Spatial analysis and Explanation Of Iron Age Settlement Patterns in Zab River

Sorkhabi, Obaidollah (2017) Spatial analysis and Explanation Of Iron Age Settlement Patterns in Zab River. Masters thesis, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili.

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Text (تحلیل مکانی و تبیین الگوهای استقراری عصر آهن حوضه ی رودخانه ی زاب) Obaidollah Sorkhabi.pdf Download (444kB) | Preview

Abstract

Iron Age has a significant place in archeological studies of Iran; a time in which the Aryans migrated to Iranian Plateau and the consequent changes in cultural and social as well as the rise of the first Iranian powers and the formation of the first kingdoms such as Medes and Mannaeans in parts of central to north western Iran & their interactions with neighboring powers like Assyrians and Urartians caused Iran to enter the historic era. The southern part of Lake Urmia, especially Zab river basin has a significant importance in archeological studies of Iron Age due to its unique geographical and historical place. This geographical place is one of the important archeological sites of Iron Age in North West of Iran due to both being next to ancient Sandous plain from north and the neighboring kingdoms of Assyria, Urartu and Mannaea who were great powers of first half of the first millennia B.C. Thus, analyzing the Iron Age settlement patterns of this geographic zone may work as the foundation for further studies in this field. Interpreting human behavior in the past and paying attention to the understanding and evaluation of complex interactive processes between humans and the environment in terms of its dependence on components of the natural and ecological environment is in the scope of modern archeology. Archeological studies and analyzing settlement patterns are of the well-known ways to understand this interactive process. Today, analysis of settlement patterns are done with different softwares like ARK GIS which produce much clearer and realistic informations. In the following study, 80 sites related to Iron Age and the first millennia B.C in Zab river basin were examined. Field studies and analysis of settlement patterns shows that settlement in Iron Age was mostly influenced by two geographical parameters of height from sea level and access to rivers and this has created linear networks on the path of rivers. Analyzing the extent and usage of settlements show a distinctive level of local interaction and a hierarchical model with the presence of two centers larger than 10 hectares located in Lajan and Piranshahr plains and several other centers smaller than 5 hectares around them which can be analyzed according to its connection to a local power with a specific area of influence. The results from settlement analysis presents the possibility of existence of an area with integrated government and management systems in Iron Age in which Pasveh hill is a key area that the author believes its excavation may hold the answer for many questions from Iron Age of the area and even the north west of Iran.

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