Birjand in south Khorasan, is a recently discovered and excavated almost circular adobe building ... more Birjand in south Khorasan, is a recently discovered and excavated almost circular adobe building with six towers, dating to the Achaemenid period. This article suggests that the architectural tradition of circular buildings and sites in the late Iron Age/Achaemenid period, in Greater Khorasan, apparently originated from Bactria in which most such sites have been reported.
Human settlements emerged based on natural factors such as adequate water resources and suitable ... more Human settlements emerged based on natural factors such as adequate water resources and suitable and fertile soil. Other factors such as altitude, slope, and slope direction, the distance to permanent water sources, and communication paths are natural substrates that affect the distribution of human settlements, some of which have a more influential role in the formation and survival of life. This study aims to investigate the status of the Iron Age settlement in the Atrak River Basin. To achieve the objectives of the research and hierarchical analysis of Iron Age sites, seven natural variables, including altitude, slope, slope direction, landing, soil type, distance to rivers, and communication routes that have been effective in establishing settlements, have been selected and by using the statistical methods in the GIS, the TOPSIS hierarchical analysis process, and Excel, and they have finally been studied. In terms of statistical analysis, the distance from river, Landuse and the distance to communication routes have been assigned the most ideal values. The slope degree, above sea level and Slope Direction have the lowest ideal value, respectively. Based on this, the IAMA60 site ranked first, the IAMA49 site ranked second, and the IAMA18 site ranked third in terms of natural indicators. In the lowest rank, IAMA25, IAMA35, and IAMA56 sites are located. In addition to these, the rest of the sites are considered relatively privileged areas.
Several sites in the southern Khorāsān whose occupation dates back to the Parthian period have pr... more Several sites in the southern Khorāsān whose occupation dates back to the Parthian period have provided ceramic sherds with a relatively rare feature: short inscriptions are engraved in the surface, in Parthian for eight of the nine sherds collected here, and in Middle Persian for one of them. After a brief presentation of these eight sites and their location in the old Kohistān, a tentative reading of these inscriptions is proposed. Palaeographic evidence makes it possible to date these fragments of storage vessels to the beginning or the middle of the Sasanian period.
The present study is a descriptive-analytical one that investigates the settlement patterns and d... more The present study is a descriptive-analytical one that investigates the settlement patterns and distribution of Iron Age sites in the Middle Atrak basin. In order to achieve the research objectives, 6 natural factors including the site area, altitude, slope, of the site distances from water sources, communication routes, type of vegetation and soil have been selected as effective factors in establishing settlements and have been analyzed using statistical methods in GIS and SPSS software. It seems that natural settings have had a great impact on the location, expansion and physical development of Iron Age settlements and the sites of this period have been formed in two parts of sedimentary plain and mountainous region. So that the Iron Age people have chosen a different patterns of living and settlement to adapt to the environment of the Atrak river basin. A very large group of sites is ones that have good access to pastures on the edge of the plain, are located on high slopes and have a small area, indicating that seasonal sites with dryland farming and livestock subsistence economy. The second group is three sites located on low slopes, at the bottom of the plain with rich sedimentary soils, next to communication routes and water sources, and their area is much larger than the first group and show that permanent villages with livestock and agriculture are. Finally, the third group is a site that is the largest area in the region and its location in a strategic area and on the communication route, which controls two plains and the possibility of a central area such as the city, is not far from the mind.
The concentration of activities and sites Iron Age excavations carried out in Iran in the quarter... more The concentration of activities and sites Iron Age excavations carried out in Iran in the quarter-northwest Iran. It covers the west, northwest, north of the center, and the west bank of the Caspian Sea. The important point is that the chronological basis of the Iron Age in Iran is also based on the excavation of several sites in a small part of the northwest and its extension to the whole of Iran. Thus we see the Iron Age archaeological activities at the eastern part of Iran and especially North East is very unknown. Iran has long been the entry point for people without a nomadic component steppes of northeastern North Asia region is the Iranian plateau. According to written sources the oldest nations that have entered the Iranian plateau, known as the Indo-Iranian or Aryan tribes from the steppes of northern Asia to the south and in the land of the Pamir Mountains to Anatolia widely dispersed. Many scholars consider the gradual movement of these tribes to be from the second millennium. A period that is almost synonymous with the Iron Age in the region. But our knowledge of the Iron Age northeastern Iran today virtually all North Khorasan Province and the northern part of Khorasan Razavi province involved is negligible. This paper is based on the latest research picture of the Iron Age northeastern part of the country, with emphasis on the upper basin Atrak be provided. According to the study and identification carried out in this basin, the Iron Age of the upper Atrak basin is part of the Yaz 1 culture.
Iron Age settlements in the Middle Atrak Basin in Iran have a particular distribution pattern due... more Iron Age settlements in the Middle Atrak Basin in Iran have a particular distribution pattern due to environmental, social, and economic variables, among which geographical factors play an essential role in creating and dispersing settlements. Some of these factors play a more effective and stable role than others. The present study examines and evaluates the role of geographical factors in the distribution of Iron Age sites to determine factors that have a more significant role than others. Moreover, the zoning map of the Middle Atrak Basin should be presented using four different types of location, grouped in terms of those with a perfectly suitable, relatively suitable, suitable, and unsuitable location. To achieve this goal, seven natural factors, including the distance of sites from the river, altitude, slope, slope direction, distance from communication routes, soil type, and land use, were selected as influential factors in choosing the location of the Iron Age sites. In this...
Iron Age settlements in the Middle Atrak Basin in Iran have a particular distribution pattern due... more Iron Age settlements in the Middle Atrak Basin in Iran have a particular distribution pattern due to environmental, social, and economic variables, among which geographical factors play an essential role in creating and dispersing settlements. Some of these factors play a more effective and stable role than others. The present study examines and evaluates the role of geographical factors in the distribution of Iron Age sites to determine factors that have a more significant role than others. Moreover, the zoning map of the Middle Atrak Basin should be presented using four different types of location, grouped in terms of those with a perfectly suitable, relatively suitable, suitable, and unsuitable location. To achieve this goal, seven natural factors, including the distance of sites from the river, altitude, slope, slope direction, distance from communication routes, soil type, and land use, were selected as influential factors in choosing the location of the Iron Age sites. In this study operating maps were prepared digitally using ArcGIS, and then the weight of each index was determined using the AHP model. The results of this study show that 46.7% of the Iron Age settlements (or 28 sites) were located in a perfectly suitable environment and geography, 24 sites (29.3%) in a relatively suitable location, seven sites (11.4%) in a suitable place, and one site (1.6%) in a completely unsuitable environment. This last type of location in the region's landscape indicates the choice of different livelihoods, including agriculture and animal husbandry with both seasonal and permanent methods. IZVLE∞EK-Ωeleznodobne naselbine v pore≠ju srednjega Atraka v Iranu imajo poseben vzorec umestitve zaradi okoljskih, socialnih in ekonomskih spremenljivk, med katerimi igrajo geografski dejavniki klju≠no vlogo pri nastanku in ∏iritvi naselij. Nekateri od teh dejavnikov so bolj u≠inkoviti in traj-nej∏i od drugih. V ∏tudiji predstavljamo najpomembnej∏e geografske dejavnike pri porazdelitvi naj-di∏≠. Karto poselitvenih obmo≠ij srednjega Atraka predstavljamo s pomo≠jo ∏tirih tipov lokacij, raz-vr∏≠enih glede na popolnoma primerne, manj primerne, primerne in neprimerne pogoje poselitve.
from the north and northwestern parts of the country. The chronological basis of the Iron Age in ... more from the north and northwestern parts of the country. The chronological basis of the Iron Age in Iran was mostly based on the excavations carried out in the northwest of Iran with an emphasis to the sequences documented at Hasanlu site; while other areas, particularly to the northeast have remained unknown in regards to the archaeological information of prehistoric period, especially the Iron Age. This article presents results of rescue excavations of a cemetery in the precincts of the hospital of Ashkhaneh City in the north of Khorasan which is located on a natural hill on the southern border of the city of Ashkhaneh. The first objective of this excavation was to saving the artifacts before its complete flattening. This graveyard was first used in the Iron Age for burying the dead and then again in Islamic period. Therefore, many of the Iron Age graves were destroyed and only a high mass of typical Iron Age sherds was recovered in the site. Potteries in this cemetery bear close resemblance to the cultures of north center and northwest of Iran on one hand, and the pottery of the Archaic Dehistan culture in the southwest of Turkmenistan on the other hand. A more detailed study of these pottery comparisons clarified two periods of the Iron Age; 1- Early Iron Age and probably a little earlier; and 2- Late Iron Age. It appears that this place was used as a cemetery during the early Iron Age and then as a temporary settlement of nomads in the Late Iron Age.
The Bronze Age Greater Khorasan culture is one of the most important protohistoric cultures of th... more The Bronze Age Greater Khorasan culture is one of the most important protohistoric cultures of the Western Asia. This culture is characterized with its architectural remains with a pre-designed plan, stamp seals, compartment seals, chlorite statues, combined figurines, precious jewelry of gold and silver and so on. For the first time, the remains of this cultural complex were obtained from the sites in the Bacteria and Margiana. For this reason, these lands were introduced as its origin and this cultural complex became known with this name. However, some researchers place the origin of this culture in Khorasan, Iran. However, due to the fact that until recently no site of this culture had been identified in Khorasan, it remains arguable. The primary purpose of this study is to study, summarize and classify the works on this culture in the Iranian Khorasan that have been published in the last two decades. The results of this study, along with other findings of this culture, will be taken in the wider area of West Asia until the cultural world of the Bronze Age of Greater Khorasan Culture became more widespread in the future. On this basis, it is necessary that the monographs and the small number of publications in this area be collected together and in the form of a collection and in this way, a new look will be taken at the issues related to this period. This research is based on the research of solid libraries. It has been assumed that the works obtained from the Bronze Age of Greater Khorasan Culture in Iranian Khorasan, have some deficiencies compared to other regions, such as: the south of Turkmenistan and the north of Afghanistan. Keywords: Greater Khorasan, Bronze Age, Bacteria and Margiana Archaeological Collection, Greater Khorasan Culture.
The prehistory of north-eastern Iran is very little known and in this part did limited proposal A... more The prehistory of north-eastern Iran is very little known and in this part did limited proposal Archaeological study. The Bronze Age is as important period that happen the huge cultural changes of the society in Iran and the adjacent areas but our Archaeological information of northeastern is very few. In 2008 the cities of Faruj and Shirvan (Northern Khorasan province) as a part of Iranian Archaeological Map project were surveyed. In this Archaeological survey covered most of upper Atrak River valley.The Atrak River is the most important River in the northeastern of Iran which many archaeological sites are located along it. Results from our surveys are successor of Italian studies in the 30 years ago. The north-eastern region of Iran in the Bronze Age has two different pottery traditions: 1- Buff painted wares culture affected of Turkmenistan Namazga and 2- Black-Gray Wares culture Influenced of eastern Alborz Mountain. Our survey shows that 6 sites among the Bronze Age settlements, actually demonstrate east Alborz pottery tradition rather than Central Asian traditions.
عصر آهن در غرب ایران و مناطق همجوار (The Iron Age in Western Iran and Neighboring Regions), 2019
The Iron Age in eastern Iran is not well known. There are no targeted archaeological fieldworks w... more The Iron Age in eastern Iran is not well known. There are no targeted archaeological fieldworks with focus on the Iron Age and the Achaemenid period in the eastern parts of Iran. Dahana-ye Gholaman in Sistan and Tappe Rivi in northern Khorasan are two exceptions presenting evidence of the Achaemenid period. Eastern Iran in this paper refers to a large area between southeast and northeast of the country. Based on the relative and absolute datings from the area, the author tries to introduce common pottery characteristics of the region. On the basis of recent finds from excavations at Takhcharabad and surface surveys at Qal’eh Asrar and Do Kuhe, the author suggest that a type of painted ware featuring bird motifs is to be identified as diagnostic pottery of the Late Iron Age and Achaemenid period in eastern Iran.
Birjand in south Khorasan, is a recently discovered and excavated almost circular adobe building ... more Birjand in south Khorasan, is a recently discovered and excavated almost circular adobe building with six towers, dating to the Achaemenid period. This article suggests that the architectural tradition of circular buildings and sites in the late Iron Age/Achaemenid period, in Greater Khorasan, apparently originated from Bactria in which most such sites have been reported.
Human settlements emerged based on natural factors such as adequate water resources and suitable ... more Human settlements emerged based on natural factors such as adequate water resources and suitable and fertile soil. Other factors such as altitude, slope, and slope direction, the distance to permanent water sources, and communication paths are natural substrates that affect the distribution of human settlements, some of which have a more influential role in the formation and survival of life. This study aims to investigate the status of the Iron Age settlement in the Atrak River Basin. To achieve the objectives of the research and hierarchical analysis of Iron Age sites, seven natural variables, including altitude, slope, slope direction, landing, soil type, distance to rivers, and communication routes that have been effective in establishing settlements, have been selected and by using the statistical methods in the GIS, the TOPSIS hierarchical analysis process, and Excel, and they have finally been studied. In terms of statistical analysis, the distance from river, Landuse and the distance to communication routes have been assigned the most ideal values. The slope degree, above sea level and Slope Direction have the lowest ideal value, respectively. Based on this, the IAMA60 site ranked first, the IAMA49 site ranked second, and the IAMA18 site ranked third in terms of natural indicators. In the lowest rank, IAMA25, IAMA35, and IAMA56 sites are located. In addition to these, the rest of the sites are considered relatively privileged areas.
Several sites in the southern Khorāsān whose occupation dates back to the Parthian period have pr... more Several sites in the southern Khorāsān whose occupation dates back to the Parthian period have provided ceramic sherds with a relatively rare feature: short inscriptions are engraved in the surface, in Parthian for eight of the nine sherds collected here, and in Middle Persian for one of them. After a brief presentation of these eight sites and their location in the old Kohistān, a tentative reading of these inscriptions is proposed. Palaeographic evidence makes it possible to date these fragments of storage vessels to the beginning or the middle of the Sasanian period.
The present study is a descriptive-analytical one that investigates the settlement patterns and d... more The present study is a descriptive-analytical one that investigates the settlement patterns and distribution of Iron Age sites in the Middle Atrak basin. In order to achieve the research objectives, 6 natural factors including the site area, altitude, slope, of the site distances from water sources, communication routes, type of vegetation and soil have been selected as effective factors in establishing settlements and have been analyzed using statistical methods in GIS and SPSS software. It seems that natural settings have had a great impact on the location, expansion and physical development of Iron Age settlements and the sites of this period have been formed in two parts of sedimentary plain and mountainous region. So that the Iron Age people have chosen a different patterns of living and settlement to adapt to the environment of the Atrak river basin. A very large group of sites is ones that have good access to pastures on the edge of the plain, are located on high slopes and have a small area, indicating that seasonal sites with dryland farming and livestock subsistence economy. The second group is three sites located on low slopes, at the bottom of the plain with rich sedimentary soils, next to communication routes and water sources, and their area is much larger than the first group and show that permanent villages with livestock and agriculture are. Finally, the third group is a site that is the largest area in the region and its location in a strategic area and on the communication route, which controls two plains and the possibility of a central area such as the city, is not far from the mind.
The concentration of activities and sites Iron Age excavations carried out in Iran in the quarter... more The concentration of activities and sites Iron Age excavations carried out in Iran in the quarter-northwest Iran. It covers the west, northwest, north of the center, and the west bank of the Caspian Sea. The important point is that the chronological basis of the Iron Age in Iran is also based on the excavation of several sites in a small part of the northwest and its extension to the whole of Iran. Thus we see the Iron Age archaeological activities at the eastern part of Iran and especially North East is very unknown. Iran has long been the entry point for people without a nomadic component steppes of northeastern North Asia region is the Iranian plateau. According to written sources the oldest nations that have entered the Iranian plateau, known as the Indo-Iranian or Aryan tribes from the steppes of northern Asia to the south and in the land of the Pamir Mountains to Anatolia widely dispersed. Many scholars consider the gradual movement of these tribes to be from the second millennium. A period that is almost synonymous with the Iron Age in the region. But our knowledge of the Iron Age northeastern Iran today virtually all North Khorasan Province and the northern part of Khorasan Razavi province involved is negligible. This paper is based on the latest research picture of the Iron Age northeastern part of the country, with emphasis on the upper basin Atrak be provided. According to the study and identification carried out in this basin, the Iron Age of the upper Atrak basin is part of the Yaz 1 culture.
Iron Age settlements in the Middle Atrak Basin in Iran have a particular distribution pattern due... more Iron Age settlements in the Middle Atrak Basin in Iran have a particular distribution pattern due to environmental, social, and economic variables, among which geographical factors play an essential role in creating and dispersing settlements. Some of these factors play a more effective and stable role than others. The present study examines and evaluates the role of geographical factors in the distribution of Iron Age sites to determine factors that have a more significant role than others. Moreover, the zoning map of the Middle Atrak Basin should be presented using four different types of location, grouped in terms of those with a perfectly suitable, relatively suitable, suitable, and unsuitable location. To achieve this goal, seven natural factors, including the distance of sites from the river, altitude, slope, slope direction, distance from communication routes, soil type, and land use, were selected as influential factors in choosing the location of the Iron Age sites. In this...
Iron Age settlements in the Middle Atrak Basin in Iran have a particular distribution pattern due... more Iron Age settlements in the Middle Atrak Basin in Iran have a particular distribution pattern due to environmental, social, and economic variables, among which geographical factors play an essential role in creating and dispersing settlements. Some of these factors play a more effective and stable role than others. The present study examines and evaluates the role of geographical factors in the distribution of Iron Age sites to determine factors that have a more significant role than others. Moreover, the zoning map of the Middle Atrak Basin should be presented using four different types of location, grouped in terms of those with a perfectly suitable, relatively suitable, suitable, and unsuitable location. To achieve this goal, seven natural factors, including the distance of sites from the river, altitude, slope, slope direction, distance from communication routes, soil type, and land use, were selected as influential factors in choosing the location of the Iron Age sites. In this study operating maps were prepared digitally using ArcGIS, and then the weight of each index was determined using the AHP model. The results of this study show that 46.7% of the Iron Age settlements (or 28 sites) were located in a perfectly suitable environment and geography, 24 sites (29.3%) in a relatively suitable location, seven sites (11.4%) in a suitable place, and one site (1.6%) in a completely unsuitable environment. This last type of location in the region's landscape indicates the choice of different livelihoods, including agriculture and animal husbandry with both seasonal and permanent methods. IZVLE∞EK-Ωeleznodobne naselbine v pore≠ju srednjega Atraka v Iranu imajo poseben vzorec umestitve zaradi okoljskih, socialnih in ekonomskih spremenljivk, med katerimi igrajo geografski dejavniki klju≠no vlogo pri nastanku in ∏iritvi naselij. Nekateri od teh dejavnikov so bolj u≠inkoviti in traj-nej∏i od drugih. V ∏tudiji predstavljamo najpomembnej∏e geografske dejavnike pri porazdelitvi naj-di∏≠. Karto poselitvenih obmo≠ij srednjega Atraka predstavljamo s pomo≠jo ∏tirih tipov lokacij, raz-vr∏≠enih glede na popolnoma primerne, manj primerne, primerne in neprimerne pogoje poselitve.
from the north and northwestern parts of the country. The chronological basis of the Iron Age in ... more from the north and northwestern parts of the country. The chronological basis of the Iron Age in Iran was mostly based on the excavations carried out in the northwest of Iran with an emphasis to the sequences documented at Hasanlu site; while other areas, particularly to the northeast have remained unknown in regards to the archaeological information of prehistoric period, especially the Iron Age. This article presents results of rescue excavations of a cemetery in the precincts of the hospital of Ashkhaneh City in the north of Khorasan which is located on a natural hill on the southern border of the city of Ashkhaneh. The first objective of this excavation was to saving the artifacts before its complete flattening. This graveyard was first used in the Iron Age for burying the dead and then again in Islamic period. Therefore, many of the Iron Age graves were destroyed and only a high mass of typical Iron Age sherds was recovered in the site. Potteries in this cemetery bear close resemblance to the cultures of north center and northwest of Iran on one hand, and the pottery of the Archaic Dehistan culture in the southwest of Turkmenistan on the other hand. A more detailed study of these pottery comparisons clarified two periods of the Iron Age; 1- Early Iron Age and probably a little earlier; and 2- Late Iron Age. It appears that this place was used as a cemetery during the early Iron Age and then as a temporary settlement of nomads in the Late Iron Age.
The Bronze Age Greater Khorasan culture is one of the most important protohistoric cultures of th... more The Bronze Age Greater Khorasan culture is one of the most important protohistoric cultures of the Western Asia. This culture is characterized with its architectural remains with a pre-designed plan, stamp seals, compartment seals, chlorite statues, combined figurines, precious jewelry of gold and silver and so on. For the first time, the remains of this cultural complex were obtained from the sites in the Bacteria and Margiana. For this reason, these lands were introduced as its origin and this cultural complex became known with this name. However, some researchers place the origin of this culture in Khorasan, Iran. However, due to the fact that until recently no site of this culture had been identified in Khorasan, it remains arguable. The primary purpose of this study is to study, summarize and classify the works on this culture in the Iranian Khorasan that have been published in the last two decades. The results of this study, along with other findings of this culture, will be taken in the wider area of West Asia until the cultural world of the Bronze Age of Greater Khorasan Culture became more widespread in the future. On this basis, it is necessary that the monographs and the small number of publications in this area be collected together and in the form of a collection and in this way, a new look will be taken at the issues related to this period. This research is based on the research of solid libraries. It has been assumed that the works obtained from the Bronze Age of Greater Khorasan Culture in Iranian Khorasan, have some deficiencies compared to other regions, such as: the south of Turkmenistan and the north of Afghanistan. Keywords: Greater Khorasan, Bronze Age, Bacteria and Margiana Archaeological Collection, Greater Khorasan Culture.
The prehistory of north-eastern Iran is very little known and in this part did limited proposal A... more The prehistory of north-eastern Iran is very little known and in this part did limited proposal Archaeological study. The Bronze Age is as important period that happen the huge cultural changes of the society in Iran and the adjacent areas but our Archaeological information of northeastern is very few. In 2008 the cities of Faruj and Shirvan (Northern Khorasan province) as a part of Iranian Archaeological Map project were surveyed. In this Archaeological survey covered most of upper Atrak River valley.The Atrak River is the most important River in the northeastern of Iran which many archaeological sites are located along it. Results from our surveys are successor of Italian studies in the 30 years ago. The north-eastern region of Iran in the Bronze Age has two different pottery traditions: 1- Buff painted wares culture affected of Turkmenistan Namazga and 2- Black-Gray Wares culture Influenced of eastern Alborz Mountain. Our survey shows that 6 sites among the Bronze Age settlements, actually demonstrate east Alborz pottery tradition rather than Central Asian traditions.
عصر آهن در غرب ایران و مناطق همجوار (The Iron Age in Western Iran and Neighboring Regions), 2019
The Iron Age in eastern Iran is not well known. There are no targeted archaeological fieldworks w... more The Iron Age in eastern Iran is not well known. There are no targeted archaeological fieldworks with focus on the Iron Age and the Achaemenid period in the eastern parts of Iran. Dahana-ye Gholaman in Sistan and Tappe Rivi in northern Khorasan are two exceptions presenting evidence of the Achaemenid period. Eastern Iran in this paper refers to a large area between southeast and northeast of the country. Based on the relative and absolute datings from the area, the author tries to introduce common pottery characteristics of the region. On the basis of recent finds from excavations at Takhcharabad and surface surveys at Qal’eh Asrar and Do Kuhe, the author suggest that a type of painted ware featuring bird motifs is to be identified as diagnostic pottery of the Late Iron Age and Achaemenid period in eastern Iran.
Uploads
Papers by Mohsen Dana
steppes of northern Asia to the south and in the land of the Pamir Mountains to Anatolia widely dispersed. Many scholars consider the gradual movement of these tribes to be from the second millennium. A period that is almost synonymous with the Iron Age in the region. But our knowledge of the Iron Age northeastern Iran today virtually all North Khorasan Province and the northern part of Khorasan Razavi province involved is negligible. This paper is based on the latest research picture of the Iron Age northeastern part of the country, with emphasis on the upper basin Atrak be provided. According to the study and identification carried out in this basin, the Iron Age of the upper Atrak basin is part of the Yaz 1 culture.
Keywords: Greater Khorasan, Bronze Age, Bacteria and Margiana Archaeological Collection, Greater Khorasan Culture.
Gholaman in Sistan and Tappe Rivi in northern Khorasan are two exceptions presenting evidence of the Achaemenid period. Eastern Iran in this paper refers to a large area between southeast and northeast of the country. Based on the relative and absolute datings from the area, the author tries to introduce common pottery characteristics of the region. On the basis of recent finds from excavations at Takhcharabad and surface surveys at Qal’eh Asrar and Do Kuhe, the author suggest that a type of painted ware featuring bird motifs is to be identified as diagnostic pottery of the Late Iron Age and Achaemenid period in eastern Iran.
steppes of northern Asia to the south and in the land of the Pamir Mountains to Anatolia widely dispersed. Many scholars consider the gradual movement of these tribes to be from the second millennium. A period that is almost synonymous with the Iron Age in the region. But our knowledge of the Iron Age northeastern Iran today virtually all North Khorasan Province and the northern part of Khorasan Razavi province involved is negligible. This paper is based on the latest research picture of the Iron Age northeastern part of the country, with emphasis on the upper basin Atrak be provided. According to the study and identification carried out in this basin, the Iron Age of the upper Atrak basin is part of the Yaz 1 culture.
Keywords: Greater Khorasan, Bronze Age, Bacteria and Margiana Archaeological Collection, Greater Khorasan Culture.
Gholaman in Sistan and Tappe Rivi in northern Khorasan are two exceptions presenting evidence of the Achaemenid period. Eastern Iran in this paper refers to a large area between southeast and northeast of the country. Based on the relative and absolute datings from the area, the author tries to introduce common pottery characteristics of the region. On the basis of recent finds from excavations at Takhcharabad and surface surveys at Qal’eh Asrar and Do Kuhe, the author suggest that a type of painted ware featuring bird motifs is to be identified as diagnostic pottery of the Late Iron Age and Achaemenid period in eastern Iran.