid to the Arsacid era, the second being the fall of the Sasanian Empire and the rise of the Islamic Caliphate. In this framework, the book contains a set of archaeological, historical-geographical, and cultural studies on three ancient regions of western Iran during the Arsacid, Sasanian, and early Islamic periods, which combine into a coherent and innovative narration, shedding new light on the Iranian world in Antiquity, Late-Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages and opening the way for future investigations.

Due to its role as a connecting link between Mesopotamia and Asia Minor, West Azerbaijan Province represents one of the key regions in archaeological studies of the Islamic period in Iran—particularly during the Ilkhanid and Safavid eras—yet it has received relatively little scholarly attention. Within this context, the county of Sardasht, owing to its geopolitical and strategic position, functioned as a corridor situated along the communication network linking northwestern Iran to Iraq and Syria. The main research questions of this study are: What archaeological evidence exists regarding the communication routes of this region? What role do the historical caravanserais and bridges of Sardasht play in identifying these ancient routes? The principal aim of this article is to reconstruct the ancient routes of Sardasht through the combined use of historical texts and archaeological evidence. The research methodology follows a descriptive historical-analytical approach. In investigating the ancient communication networks of the region, the authors employed the following procedures: Examination of historical texts and library-based studies relevant to the subject, Identification and analysis of bridges and caravanserais in the region as factors associated with trade routes, Investigation of archaeological evidence of old roads and ancient sites, along with analysis of their spatial relation to the proposed routes, Preparation of geographical maps using GIS, integrated with archaeological data and interpretation of satellite imagery. The archaeological evidence includes five bridges, two caravanserais, remnants of ancient roads, clusters of stones likely functioning as waymarkers, and numerous Islamic-period and historical sites. According to the findings, two principal communication corridors existed in Sardasht, both in use until the late Qajar period. The main route, known as the Alan passage, extends south of Sardasht and connects in the northwest to the Kurteke passage. The secondary route, known as the Qasmarash passage in the west, functioned as an auxiliary pathway linking Sardasht to northern Iraq.

In recent years, remote sensing of the Earth's surface has greatly expanded in scope. This method has gained widespread use and has become a key part of archaeological research, providing a non-destructive approach. Within the framework of remote sensing for archaeological purposes, techniques such as aerial photography of archaeological sites in the visible spectrum, digital photogrammetry, and the creation of various spatial 2D and 3D models-such as orthophoto mosaics, digital surface models (DSM), and digital elevation models (DEM, DTM)have been developed. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) help integrate data collected from satellite or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) images, along with subsequent processing and analysis. This study aims to highlight the development and application of UAV technologies and GIS, which have proven to be very useful, non-destructive methods in archaeological research. The analysis is based on information from scientific literature, showcasing the achievements of international researchers in this field, and field research carried out in the period 2022-2023. UAV flights were conducted over terrain in northern Bulgaria and Germany, and the data collected were processed using GIS software. UAV-based orthophotography proves to be a reliable alternative to traditional in situ archaeological surveys. In archaeology, GIS is used in two main ways: at a micro level, it is employed in surface surveys and archaeological excavations by improving the accuracy and efficiency of data collection and processing; and at a macro level, it is used to analyze individual sites in a broader geographical context or to identify patterns across multiple sites in a given region.

Social order is a fundamental pillar of stability, cohesion, and development in societies. This order is sustained through a combination of formal and informal rules and norms, with the law serving as its cornerstone. Law functions not only as a mechanism for organizing social relations but also as the primary indicator of a society's degree of order. When citizens disregard or fail to adhere to legal norms, societies encounter various forms of disorder, deviance, and social threats. Drawing on Giddens' theory, law constitutes a system of formal norms enacted and enforced by state institutions, and any violation thereof constitutes law evasion. As a form of social deviance, law evasion encompasses a broad spectrum of behaviors-ranging from minor, everyday infractions to severe and persistent criminal acts. In Iran, while precise statistics on the prevalence of law evasion remain scarce, the marked rise in the prison population over recent decades signals an escalating trend, warranting rigorous scholarly investigation. Beyond fostering insecurity and eroding social trust, law evasion undermines the efficacy of legal institutions and exacerbates risks of economic and political crises. To develop a nuanced and comprehensive understanding of law evasion in Iran, this study employs a qualitative meta-synthesis approach. Through a systematic literature review, 25 research articles published between 2005 and 2021-each directly addressing law evasion in Iran-were identified and selected. Utilizing directed content analysis, shared concepts, components, and themes across these studies were extracted and synthesized into seven conceptual constructs. The findings reveal that law evasion in Iran stems from a complex, multidimensional interplay of factors. At the demographic level, variables such as age, gender, education, marital status, and employment status exhibit significant correlations with law-evading behaviors. Younger individuals, driven by desires for autonomy and limited life experience, demonstrate higher susceptibility to such behaviors compared to other age cohorts. Men exhibit greater propensity for law evasion than women, whereas higher educational attainment and marriage are generally associated with reduced engagement in such conduct. Socially, structural inequalities and perceptions of relative deprivation-particularly among low-income and marginalized groups-fuel distrust, social exclusion, and Article 10 Scientific Quarterly of S trategic S tudies of Culture Vol.5, Series.19, No.3, Autumn 2025 eventual law evasion. Economically, unemployment, poverty, income disparities, and financial strain diminish incentives for legal compliance and may even incentivize violations. Culturally, the erosion of religious adherence, declining social capital, weak internalization of civic norms, institutional distrust, and dissonance between official and lived values collectively amplify tendencies toward law evasion. Within the political and administrative spheres, inequitable law enforcement, systemic corruption, and inadequate institutional oversight erode public perceptions of legal legitimacy, inadvertently legitimizing law-evading behaviors. Environmental and spatial dimensions further exacerbate this phenomenon: residence in deprived neighborhoods, deficient public spaces, inadequate social services, and dilapidated urban infrastructure create conditions ripe for social disorder. Theoretical frameworks such as anomie (Durkheim, Merton), social control (Hirschi), social capital (Putnam), and social bonding provide a robust foundation for interpreting these causal dynamics. This study underscores the imperative of adopting an interdisciplinary, multi-level approach to mitigate law evasion. Law evasion is not merely a product of individual moral failings but a manifestation of structural crises, policy deficiencies, and socio-cultural fractures. Effective countermeasures demand policies that simultaneously advance social justice, fortify social capital, restore institutional trust, and ameliorate economic, cultural, and urban conditions. The conceptual framework derived from this meta-synthesis offers a valuable foundation for future research, policy formulation, and multidimensional interventions aimed at curbing law evasion in Iran.

This paper explores some of the continuing problems in studying Dura Europos, arising from the specific historical circumstances of the dig in the context of inter-war Mandate archaeology in the former Ottoman empire, American funding and sponsorship before and after the great stock market crash, and the nature of the interests of the team principals in charge of the dig, especially the towering charismatic intellectual, Mikhail Ivanovich Rostovtzeff (1870-1952).  These issues, which profoundly govern the nature of the primary Dura archives held by Yale University, will always structure the contours within which historians and archaeologists work on Dura or understand the site, alongside the variety of other scholarly, political and military interventions that have hugely complicated its study in the 100 years since its discovery in 1920.

Cities are not static entities; rather, they are layered and dynamic organisms, continuously shaped by centuries, if not millennia, of transformation. As material embodiments of human aspiration, they crystallize shifting social, political, and symbolic values. To comprehend cities requires treating them both diachronically and materially, for they unfold across time and through physical form. Analytical frameworks that integrate these dimensions are therefore indispensable. In this light, ancient cities are not merely points of origin but critical vantage points through which the complexities of contemporary urban transformation can be interrogated as evolving processes.

Within urban and social sciences, the relevance of past urban trajectories to present-day challenges has received growing attention, while historical research has increasingly traced the evolution of urban meanings. Yet, scholarly debates often blur important distinctions: the terms urban relocation and city displacement are sometimes used interchangeably, though they may denote different spatial phenomena. The former generally refers to intra-urban mobility—commonly, though not exclusively, linked to processes such as gentrification or redevelopment—whereas the latter entails the wholesale transfer of entire urban centers. Despite their significance, cases of relocation and displacement in antiquity have attracted limited attention, with scholarship relying predominantly on textual sources. Analyses of Greek synoikism or Mesopotamian paradigms, for example, have remained largely literary in orientation. While indispensable, such approaches often overlook the material dimensions of long-term urban transformation. Archaeology, by contrast, offers a powerful yet underexploited means of tracing structural consequences of urban shifts through evidence of continuity, rupture, and reconfiguration.

Although archaeological research has considerably advanced knowledge of ancient urban landscapes, the dynamics of displacement have generally been addressed only in passing. The challenge is particularly acute in the case of major capitals. Their scale resists holistic treatment, while their longevity and uninterrupted occupation—from antiquity to the present—severely restrict archaeological access. Cities such as Alexandria, Rome, and Constantinople exemplify this predicament: successive layers of habitation obscure their foundational moments of displacement and reconfiguration, thereby impeding macro-historical analysis of their urban evolution.

This presentation seeks to address the problem and foresee its study through an examination of the area of al-Madā’in in central Mesopotamia, a rare spatial configuration characterized by continuity, overlap, and transformation in the absence of modern disturbance. This unique context provides an unparalleled opportunity to conceptualize urban displacement as a structurally embedded, long-term process. The three cities of this landscape must be understood not in isolation but as a continuum linking internal urban spaces with their surrounding territories. This continuum may be approached as a taskscape, shaped simultaneously by daily practices, infrastructural systems, and interfaces with broader regional and global networks. Within this dynamic setting, successive and interconnected transformations have been materially preserved, offering a diachronic record of how cities were repurposed across time.

By virtue of its scale, temporal depth, and freedom from modern encroachment, al-Madā’in constitutes an exceptional archaeological laboratory for theorizing urban displacement. It affords the rare possibility of investigating urban transformations at the intersection of archaeology, history, urban studies, and global studies, thereby opening new pathways for understanding the structural dynamics of city shifts across deep time.

Issue: 1

Volume: 33

Publisher: Springer

https://doi.org/10.1007/S10816-025-09733-5
*See the Open Access Paper here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10816-025-09733-5?utm_source=rct_congratemailt&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=oa_20250825&utm_content=10.1007%2Fs10816-025-09733-5* We have applied predictive modeling to archaeological sites, datable to the Arsacid period (ca. 3rd c. BCE–3rd c. CE), in the southern side of the Araxes River valley, in modern day Iran. Araxes River valley is a contested borderland between Iran, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. Systematic fieldwork has been historically limited by geopolitical tensions. The only systematic survey in the region and two salvage surveys have yielded a large number of sites that could belong to the Arsacid period—with varying levels of certainty—a period often undermined by scholarly attention to the subsequent Sasanian period (ca. 3rd–7th c. CE). We use this data as a training dataset to specify areas with high probability of finding more Arsacid period sites for future targeted surveys. Our paper follows previous research which has emphasized using machine learning approaches for archaeological predictive modeling. Acknowledging the inevitable oversight of social factors involved in settlement distribution, our statistical models produce probability of finding Arsacid period sites while also offering some insight into the physical attributes of settlement positioning in the Arsacid period. We tested several common machine learning (ML) models and suggested the suitability of Random Forest models for archaeological predictive modeling. We have applied Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to ensure component independence in modeling. Finally, we have investigated various theories regarding working with a subselection of principal components (PCs). Our study recommends using all PCAs, especially when the number of predictors does not create computational challenges. We support the argument made by Kvamme (2023) that lower PCs are particularly relevant for archaeological predictive modeling, but, we disagree with using them without other PCs.

*See the Open Access Paper here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10816-025-09733-5?utm_source=rct_congratemailt&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=oa_20250825&utm_content=10.1007%2Fs10816-025-09733-5*
We have applied predictive modeling to archaeological sites, datable to the Arsacid period (ca. 3rd c. BCE–3rd c. CE), in the southern side of the Araxes River valley, in modern day Iran. Araxes River valley is a contested borderland between Iran, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. Systematic fieldwork has been historically limited by geopolitical tensions. The only systematic survey in the region and two salvage surveys have yielded a large number of sites that could belong to the Arsacid period—with varying levels of certainty—a period often undermined by scholarly attention to the subsequent Sasanian period (ca. 3rd–7th c. CE). We use this data as a training dataset to specify areas with high probability of finding more Arsacid period sites for future targeted surveys. Our paper follows previous research which has emphasized using machine learning approaches for archaeological predictive modeling. Acknowledging the inevitable oversight of social factors involved in settlement distribution, our statistical models produce probability of finding Arsacid period sites while also offering some insight into the physical attributes of settlement positioning in the Arsacid period. We tested several common machine learning (ML) models and suggested the suitability of Random Forest models for archaeological predictive modeling. We have applied Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to ensure component independence in modeling. Finally, we have investigated various theories regarding working with a subselection of principal components (PCs). Our study recommends using all PCAs, especially when the number of predictors does not create computational challenges. We support the argument made by Kvamme (2023) that lower PCs are particularly relevant for archaeological predictive modeling, but, we disagree with using them without other PCs.

For almost a century, the study of Ismaili castles has been one of the most important topics in the historical field of Ismaili studies. Qumis's geographical location, its military and economic capacities during Ismaili reign (1090-1256), and its position as a gateway between two important parts of the Ismaili realm, i.e., Daylam-Alamut and Quhistan, turned it into an outstanding place. The founding of the Seljuk dynasty in 1039 led to Iran's territorial integrity and security and, consequently, the economic growth in cities like Merv and Neyshabur. It also resulted in the development of transportation networks. Taking control of such networks was one of the priorities of the Seljuk dynasty's rivals, such as the Ismaili state. After taking control of the Girdkuh castle and other castles in Qumis, the Ismaili state was able to control the region's main routes. It broadened this state's dominance and financial viability as a government established in the heart of the Seljuk territory, setting the stage for Ismaili-Seljuk conflicts and nearby rulers loyal to the Seljuk empire, like the Bavand dynasty in Tabarestan. The study was conducted on the Ismaili castles in Damghan, which cover an area of 104 hectares. Also, the floors of nine mountain castles were measured and recorded. Photogrammetry was used for the surveying. The earthenware floors of nine castles were examined. The Damghan castles considered in this study date from ancient times until the 13th

For almost a century, the study of Ismaili castles has been one of the most important topics in the historical field of Ismaili studies. Qumis's geographical location, its military and economic capacities during Ismaili reign (1090-1256), and its position as a gateway between two important parts of the Ismaili realm, i.e., Daylam-Alamut and Quhistan, turned it into an outstanding place. The founding of the Seljuk dynasty in 1039 led to Iran's territorial integrity and security and, consequently, the economic growth in cities like Merv and Neyshabur. It also resulted in the development of transportation networks. Taking control of such networks was one of the priorities of the Seljuk dynasty's rivals, such as the Ismaili state. After taking control of the Girdkuh castle and other castles in Qumis, the Ismaili state was able to control the region's main routes. It broadened this state's dominance and financial viability as a government established in the heart of the Seljuk territory, setting the stage for Ismaili-Seljuk conflicts and nearby rulers loyal to the Seljuk empire, like the Bavand dynasty in Tabarestan. The study was conducted on the Ismaili castles in Damghan, which cover an area of 104 hectares. Also, the floors of nine mountain castles were measured and recorded. Photogrammetry was used for the surveying. The earthenware floors of nine castles were examined. The Damghan castles considered in this study date from ancient times until the 13th

Despite the proximity to the north-eastern provinces of Iran, recorded finds of the coins of Parthian epoch remain rare instances in Soghd. There are only five specimens of the Margiana copper, one of which is presented in this paper. Two more coins published here are coming from Western Iran:  one copper coin of Elymais and one small non-epigraphic silver piece that could not be attributed exactly yet but is likely to represent some coinage from South-Western Iran.

Background: Zooarchaeology shares close ties with Comparative Anatomy of Veterinary Medicine. This scientific discipline involves the study of the bones of various animals, using anatomical information to explore the place and role of these animal species in life and human survival, thereby enriching our knowledge about the interaction of humans and their ecosystems. Objectives: Using available anatomical information, this study investigated the typology of bone remains and animal teeth in the area of Qareh Tepe, Segzabad (Qazvin Province, Iran). Another goal was to detect the abnormal effects created by humans or animals in bones, such as cuts, burns, or chewing effects by carnivorous animals. By extracting this information, it is possible to analyze the livelihood economy of that historical site correctly. Methods: A total of 1110 bone and teeth samples excavated in 2017 were analyzed. The samples were transferred to the Osteology Lab of the

Roman-Parthian relations have been widely discussed in specialized research. 2 Because of the frequent conflicts, the interactions are often viewed through the lens of mutual hostility. Naturally, the border regions between these empires provide an exceptional context for examining this view. Both the capacity for self-management of the political actors situated there and the nature of their links with the imperial elites are projected as ambiguous issues in primary sources. This is where the monograph under consideration makes a valuable contribution. It is the culmination of a project of the same name, based at the Department of Ancient History at the Friedrich-Schiller University of Jena, which in September 2018 hosted the conference where the papers compiled in the volume were presented. The book examines the period from the last quarter of the first century AD to the reign of Alexander Severus, coinciding with the fall of the Arsacid dynasty. Geographically, the focus is not limited to the Near East, which, however, is addressed by several researchers, but in keeping with the work's transversal orientation, extends to the Red and Caspian Seas. The first two chapters, by Frank Schleicher (Kontinuität und Wandel. Die wirtschaftliche Entwicklung der nabatäischen Gebiete als Phänomen des Grenzraumes, pp. 13-42) and Thomas Brüggemann (Die Institutionalisierung eines tribalen Umfeldes? Überlegungen zum römischen Umgang mit den Steppenbewohnern der Provinz Arabia Petraea im 2. Jahrhundert, pp. 43-68) respectively, consider Roman influence in the Nabataean Kingdom and Ḥaurān. In the first case, the coexistence of Roman interference with indigenous traditions that remained functional is argued. The societal transformations in Nabataea are explained by an endogenous process associated with the sedentarisation of a formerly nomadic population, a view based on the archaeobotanical, epigraphic, and papyrological evidence. In the second case, the analysis of available records, among which the Safaitic inscriptions stand out, reveals that the Romans experimented with informal integration 1 The present review has been carried out within the framework of the ACIF Grants. European Social Fund Plus, co-financed by the Generalitat Valenciana and the European Union. 2 Since the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries, when Rawlinson, Rostovtzeff and Debevoise began publishing on the subject, the study of Roman-Parthian relations has continued steadily. Among the main contributors to this topic, excluding the specialists involved in this monograph, are scholars such as Ziegler, Chaumont, Keaveney, Millar, Dąbrowa, Campbell, Young, and, more recently, Gregoratti, Nabel, Schlude, and Ellerbrock.

اسطورهٔ زریادر و آتوسا (اوداتیس) که بعداً به صورت داستان گشتاسپ و کتایون (ملکه) دختر قیصر روم در آمده است، مأخذ اصلی این اسطورهٔ منطق الطیر است که در آن زریادر (به ظاهر به معنی پیر به یاد دارنده) تبدیل به پیر سمعان (پیر یاد گیرنده) و آتوسا (اوداتیس) تبدیل به دختر ترسا شده است. بنا به خارس میتیلنی رئیس تشریفات دربار اسکندر در ایران داستان زریادر و آتوسا (اوداتیس) در ایران بسیار معروفیت و محبوبیت داشته و نقش آنها زینت بخش کاخها بوده است. خود زریادر و آتوسا از نظر تاریخی با سپیتاک سپیتمان (گائوماته بردیه) برادر کوچک مگابرن گشتاسب (تیگران حاکم ارمنستان) مطابقت دارد و آتوسا (اوداتیس) همان دختر معروف کوروش یعنی آتوسا است. مکه را با اسلامی کردن داستان زریادر (سمعان) وارد اسطوره کرده اند. زریادر شخصیت والای دینی-سیاسی عهد باستان بوده است و با آتشکده ها از جمله کعبه زرتشت پیوند داشته است.

The present article examines the impact of Hellenistic art on the architectural decorations of the Bactria region, encompassing parts of northern Afghanistan, southern Uzbekistan, and southern Tajikistan (in Eastern Iran), during the Seleucid, Greco-Bactrian Kingdom, Pre Kushan (post-Hellenistic), and Kushan periods. Relying on key findings from archaeological surveys and excavations. Based on this, with a descriptive-analytical method and with a comparative approach, while introducing the stone decorations used in the architectural arrays of this area, especially government and religious buildings, it is tried to determine their age as much as possible and referring to the location The geographical and archaeological background of these works, the function and style used in them should be evaluated Finally, an attempt is made to answer this key question, which artistic elements influenced by Hellenistic art were used in the stone decorations of this area, and which elements were transformed or removed over time? Although due to the lack of publication or complete lack of publication of the results of excavations or investigations in some of the studied areas, the understanding of the nature of the monuments and the archaeological context of the stone findings remains hidden from us, However, based on the results obtained from the study of the prominent sites in the western region through a comparative analysis with other examples in Iran and Mesopotamia, it can be accepted that the governmental and religious buildings, especially in the five sites of Takht-i Sangin, Ai Khanoum, Bactria, Termez and Surkh Kotal played an essential role in preserving and expanding Hellenistic art in the Bactria region. Nevertheless, the author acknowledges that a deeper understanding of the details of the effects and transformations of Hellenistic art in the Iranian world will require further research in the future.

Der Fund eines fast vollständig erhaltenen Pithos-Grabes im Dorf Eminli nahe der Kaspischen
Küste bietet seltene Einblicke in Bestattungspraktiken und Lebensrealitäten der
partherzeitlichen Bevölkerung Aserbaidschans. In einem bauchigen Vorratsgefäß wurden die sterblichen Überreste eines etwa 50-jährigen Mannes entdeckt, der offenbar im Kampf ums Leben kam. Anthropologische Untersuchungen deuten auf ein Leben im
Sattel, archäologische Funde auf eine soziale Rolle als Reiter oder Krieger.

Between the 2nd-1st century BC and the 5th century CE, after the Hellenistic period and interspersed with a Kushan-Sasanian period, the Sogdiana was occupied by nomadic populations. During this period, small fortified defensive structures developed, whose function could be connected precisely to the nomadic presence in the area. The site of Kojtepa (Samarkand) is presented, which study of the materials would mean that the site could have had a dual function as a territorial and defensive outpost and a place of production and agricultural-economic activities of various kinds. The material, coming from the Italo-Uzbek mission, which has actively worked in the area over the years, is presented here as a highly dated element for the site.

Az alább látható párthus aranyozott ezüsttálon székely jelek megfelelői láthatók. Ám ezek az aranyozott jelek a párthus tálon nem betűk, hanem hieroglifák (ősvallási kötődésű szójelek, a magyar hieroglif írás jelei), amelyek az ősvallás számára fontos mondanivalót örökítenek meg. Ezt szolgálja az aranyozás, a képszerű és szimmetrikus jelszerkezet, valamint a szent jelek használata is. Az eddig megismert hieroglifikus szövegek alapján a tulipánszerű világfa istenjelkép, amiből következtethetően a hegyek fölött, pegazusok közül kiemelkedő három tulipán az isteni triász jelképe lehet. A jelen cikkben a párthus tál hieroglifikus szövegének olvasatát ismertetem.

This paper analyzes and re-evaluates the archaeological and historical data related to the ancient city of Hatra, in northern Mesopotamia (2nd–3rd century CE), considering recent architectural studies and approaches focusing primarily on the concepts of nature-based solutions, resilience, and environmental adaptability. This comparative and dialogic approach, which can also be applied to other ancient sites, demonstrates how certain categories within the lexicon of urban layout and architectural design have deep historical roots, extending through traditional or vernacular architecture and converging with archaeology. At the same time, recent architectural and ethnoarchaeological studies, particularly those related to environmental adaptation and strategies for living in climatically challenging contexts, can provide valuable tools for a deeper understanding of these ancient sites. This work, to be considered as preliminary, aims to encourage further studies following this approach and to also promote the (re)use of ancient construction techniques and methods that remain effective today, for example, in the design and development of structures and buildings for archaeological parks.
In questo paper sono stati analizzati e rivalutati i dati archeologici e storici relativi alla città di Hatra, in Mesopotamia settentrionale (II-III sec. d.C.), alla luce dei recenti studi di architettura e degli approcci di questa disciplina che si concentrano principalmente sui concetti di resilienza, nature-based solutions e adattabilità ambientale. Questo approccio comparativo e dialogico, applicabile anche ad altri siti antichi, dimostra come alcune categorie appartenenti al lessico del progetto della città e delle sue architetture affondino le proprie radici in epoche lontane, attraversando l’architettura tradizionale fino a confluire nell’archeologia. Al contempo, modelli e studi recenti di architettura ed etnoarcheologia, in particolare quelli legati all’adattamento ambientale e alle strategie per abitare in contesti climaticamente difficili, possono offrire strumenti preziosi per una comprensione più approfondita degli stessi siti antichi. Questo lavoro, da considerarsi preliminare, intende stimolare nuovi studi secondo tale approccio e promuovere anche il (re)impiego di tecniche e modalità costruttive antiche, ma ancora oggi efficaci a quelli che sono gli impatti dei cambiamenti climatici, ad esempio per la progettazione e realizzazione di strutture ed edifici destinati ai parchi archeologici.

The topographic survey method has allowed a detailed definition of the terrain in the study area, and, thanks to the processing of the topographic data, the main unexcavated structures of archaeological interest have been successfully identified. If the survey has identified the main monumental complexes built at Shami - Kal-e Chendar, further investigations are awaited to better specify their general architectural layout or to suggest a more precise chronological sequence.

This paper presents the late Iron Age, Hellenistic, and Parthian (early 6th BCE – early 3rd c. CE) occupation at the site of Aliawa in the Erbil Plain through the analysis of the data collected during the archaeological survey carried out by the Italian Archaeological Expedition in the Erbil Plain (MAIPE) of the University of Milan. Through distribution and typological
analysis of the surface ceramics, the settlement development configuration at Aliawa from
the Post-Assyrian to the Parthian period will be thoroughly examined, also in connection with the pottery horizon of its regional context in the Erbil plain. Our research aims at demonstrating that - after the collapse of the Neo-Assyrian Empire - a possible demographic crisis occurred in the plain until the landscape reboot under the Seleucids, that eventually culminated with the Parthian period impressive growth.

This paper aims to reanalyze the corpus of burials identified in the urban area of Seleucia on the Tigris during the Seleucid and Parthian periods. It will assess the main types of burials (including graves with or without flat brick coverings, 'cappuccina' tombs, and chamber tombs), their locations, the grave goods found within them, and the identifiable funerary practices. To achieve this, the published documentation from the American and Italian excavations will be reviewed, synthesizing key data and addressing major issues. Additionally, the documentation of burials identified by the Italian Archaeological Expedition will be supplemented by unpublished information regarding noteworthy tombs located in the areas of the Stoa, Archives, and 'Porticoed Street.' This information, preserved in the Archive of CRAST-UniTO, pertains to the excavations at Seleucia on the Tigris conducted in the 1960s and 1980s. These data will provide valuable insights into the use of funerary spaces and the customs employed in this Seleucid and Parthian metropolis, where the tradition of burying the dead within the settlement limits continued, at least in part, in continuity with ancient Mesopotamian practices.

This report is available for open acces: https://www.archaeopress.com/Archaeopress/Products/9781803279558

It publishes the results of the research conducted between 2012 and 2018 by the Iranian- Italian Joint Expedition in Khuzestan at Kal-e Chendar, in the valley of Shami, about 30 km north of present-day Izeh. The project aimed to shed new light on one of the most intriguing religious complexes of Hellenistic and Parthian Iran, located in highland Khuzestan, the heart of ancient Elymais. Identified thanks to the accidental discovery of statues (some fragmentary) in 1935, the site of Kal-e Chendar was briefly investigated by Sir Marc Aurel Stein, one of the most famous explorers of Inner Asia, and Bahman Karimi, Inspector of the Iranian Antiquities Service, early in 1936. It was subsequently to fall into oblivion for many decades despite the importance of the discoveries they made. Based on an interdisciplinary approach, the research project aimed to acquire new information on the materiality of the site and to systematically study its archaeological context, putting forward new interpretations of the function, chronology and meaning of the complex.



Based on previous investigations and the results of this new research, it is clear that an important religious complex existed at Kal-e Chendar in the Hellenistic and Parthian periods, from about the 3rd century BCE to the 2nd century CE. The complex was multifunctional. Its religious dimension, although of paramount importance, was not the only characteristic of the site: monumental terraces, built to support sacred buildings now lost, alternate with a wide cemetery, implying that religious and funerary functions were here strictly interrelated. The complex also probably had social meaning.

This research examines the material culture, settlement structures, and community development in the Sharizor region, located in the Sulaymaniyah and Halabja provinces of Iraqi Kurdistan, between the late 7th century BCE and the first quarter of the 3rd century CE. Following the collapse of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, the region exhibited remarkable cultural continuity, where local traditions persisted while blending with West Iranian influences, particularly evident in the ceramic assemblages. As a peripheral area within post-Assyrian empires, the Sharizor region offers a compelling case study of the complex interactions between local traditions and external imperial influences. This paper focuses on pottery from key archaeological sites such as Gird-i Qalrakh and Bakr Awa to explore how the region maintained a degree of cultural autonomy while integrating foreign elements. The research underscores the significance of eastern West Iranian influences and how they are reflected in the material culture of the region. By investigating these dynamics, the study contributes to a broader understanding of continuity and change in a cultural borderland situated between major empires and local traditions.

This article provides a synopsis of Parthian battlefield tactics of the Arsacid dynasty (c.247 BCE-224 CE) (coordinated attacks by Asbārān armored lancers and horse archers, wedge, convex, crescent, rhombus, flanking, tactics for contrived withdrawals, and scorched earth tactics) and the weaponization of geography utilized by the Parthian spād (army), preceded by an overview of military organization, the role of cavalry forces, and auxiliary units. The article also examines Parthian tactics at the battle of Battle of Hormzdgan (224 CE) followed by an analysis of strategies devised by the Roman army against the Parthian cavalry. In conclusion, the Parthian cavalry was an evolving force to impart its legacy upon the Sāvārān cavalry corps of the succeeding Sassanian dynasty (224-651 CE).

Locating fort settlements in Iran's Sistan region during different historical periods have always been associated with changes in the direction of Hirmand River which often occurred due to various natural and human factors. One of the most important determining factors in locating the aforementioned settlements is changes in hydrographic network. This study aims to identify the relation between the Iranian province of Sistan hydrographic networks and the fort settlement during the Qajar era. The research method applied, here, is descriptive-analytical, historicalcomparative, documentary, library and the field study in Iran's Sistan area. The main focus of the study is on the issue of changes in the hydrographic network of the Hirmand River. The main question is to what extent have the changes in the direction of the hydrographic network of Hirmand played a role in locating fort settlements of the Qajar era in Iran's Sistan region. Records, documents, data and historical information related to the Qajar era were collected and comprehensively compared and analyzed regarding the current and the past situations in the geographic information system (GIS) using ArcGIS software. The results show that the highest number of the locating and the density of fort settlements during Qajar are related to the hydrographic basin of the Sistanriver. The main reason is branching of the Hirmand River's Hydrographic Basin through the Sistan Canal or Sistan River in the west. Also from 6 to 12 AH, in both the northern and southern delta region of Sistan, there have been settlement areas. However, in the Qajar era, 100 percent of the settlements in the northern delta area have been site selected.

This paper opens with a consideration of the biography of a large basin discovered during excavations at the Abbasid capital of Samarra. The large, circular, basin from Samarra closely matches historical descriptions of a fountain located in the city's Congregational Mosque which became known as 'kāsat firꜥūn', or the 'Cup of Pharaoh' and, since its discovery, the excavated basin and the historical account of the fountain have often been regarded as one and the same. The excavated basin is carved from a non-local-and probably Egyptian-stone which may have generated its mysterious association with the Pharaonic past. A consideration of the possible sources from which such a large stone basin might have been obtained during the Islamic period, however, opens up a wider discussion related to the reuse of pre-Islamic artefacts as water features. This paper explores possible scenarios through which the basin from Samarra might have been acquired by the Abbasid caliphs alongside the logistics associated with its transport to Samarra. In addition, the likely motivations for the installation of this enigmatic stone basin are evaluated-including pragmatic reuse of an impressive piece of stonework, a symbolic statement of contemporary pre-eminence over the rulers of the past or perhaps even beliefs in the quasi-magical powers of ancient objects. Alongside this, the existence of several comparable, near-contemporary, basins, demonstrate that the reuse of objects from the past as contemporary water features in important locations, was a wider practice seen in both the Islamic world and beyond. As an object that seems to have led multiple lives, the complex biography of the basin from Samarra illuminates the ways in which material remains of the past were understood and repurposed during the Abbasid Caliphate.

Like his predecessors had been striking small change, this bronze drachm
proves that during the reign of Attambelos IV, not only tetradrachms and lead
coins but also drachms were struck. This drachm proves also that the Characenian coins mention the year not only in the Seleucid but also in the Parthian Era.

Paper delivered at the 1st International Conference on Museum and Archaeology, Shiraz University of Arts, April 27 and 28, 2025.
The paper introduces the framework of "Fluid Museums" or "Liquid Museums" to analyze the dynamic water heritage of Iran. It argues that these sites, exemplified by the extraordinary qanats or the monumental hydraulic landscape of Shushtar, are not static relics but rather evolving and interconnected systems embodying long-term human-environment interactions. Like water itself, these heritage sites function as responsive networks that have adapted over time to connect communities and landscapes, highlighting their inherent fluidity and ongoing relevance.

In this paper, a preliminary definition of the territorial, military, political, and economic boundaries of the Kingdom of Hatra during the 2nd and the first decades of the 3rd centuries CE, prior to the alliance between Rome and Hatra against the Sasanian Empire, is proposed through a multidisciplinary
approach. To achieve this complex reconstruction, an integrated use of various data sources has been employed, including archaeological data from major surveys conducted between the Tigris, Euphrates, and Khabur rivers in northern Mesopotamia, epigraphic data from Eastern
Aramaic inscriptions (Hatran inscriptions) scattered throughout the territory, information on the road system of the Kingdom of Hatra obtained through aerial photography, and the widespread use of historical cartography (Russian and American maps). The integrated use of these
data demonstrates the absence of a rigid frontier between the Kingdom of Hatra and the Roman Empire, revealing a complex settlement pattern influenced by the landscape’s characteristics, as well as the military and social features of the Kingdom of Hatra itself.

In questo articolo viene proposta, attraverso un approccio multidisciplinare, una definizione preliminare dei confini territoriali, militari, politici ed economici del Regno di Hatra durante il II secolo e i primi decenni del III secolo d.C., prima dell’alleanza tra Roma e Hatra contro l’Impero sasanide.
Per ottenere questa ricostruzione “complessa”, è stato impiegato un uso integrato di diverse fonti di informazione, tra cui dati archeologici derivanti da importanti ricognizioni condotte tra i fiumi Tigri, Eufrate e Khabur, nell’area settentrionale della Mesopotamia, dati epigrafici relative a iscrizioni aramaiche orientali (iscrizioni hatrene) localizzate nel territorio, informazioni sul sistema viario del Regno di Hatra, ottenute tramite fotografia aerea, e l’uso diffuso della cartografia storica (mappe russe e americane). L’uso integrato di questi dati dimostra l’assenza di una frontiera rigida tra il Regno di Hatra e l’Impero Romano, rivelando un complesso schema insediativo influenzato dalle caratteristiche del paesaggio, nonché dalle peculiarità militari e sociali del Regno di Hatra stesso.

Nacido el año 53 d. C. en Itálica, en la fértil Bética, el corazón de la Hispania romana, Marco Ulpio Trajano estaba llamado a ser honrado por sus coetáneos como Optimus Princeps, el «mejor emperador», un epíteto que permanece vivo hasta hoy. Como militar echó los dientes en campañas en Oriente y en el Rin, bajo la atenta mirada de Domiciano, pero sería tras su ascenso a la púrpura cuando forjó su gloria en las aguas del imponente Danubio y sobre las nevadas cumbres de Dacia, cuya conquista, tras dos guerras terribles, quedó inmortalizada en piedra en la monumental columna que lleva su nombre. La extensa labor edilicia de Trajano, dentro y fuera de Roma, fue el gran escaparate propagandístico de sus gestas militares, pero también de un complejo programa ideológico que le permitió consolidar el imperio para proporcionarle casi un siglo de estabilidad, época que Gibbon consideró la más feliz en la historia de la humanidad. Quiso el destino que Trajano terminara librando sus batallas más difíciles y trascendentales en Mesopotamia, frente al formidable Imperio parto. Allí estuvo a punto de cambiar el curso de la historia y allí fue también donde terminó su existencia mortal para convertirse, a ojos de los romanos, en un dios. El libro Trajano. El mejor emperador de David Soria Molina no solo recoge la apasionante vida de uno de los emperadores más importantes de Roma, con sus luces y sus sombras, sino que supone un magistral acercamiento a las coordenadas geopolíticas en las que se desarrolló su imperio, con una narración vibrante de las duras campañas militares que emprendió. No cabe duda de que el mundo romano –lo que, para la época, es casi decir el mundo– no volvió a ser el mismo tras el paso de Trajano por el trono de los césares. Basta recordar la exhortación con la que, en lo sucesivo, el Senado aclamó a los nuevos emperadores: «Que seas más feliz que Augusto y mejor que Trajano».

The well-known archaeological site of Anahita Temple at Kangavar is one of the most important Iranian stone monuments. It has been dated by various authors in an interval extended from Achaemenid to Sasanian Persian Empires (sixth century BCE to seventh century AD). Significant weathering has been occurred in various stone blocks used in the construction of this monument. The aim of this research is to study the deterioration process of the stone blocks used in the Temple. It includes chemical and mineralogical analysis of stones, characterization of deterioration patterns and processes, and identification of factors influenced the process. Results have been obtained by on-site and laboratory studies, including optical microscopy, petrography, X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy methods. They showed that low-porosity limestone and dolomitic limestone have been used in the construction of the Temple,...

گورستان منسوب به شغاب یکی از محوطه‌های منحصربه‌فرد در پهنه فرهنگی جنوب ایران است که از سال‌ها پیش مورد توجه باستان¬شناسان بوده و در آن کاوش¬های متعددی صورت گرفته است. امروزه گورستان شغاب با پهنه¬ای در حدود 5 هکتار بخشی از پارک شغاب بندر بوشهر را در بر می‌گیرد. این گورستان توسط باستان¬شناسان مختلفی از قبیل اسماعیل یغمایی (1362)، علی‌اصغر میر فتاح (1366)، مهدی رهبر (1376) و علی‌اکبر سرفراز (1383) مورد کاوش قرارگرفته اما اکنون بخشی از محوطة کاوش شده به پارک و بخش دیگری از آن نیز به فضاهای اقامتی و تفریحی تبدیل‌شده و محل موردنظر طی عملیات تسطیح محوطه، توسط لودر زیر و رو و به ارتفاع یک و نیم متر در آن نخاله ریزی صورت گرفته است.

The book “Political Archaeology of the Middle East” by Mehdi Mortazavi (Corresponding Author), Fariba
Mosapour Negari, and Goodarz Hadadi Nasab, as the first comprehensive attempt in Persian, examines the complex
and intertwined relationship between archaeology and politics in the Middle East region. This work, published by
a university press, critically analyses how states and regional and supra-regional powers exploit archaeology to
advance their political and ideological.

The province of Fars encompasses a vast area of southern Zagros, with many unexplored regions. One such area is the northeastern part of Fars, which remains largely unknown in terms of archaeological research. The first individual to visit the Bavanat region in northeastern Fars was Aurel Stein in 1934, who identified several sites, including those related to the Chalcolithic period. After Stein's visit, there was little progress in archaeological exploration in the region until Khani Poor's studies in 2015, where multiple ancient sites were identified around the Bovanat River. Some of these sites had been previously noted by Stein. In the summer of 2017, the Sarchehan County in the southern Bavanat region, which had never been studied before, was surveyed by Barfi and Hamzavi. During their survey, an earthen mound was discovered, which was selected for further excavation due to its potential for in-depth studies and the significant damage it had sustained. Therefore, a trial excavation to investigate the stratigraphy of the earthen mound was conducted in 2021, aiming to uncover further information about the site's historical context.

چکید  :ارسی سازی  از دوره ی صفوی در شهر سنندج به عنوان عنصر اصلی تزئینات معماری رواج پیدا کرد و در طول دوره های دوره های بعدی یکی از اصلی ترین هنرهای بومی این شهر با ویژگی های مخصوص به  خود شد. در طی این پژوهش سعی بر این است که  به پرسش پژوهشی حاضر پاسخ داده می شود:‬‎ شاخصه های اصلی ارسی های سنندجی که آنها را از سایر نمونه های موجود در ایران متمایز می کند چیست؟ روش تحقیق به صورت تاریخی -توصیفی  و بر مبنای دو روش میدانی و کتابخانه ای صورت گرفته است. نتیجه چنین حاصل آمد که سه نوع اصلی ارسی در شهر سنندج وجود دارد: الف ارسی ها و درهایی که در مجاورت سرما  که با  لاک الکل و پارافین به عنوان لایه دومی بر روی قشر چربی روی چوب ها  پوشانده می شده، ب ارسی هایی که در مجاورت  مستقیم نور مستقیم خورشید بوده و فقط با روغن برزک چرب میشده  و‎ج ارسی هایی که در فضاهای داخلی  بوده و بدین دلیل فقط  از لاک الکل که براق بوده و به منظور زیبایی استفاده میشده است. نوع تزئین اصلی ارسی های سنندج نیز از نوع گره چینی اصفهانی، اسلیمیگیاهی و یا تلفیق هر دو بوده.
واژگان کلیدی: ارسی، شهر سنندج، معماری اسلامی، هنرهای سنتی ایرانی، دوره ی صفوی، دوره ی زند و قاجار