Revisiting The Darreh-e Gaz (Dargaz) Plain: Cultural Contacts between Northeastern Iran and Southern Turkmenistan
الموضوعات :Saeed Baghizadeh 1 , Aliakbad Eshghi 2 , Hamid Karami 3 , Rezvan Ahrar 4
1 - Institute of Prehistory and Early History and Near Eastern Archaeology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
2 - Department of Art & Architecture, University of Guilan, Guilan, Iran
3 - Department of Archeology, Islamic Azad University of Tehran, Central Branch, Tehran, Iran
4 - Department of Art & Architecture, University of Guilan, Guilan, Iran
الکلمات المفتاحية: Central Asia, Dargaz Plain, Archaeological Survey, Prehistoric Interaction, Settlement Pattern.,
ملخص المقالة :
Central Asia is a key unit of archaeological studies of the Ancient Near East and an issue for important questions such as primary states, Aryan people immigration has a unique role in archaeological activities. Considering the geographical location of Dargaz (Dargaz) Plain at the periphery of Central Asia, it is a vital area in the archaeology of the northeastern part of the Iranian Central Plateau and Central Asia. The region is ideally situated to research regional relationships and inter-regional interactions between those cultural-geographical regions due to its ecological potential and geographic location. Archaeologically, to comprehend Cultural Similarities in Dargaz Plain, many studies and surveys have been done since the beginning of the 20th Century. However, because of the lack of more detailed excavation in this area, the quality of cultural material of Central Asia and the Iranian Central Plateau is reassessing continuously. The first archaeological survey by Kohl and Heskel in 1978 reveals the similarities between Central Asia and this area. The Following works were done for the sake of making known the prehistoric Sites, their interaction with neighboring regions, and their ecosystem but it remains incomplete. Twenty-one prehistoric settlements have remained in the area, dating from the Neolithic to the Iron Age I/III, according to archaeological studies carried out during these years. The majority of the locations that have been found are the ruins of dispersed villages and seasonal camps that were scattered throughout the plain, as well as at inaccessible heights and other locations. With an emphasis on the material culture, particularly the local ceramic traditions and the settlement patterns of the prehistoric site, this current work investigates the connection and interconnectedness of the Dargaz Plain and proposes novel prospects for future works. A study of the Dargaz Plain may shed new light on the social and cultural history of a larger region.
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