https://ijas.usb.ac.ir/ Iranian Journal of Archaeological Studies en daily 1 Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0330 Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0330 https://ijas.usb.ac.ir/article_9943.html This note explores the concept of “cultural resilience” as a dynamic and multidimensional process within archaeological and heritage studies, encompassing technological, environmental, social, and epistemic dimensions. The core context and primary catalyst for this analysis are the recent escalating conflicts and crises in West Asia, an urgent situation that once again highlights the necessity of re-evaluating the concepts of vulnerability and the continuity of cultural structures under acute crisis conditions. Drawing upon critical and post-processual archaeological perspectives, contemporary epistemic challenges are articulated, particularly the concentration of cultural data within global institutions and the imperative of “repatriating knowledge to source communities” to maintain interpretive authority. In this regard, six case studies from the Iranian Journal of Archaeological Studies (IJAS) are introduced, illustrating various manifestations of this adaptation and sustainability across the Iranian Plateau and neighbouring regions (including: continuity in ceramic technology, knowledge management in early administrative systems, environmental adaptation of subsistence, ritual stability during transitional periods, the spatial organizational flexibility of mobile societies, and the reinterpretation of ancient architectural knowledge). Ultimately, the note concludes that the sustainability of cultural heritage in conditions of uncertainty requires a shift from centralised structures toward participatory and polyphonic models. To this end, the establishment of local heritage associations is proposed as an effective mechanism for decentralisation, restoring epistemic justice, and enhancing the agency and rapid response capacities of source communities during crises. https://ijas.usb.ac.ir/article_9944.html Tal-e Malyan, also known as Ancient Anshan, has been recognised as an archaeological site since at least the mid-nineteenth century. Covering an area of about 200 hectares, it was one of the major prehistoric centres and the capital of the Elamite civilisation during the 3rd and 2nd millennia BCE. This study provides a multi-proxy reconstruction of the palaeoenvironmental dynamics between 6000 and 3500 BP. By integrating sedimentological, geomorphological, and geoelectrical (Electrical Resistance Tomography, ERT) datasets with stratigraphic evidence from existing archaeological trenches in the Kur River Basin (Fars, Iran), we evaluate the environmental precursors to urban development. A total of 140 sediment samples were subjected to granulometric analysis to delineate depositional energy regimes. Additionally, ten geophysical profiles were surveyed to a depth of 20 m. The geoelectrical data identified a substantial palaeochannel conduit near Trench 18, measuring 20 m in width and 6 m in depth, dating to ca. 6000 BP, along with a secondary southern channel that is 5 m wide and 2 m deep. Furthermore, fluvial successions documented in Trench 8 suggest that two primary fluvial branches, originating from the western Qalat Mountains, intersected the site. These findings, supported by the presence of a lake environment on the eastern periphery, indicate that the spatial evolution and eventual relocation of settlements within the Beyza Plain were fundamentally governed by shifting hydro-geomorphological conditions and the need for stable water access. https://ijas.usb.ac.ir/article_9770.html Ceramic artefacts constitute one of the most reliable material indicators for reconstructing technologicaltraditions, cultural behaviour, and patterns of resource utilisation in ancient societies. The present study undertakesa mineralogical and phase-based characterisation of pottery samples recovered from four recently exploredarchaeological sites in the Jalandhar Doab region of Punjab, namely Kathpalon, Goal Pind, Hardo Pharla, andSinghpur. A total of forty representative samples, spanning the Late Harappan to Early Medieval periods (c.2000 BCE–1200 CE), were analysed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) to identify crystalline mineral phases and toinfer firing conditions and clay provenance.The results indicate that the ceramics were predominantly fired underlow- to moderate-temperature regimes, ranging approximately between 500 °C and 900 °C, under both oxidisingand reducing atmospheric conditions. The persistence of minerals such as quartz and calcite, together with theoccurrence of dickite and phlogopite in certain samples, suggests variability in firing intensity and technologicalcontrol across different cultural phases. Although firing temperatures appear broadly consistent through time,variations in mineralogical assemblages point to changes in clay source procurement, reflecting evolving pottingtraditions and experimentation by craftspeople in the region.This study highlights the effectiveness of XRD-basedmineralogical analysis in reconstructing ancient ceramic technology, while recognising that further microstructuralinvestigations (e.g. SEM analysis) would enhance understanding of amorphous phases and vitrification processes. https://ijas.usb.ac.ir/article_9792.html The present study is based on the bioarchaeological analysis of animal and botanical remains from the QoliDarvish site in the Qom Plain, aiming to reconstruct the climate and subsistence economy of the communitiessettled in this region during the third and second millennia BCE. The dataset comprises over four thousand animalbone fragments recovered from the occupational layers of periods II to VI at the site. The identified animalsinclude domestic and wild herbivores, while identified botanical remains are mostly composed cereal. Taxonomicand anatomical analyses of the bones and botanical remains provide valuable insights into the economic structure,dietary habits, animal husbandry and plant cultivation practices, and reflections on climatic changes. The resultsof these studies suggest that, contrary to the present arid and desert-like landscape of the Qom Plain, the regionexperienced a relatively more humid climate during the investigated period sufficient to support herding andagricultural activities. Evidence of bone modifications reveals further details regarding human activities and theway ancient communities exploited environmental resources. This research highlights the significance of organicremains analysis in reconstructing past economy and understanding subsistence behaviours in prehistoric societies. https://ijas.usb.ac.ir/article_9945.html Burial in crypts is a long-standing and widespread mortuary practice, evidenced across various civilisations. Early examples include the royal tombs of Ur (Mesopotamia), Saqqara (Egypt), and Iranian sites such as the Middle Elamite “Palace of the Dead” at Chogha Zanbil and the tomb of Tepti-Ahar, revealing early human engagement with subterranean burial. These burials reflect not only social hierarchies but also conceptions of life after death, sanctity, and protection. The tradition continued through the Islamic period in Iran, where crypts were often incorporated beneath monumental mausoleums, as seen in the Alaviyan Dome, Soltaniyeh, and structures from the Seljuk and Ilkhanid periods. Although the origins of Islamic mausoleums are debated, the practice of subterranean burial showcases both pre-Islamic Iranian traditions and regional Islamic innovations. Recent archaeological excavation at the Khahar-e-Emam mausoleum in Rasht provides new evidence of this continuity. The main objective of this paper is to trace the continuity of the subterranean burial tradition (Crypt tomb) in Iran up until the Qajar period. The authors, through archaeological excavations at the Khahar-e-Emam site in Rasht, aim to demonstrate how this particular burial tradition has persisted over time and to highlight the enduring cultural and religious significance of subterranean interment. Methodologically, this article relies primarily on fieldwork conducted at the Khahar-e-Emam site in Rasht, supplemented by additional data collected from text resources, field experience, and interviews. https://ijas.usb.ac.ir/article_9673.html The period, approximately between 3300 and 2700 BCE in Iran, is known as the Proto-Elamite Period, andthe culture associated with this timeframe is referred to as the Proto-Elamite Culture. Centred in southwesternIran, this culture has been identified at several archaeological sites, most notably Susa and Anshan. Excavationsat Susa, which began in the mid-19th century, and those at Anshan, initiated in the mid-20th century, have yieldedsignificant findings related to the Proto-Elamite Culture. Among the most important discoveries are the Proto-Elamite clay tablets, which provide insights into the socioeconomic structure of the Period. These tablets werewritten in the Proto-Elamite script, recognised as the first writing system developed in Iran. They contain recordspertaining to agriculture and animal husbandry, calculated using various accounting methods. This study examinesan unpublished Proto-Elamite tablet housed in the State Hermitage Museum. It offers detailed observations andinterpretations of the inscriptions and signs on the tablet. Furthermore, it compares the tablet with other Proto-Elamite tablets, noting similarities and differences. The tablet in question records information about small livestockherds, specifically goats and sheep. As it contains details related to animal husbandry, its content aligns with thatfound in other Proto-Elamite tablets. This study aims to advance research on the Proto-Elamite period by providinga decipherment of the Proto-Elamite tablet preserved in the State Hermitage Museum. İt utilises archaeologicalexcavation reports and various modern scholarly works to enhance our understanding of this significant culturalperiod. https://ijas.usb.ac.ir/article_9524.html In 2018, the excavation of Trench 13 at the western cemetery of Qareh Tepe in Segzabad led to the discoveryof 10 Iron Age graves located in the southwestern section of Tepe Ghabrestan. These graves featured mudbrickstructures, oriented east-west, and contained burials placed on their sides. The grave goods found within includedpottery vessels, metal objects, animal bone remains, and ornaments made of various materials. The burialpractices and grave goods suggest that these graves were created within a relatively short time frame. To establisha chronological context for these findings, the artefacts from Trench 13 were compared to those from Trench12, located at the eastern cemetery of Qareh Tepe. With five absolute dating samples from Trench 12 graves, areliable chronological framework was available, enabling a more precise dating of the Trench 13 graves. Thecomparison indicates that the graves in Trench 13, which had the highest number and most incredible variety ofsimilar artefacts, corresponded closely to those in Trench 12, dating from 1000–900 BCE. https://ijas.usb.ac.ir/article_9946.html An archival photograph from the Qajar period (1896), preserved at the Golestan Palace in Tehran, depicts a rock-cut tomb known as Hulegu Khan’s Cave in northwestern Iran. This tomb features a relief of a lion and a bull carved on its facade. The relief appears to represent a distinctive, possibly ritual scene that has been repeated numerous times within the Iranian cultural sphere. It seems this image carries a symbolic concept and represents a mythological struggle. This study aims to explore the significance of the symbolic relief at the entrance of Hulegu Khan’s Cave. The authors propose that this scene depicts a Mithraic theme, with comparable examples attested from China to Europe; its closest parallel in terms of imagery is the rock-cut tomb of Myra in Turkey. The findings indicate that the relief likely conveys a ritualistic meaning associated with Mithraism in its unique eastern and Iranian form. Although the exact location of this rock-cut tomb and its relief is currently unknown, the monument indicates traces of belief in the god Mithra in northwestern Iran. This aligns with interpretations of findings from the Zahhak Castle Complex regarding Mithraic worship in the region.   https://ijas.usb.ac.ir/article_9771.html According to written historical sources, the Gachsaran region, which was one of the outposts of the Arjan state and part of the mountainous territory inhabited by the nomads of the Kuhgiluyeh, was significant due to its role in the Arjan-Shiraz route. Archaeological studies conducted in the catchment area of the Cham-e-Shir Dam allowed for the excavation of several sites, including Building No. 1 at Site No. 19. This building was the largest on the site and likely served as its most important structure in terms of size. The primary objectives of the excavation, carried out in the fall of 2021, were to assess the role of this site and building in the administration and security of the region's road, as well as their social, administrative, and economic roles in stabilising the power of local nomads. This site was inhabited in two distinct phases during the third to sixth centuries AH. Examining settlement deposits indicates these two phases of occupation, though historical texts do not provide clear connections to them. Ethno-archaeological studies conducted by the researchers in the spring of 2024 for one month in the areas of Behbahan, Kohgiluyeh, Gachsaran, and Boyer-Ahmad revealed that the excavated building at Site No. 19, with its short walls, material types, and plan, resembled other nomadic structures in the region. The two-part structure of the plan of each room indicated that these rooms probably had a public section and a private section. The absence of objects on the floor of the building, except for two potsherds, indicated that the area was deliberately abandoned. Considering the contents of historical texts from the Islamic era, as well as the correspondence of the data obtained from the excavation with these texts, it seems that the residents of Site No. 19 of Cham-e Shir Dam could have played a role as part of a military force ready to serve the ruler of the region if necessary. https://ijas.usb.ac.ir/article_9479.html The Arch of Ctesiphon (Taq-e Kasra), situated in present-day Iraq, stands as an iconic testament to Sasanian architectural ingenuity, exemplifying a remarkable continuity of Persian building traditions. Previous studies have mainly focused on symbolic or stylistic interpretations; however, this study employs a rigorous technical and historical approach to re-examine the geometric principles and construction methodologies underpinning the arch. Through digital reconstructions based on field measurements, the analysis reveals that the vault closely adheres to a catenary curve—celebrated for its structural efficiency—and incorporates golden ratios and pentagonal symmetries into its design. Notably, the arch’s dimensions consistently correspond with those used in the Achaemenid Arash, underscoring the continuity of a modular planning system that originated in Persepolitan architectural practices. Additional evidence, including standardised brick dimensions and vestiges of timber reinforcement techniques, further substantiates the idea of a deliberate transmission of technical expertise. These discoveries inform a proposed reconstruction model of the vault’s geometry, explicitly anchored in Achaemenid measurement systems and architectural terminology. Beyond its engineering sophistication, as demonstrated in this study, Taq-e Kasra serves as a vehicle of dynastic symbolism. A comparative analysis of other Sasanian architectural projects reveals that the deliberate fusion of Achaemenid motifs with mathematically derived proportions and traditional construction methods represents not mere imitation but a sophisticated reinterpretation. Consequently, rather than indicating a historical rupture, the monument exemplifies a conscious revival and nuanced adaptation of indigenous architectural traditions within the broader framework of Sasanian imperial ideology—embodying an enduring synthesis of symbolic continuity, structural mastery, and cultural identity throughout Iranian architectural history.