BIZDAN POTTERY: NEW EVIDENCE FROM THE NEOLITHIC PERIOD AT FORG, SOUTHEAST FARS, IRAN

Khanipour, Morteza

doi:10.22034/jsbs.2022.347327.1035

BIZDAN POTTERY: NEW EVIDENCE FROM THE NEOLITHIC PERIOD AT FORG, SOUTHEAST FARS, IRAN

Document Type : Original Research Article

Author

Morteza Khanipour

“Silk Road” Inter-national University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage, Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

10.22034/jsbs.2022.347327.1035

Abstract

In the Fars cultural Zone settlements of the Neolithic period emerged from the middle of the eighth millennium BC. In the early seventh millennium BC, societies in this cultural zone, like other societies in Southwest Asia, achieved the technology of pottery production. According to the results of excavations and surveys that have been obtained from the Neolithic Sites of Fars, from the second half of the seventh millennium BC, different pottery styles have emerged in this region. In the northern half of this area, Mushki and Jari pottery styles were common, in the southern part, three distinct pottery styles were obtained: Qasr Ahmad pottery in the Kavar region, Jalyan type in Fasa, and Bizdan pottery in Darab. Understanding the characteristics of the Neolithic period was one of the main goals of the author's archeological survey in Forg Plain, which was conducted in 2019. In this article, based on the surface cultural materials obtained from this region, an attempt is made to study the cultural characteristics of the Neolithic period in southern Iran. The most important questions are: What is the oldest evidence of settlement in Forg? and the common pottery style in this area is influenced by which culture zone? According to the survey, Neolithic painted pottery was obtained from the surface of the two sites, which shows that this plain was under the influence and spread of Bizdan pottery in the Neolithic period. The existence of fertile lands and rivers in Forg can be considered as one of the most important reasons for the attraction of human societies in the Neolithic period.

Keywords

Fars Cultural Zone

Neolithic period

Bizdan pottery

stone tools

چکیده: در حوزه فرهنگی فارس از حدود اواسط هزاره هشتم پیش از میلاد، شاهد استقرارهای دوره نوسنگی هستیم و در اوایل هزاره هفتم قبل از میلاد جوامع این حوزه فرهنگی، به‌مانند سایر جوامع جنوب غرب آسیا به فناوری ساخت سفال دست پیدا می‌کنند. با توجه به نتایج کاوش‌ها و بررسی‌هایی که تا کنون از محوطه‌های نوسنگی فارس به دست آمده، از نیمه دوم هزاره هفتم پ.م شاهد شکل‌گیری فرهنگهای سفالی مختلفی در این حوزه فرهنگی هستیم. در نیمه شمالی این حوزه، فرهنگهای سفالی موشکی و جری، در منطقه کوار سفال‌های نوع قصراحمد، در فسا سفال نوع جلیان و در داراب سفال نوع بیزدان رایج بوده است. شناخت شاخصه‌های فرهنگهای دوره نوسنگی، یکی از اهداف اصلی بررسی باستان‌شناسی نگارنده در فورگ بود که در سال ۱۳۹۷ انجام شد. در این مقاله سعی بر آن است تا بر اساس یافته‌های فرهنگی سطحی به دست آمده از این منطقه به بررسی شاخصههای فرهنگی دوره نوسنگی در جنوب ایران پرداخته شود. مهم‌ترین سؤالات عبارت‌اند از اینکه قدیمی‌ترین شواهد از یکجانشینی در فورگ مربوط به چه دوره‌ای است؟ و فرهنگ سفالی رایج در این بخش متأثر از کدام حوزه فرهنگی است؟ با توجه به بررسی صورت گرفته از سطح دو محوطه سفال‌های منقوش نوسنگی به دست آمد که نشان می‌دهد که این دشت در دوره نوسنگی تحت نفوذ و گسترش فرهنگ سفالی نوع بیزدان قرار داشته است. وجود زمین‌های حاصلخیز و رودخانه موجود در فورگ را می‌توان از مهم‌ترین دلایل جذب جوامع انسانی در دوره نوسنگی دانست.

کلیدواژه: حوزه فرهنگی فارس، دوره نوسنگی، فرهنگ سفالی بیزدان، ابزار سنگی.

Alden. J., Abdi, K., Azadi, A., Biglari, F., & Heydari, S. (2004). Kushk-E Hezar: A Mushki/Jari Period Site in the Kur River Basin, Fars, Iran. Iran, 42, 25- 45.

Alizadeh, A. (2003). Some Observations Based on the Nomadic Character of Fars Prehistoric Cultural Development. In Yeki ud, Yeki nabud, Essays on The Archaeology Of Iran In Honar Of William M. Sumner. Miller N. and Abdi K. (Eds.). Cotsen Institute of Archaeology University of California, Los Angeles, pp. 83-97.

Alizadeh, A. (2006). The Origins of State Organizations in Prehistoric Highland Fars, Southern Iran, Excavations at Tall-e Bakun. Oriental Institute Publication, 128. Chicago: Oriental Institute Publications.

Alizadeh, A. (2021). Review and Synthesis of the Neolithic Cultural Development in Fars, Southern Iran. JNA, 23, 1–27.

Alizadeh, A., Zeidi, M., Askari, A., Niakan, L., & Atabaki, A. (2004). Excavations at Tall-e Bakun A and B, Jari A and B, and Mushki: Reconstruction of the Prehistoric Environments in Marv Dasht. The Oriental Institute, Annual Report 2003–2004, 94–106.

Azizi Kharanaghi, H. M., Fazeli Nashli, H., & Nishiaki, Y. (2013). Tepe Rahmat Abad: a Pre-Pottery and Pottery Neolithic Site in Fars Province. In Neolithisation of Iran –The Formation of New Societies, Matthews R. and Fazeli Nashli H. (Eds.). Oxford: Oxbow Books, pp. 108–123.

Azizi Kharanaghi, H. M., Fazeli Nashli, H., & Nishiaki, Y. (2014). The Second Season of Excavations at Tepe Rahmat Abad, Southern Iran: The Absolute and Relative Chronology. Ancient Near Eastern Studies, 51, 1-32.

Azizi Kharanaghi, M. H., Khaloei, F., & Khanipour, M. (2012b). Excavations at Tape Qasr-e Ahmad, in Abstracts the 11^h Annual Symposium of Iranian Archaeology, Tehran: ICAR, P. 321.

Azizi Kharanaghi, M. H., Nishiaki, Y., & Khanipour, M. (2012a). Tepe Rahmat Abad, Pasargadae: The Absolute and Relative Chronology. Iran Nameh, 27, 78-101.

Azizi Kharanghi, M. H., & Khanipour, M. (2014). New Evidence from the Neolithic and Bakun Period Based on the Third Season of Archaeological Excavations at Tape Rahmat Abad, Pasargadae. In Proceedings of The International Congress of Young Archaeologists, Azizi Kharanaghi M. H., Khanipour M. and Naseri R. (Eds.). Tehran: University of Tehran Press. Pp. 67-86.

Bernbeck, R., Abdi, K., & Gregg, M. (2005). A Note on the Neolithic of Qara Aghaj Valley, Fars Province. Archaeological Reports of the Iranian Center for Archaeological Research, 4, 27–36.

Bernbeck, R., Pollock, S., & Fazeli Nashli, H. (2008). Rahmat Abad: dating the Aceramic Neolithic in Fars Province, Iran. NeoLithic, 1/08, 37–39.

Bernbeck, R., Pollock, S., & Abdi, K. (2004). Reconsidering the Neolithic at Toll-e Bashi (Iran). Near Eastern Archaeology, 66, 76-78.

Conard N. J., & Zeidi, M. (2013). The Ground Stone Tools from the Aceramic Neolithic Site of Chogha Golan, Ilam Province, Western Iran. In Stone Tools in Transition: From Hunter-Gatherers to Farming Societies in the Near East, Borrell, F., Ibanez J. J. and Molist M. (Eds.). Bellaterra (Barcelona): Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Servei de Publicacions, pp. 365-75.

Darabi, H. (2016). Ground Stone Tools and the Issue of Food Production and Preparation at Neolithic Site of East Chia Sabz, Seimarreh Dam. Pashoheshhaye Bastanshenasi Iran, 10, 7-26.

de Miroschedji, P. (1973). Prospections Archéologiques Dans Les Vallées de Fasa et de Darab. In Proceedings of the 1st Annual Symposium on Archaeological Research in Iran, 1972. F. Bagherzadeh (Ed). Tehran: Iranian Center for Archaeological Research, pp. 1–7.

Ebrahimi, S., Zare, M., Abolahrar, A., & Aminpour, B. (2014). Primary Report of the Three Season excavation Tol-e Mianrod, in Proceedings of The International Congress of Young Archaeologists, Azizi Kharanaghi, M. H., Khanipour M. and Naseri R. (Eds.). Tehran: University of Tehran Press, pp. 78-98.

Egami, N. (1967). Excavations at Two Prehistoric Sites Tepe Djari A and B in the Marv-Dasht Basin. In A Survey of Persian Art: from Prehistoric Times to the Present, XIV, U. Pope (Ed).. London: Oxford University Press, pp. 2936-2939.

Egami, N., & Masuda, S. (1962). Marv-Dasht I: The Excavation at Tal-i-Bakun 1956, Tokyo University Iraq-Iran Archaeological Expedition Reports, 2, Institute of Oriental Culture of the University of Tokyo.

Egami, N., Masuda, S., & Gotoh, T. (1977). Tal-i Jarri A: A Preliminary Report of the Excavations in Marv Dasht, 1961 and 1971. Orient, 8, 1-14.

Fukai S., Horiuchi, K., & Matsutani, T. (1973). Marv Dasht III: Excavations at Tall-I-Mushki, 1965 (Tokyo University Iraq-Iran Archaeological Expedition Reports 14). Tokyo: Institute of Oriental Culture of the University of Tokyo.

Hole, F. (1977). Studies in the Archaeological History of the Deh Luran Plain: The Excavation of Chogha Sefid, Memoirs of the Museum of Anthropology 9, Ann Arbor. The University of Michigan Press.

Ikeda, (1979). Preliminary Report of an Archaeological Survey in Arsanjan Area, Fars Province, Iran, 1977 (Tokyo 1979).

Khanipour, M. (2018). Fars Regional Interaction in the Pottery Neolithic period Based on Hormangan Site Excavation. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Tehran.

Khanipour, M., Niknami, K., & Abe, M. (2021b). Challenges of the Fars Neolithic Chronology: An Appraisal. Radiocarbon, 63(2), 693–712.

Khanipour, M., Zare Kordshooli F., & Karami, H. (2021a). Archeological Excavations at Tol-e Sangi in Fars Province, Iran. Persica Antiqua, 1(1), 97-104.

Khanipour, M., Emadi, H., & Akbari, A. (2018). Hormangan site: New evidence for Neolithic Occupations in the southern Zagros, Iran. Neo-lithic, 18, 17-23.

Khanipour, M., & Azizi Kharanaghi M. H. (in press). Fars was a multi-cultural zone during the Neolithic period. In proceedings of the Revisiting the Hilly Flanks conference.

Khanipour, M. (2020). The first season of archaeological survey at Darab county, Fars province. In proceedings of the 17^th Anuuual Symposium on the Iranian Archaeology. Tehran: ICAR.

Khanipour, M. and Molaei Kordshooli, H. (2021). The archaeological survey at Harat Dam. In proceedings of the 19^th Anuuual Symposium on the Iranian Archaeology. Tehran: ICAR.

Langsdorff, A., & McCown, D. E. (1942). Tall-i-Bakun A: Season of 1932. Oriental Institute Publications, Vol. 59. Chicago: Chicago University Press.

Mc Donald, M.M.A. (1979). An examination of mid-Holocene settlement patterns in the Central Zagros region of western Iran, Ph.D. Dissertation, Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto.

Nikzad,M., Moradi, H., & Emadi, H. (2018). Qal'at Surmagh: A Pre-Pottery Neolithic Site from Neyriz Plain, Eastern Fars, Iran. Neo-lithic, 18, 12-16.

Nishiaki, Y. (2010a). A Radiocarbon Chronology of the Neolithic Settlement of Tall-i Mushki, Marv Dasht plain, Fars, Iran. Iran, 48, 1–10.

Nishiaki, Y. (2010b). The Development of Architecture and Pottery at the Neolithic Settlement of Tall-i Jari B, Marv Dasht, Southwest Iran. AMIT, 42, 113-127.

Pollock, S., Bernbeck, R., & Abdi, K. (2010). The 2003 Excavations at Tol-e Baši, Iran: Social Life in a Neolithic Village. Archäologie in Iran Und Turan, 10. Mainz am Rhein: Deutsche Archäologisches Institut, Eurasien Abteilung.

Potts, D. T., & Roustaei K. (2006). The Mamasani Archaeological Project Stage One: A Report on the First Two Seasons of the ICAR-University of Sydney Expedition to the Mamasani District, Fars Province, Iran. Tehran: Iranian Centre for Archaeological Research.

Sardari, A., & Arab, H. (2020). Third Season of Archaeological excavation in Pustchi, Shiraz, In Proceedings of the 17th Annual Symposium on the Iranian Archaeology. Tehran: ICAR, pp. 648-655.

Stein, A. (1936). An Archaeological Tour in the Ancient Persis. Iraq, III, 111-230.

Sumner, W. M. (1972). Cultural Development in the Kur River Basin, Iran: An Archaeological Analysis of Settlement Patterns. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Pennsylvania.

Sumner, W. M. (1977). Early Settlements in Fars Province, Iran. In Mountains and Lowlands: Essays in the Archaeology of Greater Mesopotamia, Levine L. D. and Young T. C. (Eds.). Biblioteca Mesopotamica, pp. 291–305.

Tsuneki, A. (2013). Proto-Neolithic Caves and Neolithisation in the Southern Zagros. In Neolithisation of Iran –The Formation of New Societies, Matthews R. and Fazeli Nashli H. (Eds.). Oxford: Oxbow Books, pp. 84–96.

Tsuneki, A., & Zeidi, M. (2008). Tang-e Bolaghi. The Iran-Japan Archaeological Project for the Sivand Dam Salvage Area. Tsukuba: University of Tsukuba.

Vanden Berghe, L. (1951–52). Archaeologische opzoekingen in de Marv Dasht vlakte (Iran). Jaarbericht Ex Oriente Lux, 12, 211–220.

Vanden Berghe, L. (1953–54). Archaeologische Navorsingen in de Omstreken van Persepolis. Jaarbericht Ex Oriente Lux, 13, 394–408.

Weeks, L. (2013). The Neolithisation of Fars, Iran. In Neolithisation of Iran –The Formation of New Societies, Matthews R. and Fazeli Nashli H. Oxford: Oxbow Books, pp. 97–107.

Weeks, L., Alizadeh K., Niakan, L., Alamdari, K., Zeidi, M., Khosrozadeh, A., & McCall, B. (2006). The Neolithic Settlement of Highland SW Iran: New Evidence from the Mamasani District. Iran, 44, 1–32.

Wright K. I. (1994). Ground Stone Tools and Hunter-Gatherer Subsistence in Southwest Asia: Implications for the Transition to Farming, American Antiquity, 59(2), 238-263.