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Journal of Sistan and Baluchistan Studies

Journal of Sistan and Baluchistan Studies

AN INSIGHT INTO THE SASSANIAN PILLAR OSSUARIES OF THE BAVANAT RIVER BASIN, IRAN

Document Type : Original Research Article

Author
Department of History and Cultural Heritage, Silk Road International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage, Samarkand, Uzbekistan; Department of Archaeology, Samarkand State University, Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Abstract
Extensive research has been conducted on the archaeology of the Sasanian period within the Fars cultural zone, and numerous archaeological sites from this era have been identified. However, some regions have received limited scholarly attention. Therefore, comprehensive archaeological surveys across all areas are necessary to develop a more holistic understanding of the region’s Sasanian heritage. Given the archaeological significance of the Bavanat River basin, this region was surveyed by the author. During the survey, 54 sites were dated to the Sasanian period, among which two sites featured Dakhmak or pillar ossuaries. These structures consist of horizontal circular cavities accompanied by stone pillars. This paper introduces and analyzes the cultural and archaeological features of the pillar ossuaries identified in Bavanat. The evidence, along with comparisons to similar examples from the Marvdasht plain, suggests that these structures served a funerary function and were likely constructed for high-ranking members of society.
Keywords

چکیده: تاکنون پژوهش‌های گسترده‌ای در زمینه باستان‌شناسی دوره ساسانی در حوزه فرهنگی فارس انجام شده و آثار باستان‌شناختی فراوانی شناسایی شده‌اند، اما با این حال در برخی مناطق پژوهش‌های اندکی صورت گرفته است بنابراین نیاز است تا همه مناطق بررسی باستان شناسی شوند تا دیدگاه جامع‌تری ارائه شود. با توجه به اهمیت حوضه رودخانه بوانات از نظر پژوهش‌های باستان‌شناسی این منطقه توسط نگارنده بررسی شد. طی بررسی ۵۴ محوطه به دوره ساسانی تاریخگذاری شد که از میان آن‌ها، دو محوطه دارای دخمک یا استودان‌های ستونی بودند. این یافته‌ها شامل حفره‌های مدور ایجاد شده بر سطح افقی صخره یا ستون‌های سنگی هستند. این مقاله به معرفی و بررسی ویژگی‌های فرهنگی و باستان‌شناختی دخمک‌های شناسایی‌شده در بوانات می‌پردازد. شواهد موجود و مطابقت آن با نمونه‌های مشابه به دست آمده دشت مرودشت نشان می‌دهد که این نوع ساختارها کارکردی تدفینی داشته واحتمالاً برای افراد بلندپایه جامعه ساخته شده‌اند.
کلیدواژه: فارس، ساسانی، زرتشتی، دخمه، دخمک ستونی.

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Volume 5, Issue 1
June 2025
Pages 1-10

  • Receive Date 22 January 2025
  • Revise Date 27 March 2025
  • Accept Date 11 April 2025
  • Publish Date 01 April 2025